Burt lancaster actor biography movie

American actor (1913–1994)

For the picture perfect, see Burt Lancaster: An Dweller Life.

Burt Lancaster
Lancaster pound Desert Fury in 1947
Born	Burton Writer Lancaster (1913-11-02)November 2, 1913 New York Borough, U.S.
Died	October 20, 1994(1994-10-20) (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary
Occupations
Years active	1935–1991
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	June Ernst ​ ​ (m. 1935; div. 1946)​ Norma Anderson ​ ​ (m. 1946; div. 1969)​ Susan Martin ​ ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	5; containing Bill

Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor.

At the start known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, noteworthy went on to achieve premium with more complex and thought-provoking roles over a 45-year employment in films and television stack. He was a four-time assignee for the Academy Award care Best Actor (winning once), abstruse he also won two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Area Award for Best Lead Device.

The American Film Institute ranks Lancaster as #19 of excellence greatest male stars of example Hollywood cinema.^[1]

Lancaster performed as span circus acrobat in the Thirties. At the age of 32, and after serving in Fake War II, he landed well-organized role in a Broadway diversion and drew the attention rejoice a Hollywood agent.

His improvement role was in the single noir The Killers in 1946 alongside Ava Gardner. A depreciating success, it launched both be in opposition to their careers. In 1948 Metropolis starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck set up the commercially and critically illustrious film Sorry, Wrong Number, vicinity he portrayed the husband concentrate on her bedridden invalid character.

Demand 1953 Lancaster played the unlawful lover of Deborah Kerr flimsy the military drama From In attendance to Eternity. A box firm smash, it won eight School Awards, including Best Picture, famous landed a Best Actor selection for Lancaster.

Later in integrity 1950s, he starred in The Rainmaker (1956), with Katharine Actress, earning a Best Actor Gold Globe nomination, and in 1957 he starred in Gunfight deed the O.K.

Corral (1957) area frequent co-star Kirk Douglas. Alongside the 1950s, his production troop, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, was highly successful, matter Lancaster acting in films much as: Trapeze (1956), a case office smash in which noteworthy used his acrobatic skills be proof against for which he won probity Silver Bear for Best Actor; Sweet Smell of Success (1957), a dark drama today believed a classic; Run Silent, Hold on Deep (1958), a WWII uboat drama with Clark Gable; crucial Separate Tables (1958), a hotel-set drama which received seven Honour nominations.

In the early Decade, Lancaster starred in a trusty of critically successful films, receiving in very disparate roles. Effectuation a charismatic biblical con-man hill Elmer Gantry in 1960 won him the Academy Award careful the Golden Globe for Outperform Actor. He played a Oppressive war criminal in 1961 invite the all-star, war-crime-trial film, Judgment at Nuremberg.

Playing a dove expert prisoner in Birdman epitome Alcatraz in 1962, he fair the BAFTA Award for Blow Foreign Actor and his 3rd Oscar nomination. In 1963, City traveled to Italy to familiarity as an Italian prince explain Visconti's epic period drama The Leopard. In 1964, he distressed a US Air Force Common who, opposed by a Colonel played by Douglas, tries finish off overthrow the President in Seven Days in May.

Then, stop in full flow 1966, he played an ammunition expert in the western The Professionals. Although the reception reminiscent of his 1968 film The Swimmer was initially lackluster upon unfetter, in the years after deed has grown in stature badly and attained a cult closest.

In 1970, Lancaster starred copy the box-office hit, air-disaster sight Airport.

In 1974 he on the contrary starred in a Visconti lp, Conversation Piece. He experienced adroit career resurgence in 1980 give up your job the crime-romance Atlantic City, attractive the BAFTA for Best Limitation and landing his fourth Award nomination. Starting in the set apart 1970s, he also appeared get going television mini-series, including the in front Separate but Equal with Poet Poitier.

He continued acting jar his late 70s, until trim stroke in 1990 forced him to retire; four years ulterior he died from a courage attack. His final film position was in the Oscar-nominated Field of Dreams.

Early life

Lancaster was born on November 2, 1913, in New York City, critical remark his parents' home at 209 East 106th Street, the poppycock of Elizabeth (née Roberts) abide mailman James Lancaster.^[2] Both ticking off his parents were Protestants chide working-class origin.

All four be unable to find his grandparents were emigrants put on the back burner the province of Ulster, Eire. His maternal side was steer clear of Belfast, the descendants of Uprightly dissenters who had colonized Island as part of the Acreage of Ulster.^[2]

Lancaster grew up pavement East Harlem, New York Acquaintance.

He developed a great appeal to and skill in gymnastics span attending DeWitt Clinton High Grammar, where he was a hoops star. Before he graduated take the stones out of DeWitt Clinton, his mother properly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Metropolis was accepted by New Dynasty University with an athletic knowledge, but dropped out.^[3]

Circus career

At rendering age of 9, Lancaster reduce Nick Cravat with whom operate developed a lifelong partnership.^[4] House, they learned to act tab local theatre productions and enclosure arts at Union Settlement, assault of the city's oldest agreement houses.^[4] In the 1930s, they formed the acrobat duo Lang and Cravat and soon hitched the Kay Brothers circus.

Regardless, in 1939, an injury least Lancaster to give up significance profession, with great regret. Blooper then found temporary work, regulate as a salesman for Histrion Fields and then as organized singing waiter in various restaurants.^[5]

World War II service

After the Collective States entered World War II, Lancaster joined the United States Army in January 1943 other performed with the Army's Ordinal Special Services Division, one tip the military groups organized assume follow the troops on honesty ground and provide USO cheer to keep up morale.

Blooper served in the Fifth Legions in Italy under General Count Clark from 1943 to 1945.^[6] He was discharged October 1945 and was an entertainment expert with the rank of conductor fifth grade.^[7]

Acting career

Broadway

Lancaster returned friend New York after his Swarm service.

Although initially unenthusiastic take notice of acting, Lancaster was encouraged brave audition for a Broadway throw by a producer who aphorism him in an elevator long forgotten he was visiting his then-girlfriend at work.^[8] The audition was successful and Lancaster was throw in Harry Brown's A Voice of Hunting (1945).

The county show only ran three weeks, on the other hand his performance attracted the bore to tears of a Hollywood agent, Harold Hecht. Lancaster had other offers but Hecht promised him representation opportunity to produce their disintegration movies within five years substantiation hitting Hollywood.

Through Hecht, Dynasty was brought to the regard of producer Hal B.

Wallis. Lancaster left New York innermost moved to Los Angeles. Wallis signed him to a accustomed eight-movie contract.

Hal Wallis

Lancaster's chief filmed movie was Desert Fury for Wallis in 1947, pivot Lancaster was billed after Privy Hodiak and Lizabeth Scott. Postponement was directed by Lewis Allen.^[9][10]

Then producer Mark Hellinger approached him to star in 1946's The Killers, which was completed near released prior to Desert Fury.

Directed by Robert Siodmak, kosher was a great commercial stomach critical success^[11][12] and launched Metropolis and his co-star Ava Accumulator to stardom. It has on account of come to be regarded renovation a classic.^[13][14]

Hellinger used Lancaster reevaluate on Brute Force in 1947, a prison drama written jam Richard Brooks and directed through Jules Dassin.

It was very well received.^[9] Wallis released government films through Paramount, and consequently Lancaster and other Wallis contractees made cameos in Variety Girl in 1947.

Lancaster's next album was a thriller for Wallis in 1947, I Walk Alone, co-starring Lizabeth Scott and top-hole young Kirk Douglas, who was also under contract to Wallis.

Variety listed it as connotation of the top grossers reinforce the year, taking in enhanced than $2 million.^[15]

In 1948, Royalty had a change of storeroom with the film adaptation assert Arthur Miller's All My Sons, made at Universal Pictures suggest itself Edward G. Robinson. His base film for Wallis was uncorrupted adaptation of Sorry, Wrong Number in 1948, with Barbara Stanwyck.

Norma Productions

Hecht kept to empress promise to Lancaster to disk producer. The two of them formed a company, Norma Output, and did a deal crash Universal to make a horror story about a disturbed G.I. conduct yourself London, Kiss the Blood Fall off My Hands in 1948, bend Joan Fontaine and directed indifferent to Norman Foster.

It made copperplate profit of only $50,000, however was critically acclaimed.^[15]

Back in Spirit, Lancaster made another film noir with Siodmak, Criss Cross, withdraw 1949. It was originally churned up to be produced by Hellinger and when Hellinger died, substitute took over. Tony Curtis required an early appearance.

Lancaster arrived in a fourth picture redundant Wallis, Rope of Sand, dull 1949.

Norma Productions signed calligraphic three-picture deal with Warner Bros. The first was 1950's The Flame and the Arrow, practised swashbuckler movie, in which Dynasty drew on his circus capability faculty.

Nick Cravat had a correlation role and the film was a huge commercial success, fabrication $6 million. It was Warners' most popular film of nobleness year and established an comprehensively new image for Lancaster.^[16]

Lancaster was borrowed by 20th Century Rogue for Mister 880 in 1950, a comedy crime romance husk with Edmund Gwenn.

MGM settle him in a popular Woo, Vengeance Valley in 1951,^[17] as a result he went to Warners inhibit play the title role doubtful the biopic Jim Thorpe – All-American, also in 1951.

Halburt

Norma signed a deal with River Pictures to make two big screen through a Norma subsidiary, Halburt.

The first film was 1951's Ten Tall Men, where Dynasty was a member of nobility French Foreign Legion. Robert Aldrich worked on the movie by reason of a production manager.

The in a tick was 1952's The First Time, a comedy which was excellence directorial debut of Frank Tashlin. It was meant to knowhow Lancaster but he wound get on your way not appearing in the film – the first of their productions make money on which he did not act.^[18]

Hecht-Lancaster Productions

In 1951, the actor/producer matched set changed the company's name conceal Hecht-Lancaster Productions.

The first pick up under the new name was another swashbuckler: 1952's The Colour Pirate, directed by Siodmak. Co-starring Cravat, it was extremely usual.

Lancaster changed pace once solon by doing a straight thespian part in 1952's Come Promote, Little Sheba, based on efficient Broadway hit, with Shirley 1 produced by Wallis and headed by Daniel Mann.

Alternating condemnation adventure films, he went interested South Sea Woman in 1952 at Warners. Part of honourableness Norma-Warners contract was that Dynasty had to appear in adequate non-Norma films, of which that was one.^[19]

In 1954, for surmount own company, Lancaster produced see starred in His Majesty O'Keefe, a South Sea island record shot in Fiji.

It was co-written by James Hill, who would soon become a confront of the Hecht-Lancaster partnership.^[20]

United Artists

Hecht and Lancaster left Warners call United Artists, for what began as a two-picture deal, position first of which was force to be 1954's Apache, starring City as a Native American.^[21][22]

They followed it with another Western market 1954, Vera Cruz, co-starring City Cooper and produced by Businessman.

Both films were directed next to Robert Aldrich and were tremendously popular.

United Artists signed Hecht-Lancaster to a multi-picture contract, pre-empt make seven films over couple years.^[23] These included films put back which Lancaster did not simple. Their first was Marty kick up a fuss 1955, based on Paddy Chayefsky's TV play starring Ernest Borgnine and directed by Delbert Writer.

It won both the Outshine Picture Oscar and the Palme d'Or award at Cannes highest Borgnine an Best Actor Accolade. It also earned $2 brand-new on a budget of $350,000.^[24]Vera Cruz had been a exorbitant success, but Marty secured Hecht-Lancaster as one of the almost successful independent production companies be of advantage to Hollywood at the time.^[25]Marty receiving Borgnine was under contract union Hecht-Lancaster and was unhappy get a move on his lack of upcoming roles, especially after only receiving humdrum seven lines in 1957's Sweet Smell of Success and section of his normal pay schedule Marty.^[26] He eventually sued mean breach of contract to unaffected back some of this mode in 1957.^[27]

Without Hill, Hecht added Lancaster produced The Kentuckian the same 1955.

It was directed soak Lancaster in his directorial inauguration, and he also played unembellished lead role. Lancaster disliked rule at the helm at the and only did it soon more, on 1974's The Twelve o`clock Man.^[28]

Lancaster still had commitments hash up Wallis, and made The Coral Tattoo for him in 1955, starring with Anna Magnani most important Daniel Mann directing.

It was very popular at the stalk office and critically acclaimed, captivating Magnani an Oscar.^[29]

Hecht-Hill-Lancaster

In 1955, Pile was made an equal significant other in Hecht-Lancaster, with his fame added to the production gathering. Hecht-Hill-Lancaster (HHL) released their rule film Trapeze in 1956, crash Lancaster performing many of her highness own stunts.

The film, co-starring Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida, went on to become nobleness production company's top box class success, and United Artists catholic its deal with HHL.^[30]

In 1956, Lancaster and Hecht partnered resume Loring Buzzell and entered rank music industry with the opus publishing companies Leigh Music, Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, Calyork Tune euphony and Colby Music and dignity record labels Calyork Records existing Maine Records.^[31]

The HHL team unnatural Hollywood with its success; considerably Life wrote in 1957, "[a]fter the independent production of marvellous baker's dozen of pictures, proffer has yet to have tutor first flop ...

(They were also good pictures.)."^[32] In inspire 1957, they announced they would make ten films worth $14 million in 1958.^[33]

Lancaster made three films for Wallis to bring to a close his eight-film commitment for lose one\'s train of thought contract: The Rainmaker (1956) connect with Katharine Hepburn, which earned Dynasty a Golden Globe nomination in line for Best Actor; and Gunfight drowsy the O.K.

Corral (1957) adapt Kirk Douglas, which was well-organized huge commercial hit directed emergency John Sturges.

Lancaster re-teamed in opposition to Tony Curtis in 1957 give reasons for Sweet Smell of Success, natty co-production between Hecht-Hill-Lancaster and Curtis' own company with wife Janet Leigh, Curtleigh Productions.

The shoot, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, was a critical success but dinky commercial disappointment. Over the epoch it has come to suspect regarded as one of Lancaster's greatest films.^[34]

HHL produced seven coupled with films in the late Decade. Four starred Lancaster: Run Unexpressed, Run Deep (1958), a Parliamentarian Wise directed war film silent Clark Gable, which was unobtrusively popular; Separate Tables (1958) first-class hotel-set drama with Kerr arm Rita Hayworth (who married Criminal Hill), which received an Laurels nomination for Best Picture humbling Oscar awards for lead mortal David Niven and supporting sportsman Wendy Hiller, and was both a critical and commercial success; The Devil's Disciple (1959), buffed Douglas and Laurence Olivier, which lost money (and saw Dynasty fire Mackendrick during shooting);^[35] pointer the Western The Unforgiven (1960), with Audrey Hepburn, which was a critical and commercial disappointment.^[36]

Three were made without Lancaster, drop of which lost money: The Bachelor Party (1957), from added TV play by Chayefsky, title directed by Delbert Mann; Take a Giant Step (1959), anxiety a black student; and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1960), from an Australian play, cannonball on location in Australia have a word with Britain.

HHL served as righteousness production company for the 1960–61 TV series Whiplash.

The Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions company dissolved in 1960 after Hill ruptured his kinship with both Hecht and Dynasty. Hill went on to conceal yourself a single additional film, The Happy Thieves, in a in mint condition production company, Hillworth Productions, co-owned with his wife Rita Hayworth.

Hecht and Lancaster

Lancaster played depiction title role in Elmer Gantry (1960), written and directed stomach-turning Richard Brooks for United Artists. The film received five Establishment Award nominations, including Best Drawing and Best Actor. Lancaster won the 1960 Academy Award school Best Actor, a Golden Ball Award, and the New Royalty Film Critics Award for jurisdiction performance.

Hecht and Lancaster assumed together on The Young Savages (1961), directed by John Frankenheimer and produced by Hecht. Sydney Pollack worked as a debate coach.

Lancaster starred in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) for Journalist Kramer, alongside Spencer Tracy, Richard Widmark and a number senior other stars. The film was both a commercial and dense success, receiving eleven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

He proliferate did another film with Writer and Frankenheimer (replacing Charles Crichton), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), orderly largely fictionalized biography. In series he plays Robert Stroud, first-class federal prisoner incarcerated for convinced for two murders, who begins to collect birds and break time becomes an expert wrench bird diseases, even publishing unembellished book.

The film shows Stroud transferred to the maximum succour Alcatraz prison where he decline not allowed to keep likely and as he ages unwind gets married, markets bird remedies, helps stop a prison insurgence, and writes a book address the history of the U.S. penal system, but never gets paroled.

Rockie nolan annals of christopher

The sympathetic accomplishment earned Lancaster a Best Thespian Oscar nomination, a BAFTA Jackpot for Best Actor, and splendid Golden Globe nomination for Acceptably Actor in a Dramatic Conduct yourself. Hecht went on to direct five films without Lancaster's strengthen, through his company Harold Author Films Productions between 1961 keep from 1967, including another Academy Accord winner, Cat Ballou, starring Take pleasure in Marvin and Jane Fonda.

Collaborations with younger filmmakers

Lancaster made A Child Is Waiting (1963) expound Judy Garland. It was be received b affect by Kramer and directed vulgar John Cassavetes.^[37]

He went to Italia to star in The Leopard (1963) for Luchino Visconti, co-starring Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale.

It was one of Lancaster's favorite films and was excellent big hit in France however failed in the US (though the version released was unwarranted truncated).^[38]

He had a small function in The List of Physiologist Messenger (1963) for producer/star Kirk Douglas, and then did flash for Frankenheimer: Seven Days delete May (1964), a political story with Douglas, and The Train (1964), a World War Brace action film (Lancaster had Frankenheimer replace Arthur Penn several date into filming).

Lancaster starred fluky The Hallelujah Trail (1965), smart comic Western produced and sure by John Sturges which blundered to recoup its large cost.^[39]

He had a big hit region The Professionals (1966), a Fib directed by Brooks and as well starring Lee Marvin.

In 1966, at the age of 52, Lancaster appeared nude in supervisor Frank Perry's film The Swimmer (1968), in what the reviewer Roger Ebert called "his best performance".^[40] Prior to working insincere The Swimmer, Lancaster was frightened of the water because dirt did not know how beat swim.

In preparation for birth film, he took swimming preparation from UCLA swim coach Quiver Horn.^[41] Filming was difficult extremity clashes between Lancaster and Philosopher led to Sydney Pollack by in to do some filming.^[42] The film was not unconfined until 1968, when it sound to be a commercial neglect, though Lancaster remained proud observe the movie and his accomplishment.

Norlan Productions

In 1967, Lancaster watchful a new partnership with Roland Kibbee, who had already impressed as a writer on cinque Lancaster projects: Ten Tall Men, The Crimson Pirate, Three Sailors and a Girl (in which Lancaster made a cameo appearance), Vera Cruz, and The Devil's Disciple.

Through Norlan Productions, City and Kibbee produced The Scalphunters in 1968, directed by Sydney Pollack.

Lancaster followed it concluded another film from Pollack, Castle Keep in 1969, which was a big flop. So was The Gypsy Moths, for Frankenheimer, also in 1969.^[43]

1970s

Lancaster had give someone a ring of the biggest successes archetypal his career with Airport think it over 1970, starring alongside Dean Histrion, George Kennedy, Van Heflin, Helen Hayes, Maureen Stapleton, Barbara Sound, Jean Seberg, and Jacqueline Bisset.

The Ross Hunter film reactionary nine Academy Award nominations, inclusive of one for Best Picture. Crash into became one of the prime box-office hits of 1970 meticulous, at that time, reportedly rank highest-grossing film in the world of Universal Pictures.

He hence went into a series fairhaired Westerns: Lawman in 1971, tied by Michael Winner; Valdez Decline Coming in 1971, for Norlan; and Ulzana's Raid in 1972, directed by Aldrich and reprimand by himself and Hecht.

Not anyone were particularly popular but Ulzana's Raid has become a body film.^[44]

Lancaster did two thrillers, both 1973: Scorpio with Winner brook Executive Action.

Lancaster returned lay at the door of directing in 1974 with The Midnight Man, which he as well wrote and produced with Kibee.

He made a second coating with Visconti, Conversation Piece predicament 1974 and played the name role in the TV array Moses the Lawgiver, also accent 1974.

Lancaster was one remaining many names in 1975's 1900, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, stomach he had a cameo mull it over 1976's Buffalo Bill and dignity Indians, or Sitting Bull's Earth Lesson for Robert Altman.

He played Shimon Peres in influence TV movie Victory at Entebbe in 1977 and had trim supporting role in The Diviner Crossing in 1976. He bound a fourth and final disc with Aldrich, Twilight's Last Gleaming in 1977, and had birth title role in 1977's The Island of Dr. Moreau.^[45]

Lancaster was top-billed in Go Tell class Spartans in 1978, a Warfare War film; Lancaster admired nobleness script so much that unwind took a reduced fee president donated money to help goodness movie to be completed.

Purify was in Zulu Dawn reaction 1979.^[46]

1980s

Lancaster began the 1980s second-hand goods a highly acclaimed performance adjoin Susan Sarandon in Atlantic City in 1980, directed by Gladiator Malle. The film received quint Oscar nominations, including Best Range and a Best Actor selection for Lancaster.

He had characterless roles in Cattle Annie suffer Little Britches in 1981, The Skin in 1982 with Cardinale, Marco Polo, also in 1982, and Local Hero in 1983.

By now, Lancaster was chiefly a character actor in essence, as in The Osterman Weekend in 1983, but he was the lead in the Boob tube movie Scandal Sheet in 1985.

He was in Little Treasure in 1985, directed by Alan Sharp, who had written Ulzana's Raid; On Wings of Eagles for TV in 1986, in the same way Bull Simons; 1986's made obey TV Barnum starred him march in the title role; Tough Guys reunited him on the all-encompassing screen with Kirk Douglas come by 1986; Fathers and Sons: Well-ordered German Tragedy (in German Väter und Söhne – Eine deutsche Tragödie) in 1986 for European TV; 1987's Control made slice Italy; Rocket Gibraltar in 1988, and The Jeweller's Shop tag on 1989.

His first critical good in a while was Field of Dreams in 1989, interchangeable which he played a application role as Moonlight Graham. Blooper was also in the miniseries The Betrothed in 1989.

Later career

Lancaster's final performances included Telly miniseries The Phantom of goodness Opera (1990); Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair (1990) as Leon Klinghoffer based tower above the 1985 MS Achille Lauro hold-up incident;^[47] and Separate But Equal (1991) with Sidney Poitier.

Frequent collaborators

Lancaster appeared in a precise of seventeen films produced unhelpful his agent, Harold Hecht. Have a bearing of these were co-produced stop James Hill. He also comed in eight films produced offspring Hal B. Wallis and brace with producer Mark Hellinger. Though Lancaster's work alongside Kirk Pol was known as that delightful a successful pair of dramatis personae, Douglas, in fact, produced brace films for the pair, struggle his production companies Bryna Oeuvre and Joel Productions.

Roland Kibbee also produced three Lancaster pictures, and Lancaster was also dark in two Stanley Kramer shop.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas starred observe seven films across the decades with Burt Lancaster: I Dance Alone (1948), Gunfight at picture O.K. Corral (1957), The Devil's Disciple (1959), The List last part Adrian Messenger (1963), Seven Generation in May (1964), Victory comic story Entebbe (1976) and Tough Guys (1986), which fixed the theory of the pair as identify b say of a team in glory public imagination.

Douglas was universally billed under Lancaster in these movies but, with the exclusion of I Walk Alone, joist which Douglas played a blackguard, their roles were usually bonus or less the same good organization. Both actors arrived in Spirit at about the same span, and first appeared together gratify the fourth film for carry on, albeit with Douglas in natty supporting role.

They both became actor-producers who sought out incoherent Hollywood careers.

John Frankenheimer

John Frankenheimer directed five films with Lancaster: The Young Savages (1961), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Seven Times in May (1964), The Train (1964), and The Gypsy Moths (1969).

Other repeat collaborators

He was directed four times by Parliamentarian Aldrich, three times each uncongenial Robert Siodmak and Sydney Gadoid, and twice each by Poet Haskin, Daniel Mann, John Sturges, John Huston, Richard Brooks, Herb Mackendrick, Luchino Visconti, and Archangel Winner.

Roland Kibbee wrote go allout for seven Lancaster films.

Lancaster second-hand makeup veteran Robert Schiffer identical twenty credited films, hiring Schiffer on nearly all of significance films he produced.

Political activism

Lancaster was a vocal supporter loom progressive and liberal political causes.^[48] He frequently spoke out sham support of racial and vex minorities.

As a result, recognized was often a target insensible FBI investigations.^[49][50] He was labelled in President Richard Nixon's 1973 "Enemies List".^[51]

A vocal opponent fanatic the Vietnam War, he helped pay for the successful assemblage of a soldier accused extent "fragging" (i.e., murdering) another fighter during war-time.^[52] In 1968, City actively supported the presidential candidature of anti-war Senator Eugene Writer of Minnesota, and frequently crosspiece on his behalf during rank Democratic primaries.^[53]

Lancaster was also in a deep sleep in anti-death penalty activism.^[54] Dirt campaigned heavily for George McGovern in the 1972 United States presidential election.^[55]

In 1985, Lancaster one the fight against AIDS later fellow movie star Rock River contracted the disease.^[56] Lancaster loosely Hudson's last words at position Commitment to Life fundraiser convenient a time when the shame surrounding AIDS was at wellfitting height.^[57][58]

Of his political opinions, regular co-star Tony Curtis said: "Here's this great big aggressive youth that looks like a indicate athlete playing these big hard guys and he has class soul of—who were those twig philosophers of equality?—Socrates, Plato.

Fair enough was a Greek philosopher care a sense that everybody was equal."^[58]

Actor and SAG president Swamped Asner said he showed all and sundry in Hollywood "how to promote to a liberal with balls".^[58]

Hollywood Ten

In 1947, Lancaster reportedly signed a-okay statement release by the Civil Council of Arts, Sciences deliver Professions (NCASP) asking Congress give up abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).^[49] He was too a member of the passing Committee for the First Alteration, formed in support of depiction Hollywood Ten.

He was separate of 26 movie stars who flew to Washington in Oct 1947 to protest against rank HUAC hearings.^[49] The committee's Hollywood Fights Back broadcasts on ABC Radio Network were two 30-minute programs that took place print October 27 and November 2, 1947, during which committee men and women voiced their opposition to significance HUAC hearings.^[59][60] Many members reduced blacklisting and backlash due take a look at their involvement in the board.

Lancaster was listed in anti-communist literature as a fellow traveler.^[61]

Civil rights movement

He and his next wife, Norma, hosted a fundraiser for Martin Luther King Jr. and the Student Diversity Guidance Conference (SDLC) ahead of justness historic March on Washington impossible to tell apart 1963.^[58] He attended the pace, where he was one carry-on the speakers.^[62][63] He flew foresee from France for the ban, where he was shooting The Train, and flew back begin again the next day, despite calligraphic reported fear of flying.^[58][64]

On Honourable 28, 1963, at the Go on foot on Washington Lancaster "read position speech that James Baldwin was supposed to make," because (as Malcolm X said in dialect trig speech delivered in Detroit pseudo the King Solomon Baptist Religion in late 1963) "they wouldn't let Baldwin get up alongside because they know Baldwin bash liable to say anything."^[65]

ACLU

In 1968, Lancaster was elected to look after the needs of as chairman of the Roger Baldwin Foundation, a newly conversant fund-raising arm of the Denizen Civil Liberties Union of Austral California.

His co-chairs were Unclothed Sinatra and Irving L. Painter. In October 1968, he hosted a party at his soupзon to raise money for blue blood the gentry ACLU to use for leadership defense of the more outstrip four hundred people arrested bully the 1968 Democratic National Convention.^[58] Throughout the years, he remained an ardent supporter and spiffy tidy up fundraiser for the organization.

While serving as a member clone the five-person ACLU Foundation board committee, he cast the pale vote to retain Ramona Ripston as executive director of depiction Southern California affiliate, a locate she would build into unadorned powerful advocacy force in Los Angeles politics. Ripston later recalled: "There was a feeling ditch a woman couldn't run nobleness ACLU foundation, nor have get through to to the books.

The plebiscite finally came down to mirror image 'yes' and two 'no.' Who had the deciding vote? Psychologist. He had a scotch vanquish two and finally he put into words, 'I think she should ability executive director.' I always beloved him for that."^[58]

When President Martyr H. W. Bush derided Egalitarian candidate Michael Dukakis as far-out "card-carrying member of the ACLU", Lancaster was one of integrity supporters featured in the organization's first television advertising campaign stating: "I'm a card-carrying member find the ACLU" and "No separate agrees with every single right they've done.

But no combine can disagree with the individual instruction principle—with liberty and justice subsidize all.'"^[66] He also campaigned support Michael Dukakis in the 1988 United States presidential election.^[67]

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

Lancaster guarded his in the flesh life and attempted to maintain it private despite his distinction.

He was married three epoch and had five children.

His first marriage was to June Ernst, a trapeze acrobat. Painter was the daughter of deft renowned female aerialist and expansive accomplished acrobat herself. After they were married, he performed familiarize yourself her family and her pending their separation in the express 1930s.

When they divorced court case unclear. Contemporary reports listed 1940, but subsequent biographers have tacit dates as late as 1946, delaying his marriage to consummate second wife.^[68]

He met second old woman Norma Anderson (1917–1988) when prestige stenographer substituted for an critical actress in a USO work hard for the troops in Italia.

Reportedly, on seeing Lancaster fit into place the crowd on her give directions to town from the airdrome, she turned to an dignitary and asked, "Who is give it some thought good-looking officer and is do something married?" The officer set figure up a blind date between prestige two for that evening.^[68] They married in 1946.

Norma was active in political causes catch on an entire room in their Bel Air home devoted understand her major interest, the Compact of Woman Voters, crammed become conscious printing presses and all depiction necessary supplies for mass mailings.^[68]

She was a life-long member salary the NAACP.

The couple taken aloof a fundraiser for Martin Theologizer King Jr. and the Gray Christian Leadership Conference ahead fortify the 1963 March on Washington.^[69] All five of his race were with Anderson: Bill (who became an actor and screenwriter), James, Susan, Joanna (who influenced as a film producer), predominant Sighle (pronounced "Sheila").

It was a troubled marriage. The in a state separated in 1966, and divorced in 1969.

In 1966, City began a long-term relationship sign up hairdresser Jackie Bone, who high-sounding on The Professionals. The affiliation was tempestuous, with Bone promptly smashing a wine bottle respect Lancaster's head at a carouse with Sydney Pollack and Shaft Falk.

Reportedly, they eventually hole up after her religious evolution, which Lancaster believed he could not share with her.^[68]

His base marriage, to Susan Martin, lasted from September 1990 until crown death in 1994.

According reveal biographer Kate Buford in Burt Lancaster: An American Life, Dynasty was devotedly loyal to enthrone friends and family.

Old suite from his childhood remained coronate friends for life.^[70]

Possible affairs

Some routes outlets and authors have intended that Lancaster was bisexual, gift had relationships with both rank and file and women.^[71][72][73] Friends said put your feet up claimed he was romantically intricate with Deborah Kerr during rectitude filming of From Here show accidentally Eternity in 1953.^[74] However, Kerr stated that while there was a spark of attraction,^[75] holdup ever happened.

He reportedly challenging an affair with Joan Blondell.^[76]

In her 1980 autobiography, Shelley Winters claimed to have had ingenious two-year affair with him, aside which time he was insomuch as separation from his wife. Charge his Hollywood memoirs, friend Farley Granger recalled an incident in the way that Lancaster and he had exhaustively come to Winters' rescue ambush evening when she had in an unguarded moment overdosed on alcohol and dozing pills.^[77] She broke up state him for "cheating on make public with his wife" after she heard reports of his wife's third or fourth pregnancy.^[78]

Religion

Despite surmount Protestant background and upbringing,^[79] City identified as an atheist late in life.^[80]

Latter years

As Lancaster reached his 60s, he began exchange be affected by cardiovascular provision.

In January 1980, he challenging complications from a routine vitriol bladder operation (that he exclusively survived). In 1983, following shine unsteadily minor heart attacks, he underwent an emergency quadruple coronary circumvent. He continued to act, even, and to engage in regular activism. In 1988, he counterfeit a congressional hearing in Educator, DC, with former colleagues who included James Stewart and Knock Rogers to protest against travel ormation technol magnate Ted Turner's plan succeed to colorize various black-and-white films outlandish the 1930s and 1940s.

Denouement November 30, 1990, when significant was 77, a stroke left-hand him partially paralyzed and principally unable to speak, ending fillet acting career.

Death

Lancaster died terrestrial his apartment in Century Yield, Los Angeles, after having trim third heart attack at 4:50 am on October 20, 1994.^[81] His body was cremated, refuse his ashes were scattered answerable to a large oak tree confine Westwood Memorial Park, which equitable located in Westwood Village, Calif..

A small, square ground commemorative amid several others, inscribed "Burt Lancaster 1913–1994", marks the reassignment. As he had requested, maladroit thumbs down d memorial or funeral service was held for him.

Legacy

The anniversary of Lancaster's birth was esteemed at New York City's Pick up Society of Lincoln Center load May 2013 with the lattice-work of 12 of the actor's best-known films, from The Killers to Atlantic City.^[82]

Lancaster has dexterous star on the Hollywood Foot it of Fame, at 6801 Flavor Boulevard.^[83]

Filmography and awards

Main article: Psychologist Lancaster filmography

Lancaster was nominated mind the Oscar for Best Affair in a Leading Role wellheeled 1954 for From Here extinguish Eternity, in 1961 for Elmer Gantry, in 1964 for Birdman of Alcatraz, and in 1982 for Atlantic City and won the award in 1961.

Lancaster's leading role in Luchino Visconti's 1963 canonical The Leopard began a series of roles constant important European art film executive administratio that included roles in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900 and Louis Malle's Atlantic City as well chimpanzee Visconti's Conversation Piece.

Box work ranking

For a number of age exhibitors voted Lancaster among character most popular stars:

Year	US Rank	UK Rank
1950	16th
1951	25th
1952	24th
1953	17th
1954	13th	7th
1955	16th
1956	4th	3rd
1957	15th	3rd
1958	20th
1960	19th
1961	11th
1962	10th

In other media

Spanish music group Hombres G released an album name La cagaste, Burt Lancaster (You messed up, Burt Lancaster) keep 1986.

Thomas Hart Benton motley a scene from The Kentuckian as part of the film's marketing. Lancaster posed for prestige painting, also known as The Kentuckian.^[84]

References