Burt Lancaster
Birthdate: Nov 2, 1913
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: Oct 20, 1994
Burt Lancaster, one of five children, was born in Manhattan, to Elizabeth (Roberts) and James Henry Lancaster, a postal worker. All his grandparents were immigrants from the north of Ireland. He was a tough street kid who took an early interest in gymnastics. He joined the circus as an acrobat and worked there until he was injured. In the Army during WWII he was introduced to the USO and to acting. His first film was The Killers (1946), and that made him a star. He was a self-taught actor who learned the business as he went along. He set up his own production company in 1948 with Harold Hecht and James Hill to direct his career. He played many different roles in pictures as varied as The Crimson Pirate (1952), From Here to Eternity (1953), Elmer Gantry (1960) and Atlantic City (1980).
His production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, produced such films as Paddy Chayefsky's Marty (1955) (Oscar winner 1955) and The Catered Affair (1956). In the 1980s he appeared as a supporting player in a number of movies, such as Local Hero (1983) and Field of Dreams (1989). However, it will be the sound of his voice, the way that he laughed, and the larger-than-life characters he played that will always be remembered.
Known For
From Here to Eternity
(1953)
Local Hero
(1983)
Sorry, Wrong Number
(1948)
Sweet Smell of Success
(1957)
Burt Lancaster Movies
actor
Previous (75)
- 2019 | La passione di Anna Magnani
- 1953 | From Here to Eternityas Sgt. Milton Warden
- 1990 | Benny Carter: Symphony in Riffs
- 1989 |
Field of Dreams
asDr. 'Moonlight' Graham
Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.
- 1988 | The Jeweller's Shopas The Jeweller
- 1988 | Rocket Gibraltaras Levi Rockwell
- 1987 | Controlas Dr. Herbert Monroe
- 1986 | Tough Guysas Harry Doyle
- 1985 | Little Treasureas Delbert Teschemacher
- 1983 | Local Heroas Felix Happer
- 1982 | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
- 1980 | Cattle Annie and Little Britchesas Bill Doolin
- 1980 | Atlantic Cityas Lou
- 1979 | Zulu Dawnas Col. Durnford
- 1978 | Go Tell the Spartansas Maj. Asa Barker
- 1977 | Exploring the Unknownas Narrator
- 1977 | The Island of Dr. Moreauas Dr. Paul Moreau
- 1977 | Twilight's Last Gleamingas Gen. Lawrence Dell
- 1976 | The Cassandra Crossingas Colonel Mackenzie
- 1974 | Conversation Pieceas Il Professore
- 1974 | The Midnight Manas Jim Slade
- 1973 | Ali the Fighteras Narrator
- 1973 | Executive Actionas Farrington
- 1973 | Scorpioas Cross
- 1972 | Ulzana's Raidas McIntosh
- 1971 | Lawmanas Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox
- 1971 | Valdez Is Comingas Valdez
- 1970 | Airportas Mel Bakersfeld
- 1969 | King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
- 1969 | The Gypsy Mothsas Mike Rettig
- 1969 | Castle Keepas Maj. Abraham Falconer
- 1968 | The Swimmeras Ned Merrill
- 1968 | U.S. Water Polo
- 1968 | The Scalphuntersas Joe Bass
- 1966 | The Professionalsas Dolworth
- 1965 | The Hallelujah Trailas Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
- 1964 | Seven Days in Mayas Gen. James Mattoon Scott
- 1964 | The Trainas Paul Labiche
- 1963 | A Child Is Waitingas Dr. Matthew Clark
- 1963 | The Leopardas Prince Don Fabrizio Salina
- 1963 | The List of Adrian Messengeras Animal Rights Protester
- 1962 | Birdman of Alcatrazas Robert Franklin Stroud
- 1961 | The Young Savagesas Hank Bell
- 1961 | Judgment at Nurembergas Dr. Ernst Janning
- 1960 | Elmer Gantryas Elmer Gantry
- 1960 | The Unforgivenas Ben Zachary
- 1959 | The Devil's Discipleas The Rev. Anthony Anderson
- 1958 | Separate Tablesas John Malcolm
- 1958 | Run Silent Run Deepas Lt. Jim Bledsoe
- 1957 | Gunfight at the O.K. Corralas Wyatt Earp
- 1957 | Sweet Smell of Successas J.J. Hunsecker
- 1956 | Trapezeas Mike Ribble
- 1956 | The Rainmakeras Bill Starbuck
- 1955 | The Kentuckianas Big Eli Wakefield
- 1955 | The Rose Tattooas Alvaro Mangiacavallo
- 1954 | Apacheas Massai
- 1954 | His Majesty O'Keefeas Capt. David Dion O'Keefe
- 1954 | Vera Cruzas Joe Erin
- 1953 | South Sea Womanas Master Gunnery Sgt. James O'Hearn
- 1952 | Come Back, Little Shebaas Doc Delaney
- 1952 | The Crimson Pirateas Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)
- 1951 | Jim Thorpe -- All-Americanas Jim Thorpe
- 1951 | Ten Tall Menas Sgt. Mike Kincaid
- 1951 | Vengeance Valleyas Owen Daybright
- 1950 | Mister 880as Steve Buchanan
- 1950 | The Flame and the Arrowas Dardo Bartoli
- 1949 | Criss Crossas Steve Thompson
- 1949 | Rope of Sandas Mike Davis
- 1948 | All My Sonsas Chris Keller
- 1948 | Kiss the Blood Off My Handsas Bill Saunders
- 1948 | Sorry, Wrong Numberas Henry Stevenson
- 1947 | Desert Furyas Tom Hanson
- 1947 | I Walk Aloneas Frankie Madison
- 1947 | Brute Forceas Joe Collins
- 1946 | The Killersas Ole 'Swede' Anderson
