Burt Lancaster
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Last Updated: 11/23/24
Real Name: Burton Stephen Lancaster
Born: November 2, 1913
Died: October 20, 1994 (aged 80)
Height: 6' 0"
Grade: A+
Actor/Movie Star: 15%-85%
Prime Years: 1946-66, 1968-74, 1978, 1980, and 1991
Most Famous Films: From Here to Eternity (1953) and Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
Most Infamous Film: Novecento (1976)
Masterpiece: From Here to Eternity (1953), Vera Cruz (1954), Elmer Gantry (1960),
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), and The Swimmer (1968)
Outstanding: The Rose Tattoo (1955), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), and
The Train (1964)
Honorable: I Walk Alone (1947), Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948),
The Kentuckian (1955), Trapeze (1956), Airport (1970), Ulzana's Raid (1972),
Scorpio (1973), Go Tell the Spartans (1978), Atlantic City (1980), and
Separate But Equal (1991)
Opinion: Equipped with all-American looks, Burt Lancaster is the best all-around actor in history. He's
the only one who comes close to Marlon Brando's greatness. Where the latter fails the most, the former more
than makes up for it with consistency. That's why there are so many outstanding motion pictures in Burt
Lancaster's oeuvre, covering a wide range of subjects. He also cared deeply about filmmaking and thus never
gave a bad performance in his entire career. There are three actors I think of the most when it comes to
defining the film noir era, and they're Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, and Burt Lancaster. The only
knock on him is that he tended to flash his teeth a lot in substitution for acting.
Confirmed: Born Irish with some Welsh blood and grew up in the Italian East Harlem area of New York
City. A big fan of Douglas Fairbanks and was a voracious reader, due to his unquenchable thirst for knowledge,
with ambitions to be an opera singer but lost his soprano voice to puberty. Did some acting and was offered a
scholarship but turned it down, calling it a "sissy" thing to do. Often got into street fights which explains
his volatile temper that was largely shaped by his stern disciplinarian mother (she died when he was 15). At
age 9, made best friends with Nick Cravat during summer camp, and they became acrobat partners in the circus
after high school, starting in 1932. Got obsessed with bar swings after seeing somebody perform it and made that
a lifelong activity to stay in shape.
Decided to check out acting in 1935 through Federal Theater Project but yearned to go back to his old profession.
After ripping finger on his right hand in 1939 (or 1940?) which would've been amputated if he had continued on,
decided to quit the circus to work various jobs that were mostly in sales. In 1942, got drafted by the U.S.
Army and was placed in the entertainment unit where he learned to write, direct, act, and sing in feature
productions. Spent the next three years in North Africa and Italy.
While in the process of obtaining his honorable discharge in 1945, was accidentally discovered in New York
City by an associate of a producer as Lancaster stepped out of the elevator, and he asked him to read for a
short-lived play (A Sound of Hunting) after being struck by his looks and physical presence. With the
help of Sam Levene and Hal B. Wallis, Hollywood came calling for Burt Lancaster straightaway, and he was 32
years old at the time. In the audience for the aforementioned play was Harold Hecht who got completely sold
by Burt Lancaster's performance on stage as the complete package, and he, an agent with very few clients, had
to have him. They would form their own production company, making Burt Lancaster among the first actors to do
so with the goal of crafting quality pictures without any studio interference. It eventually fell apart due
to overspending and expanding rapidly beyond its means.
Made his first on-screen appearance in The Killers to a great deal of acclaim. It was during the filming of
Brute Force that screenwriter Richard Brooks met with Burt Lancaster about the idea of adapting
Elmer Gantry on screen from Sinclair Lewis' book, and they would keep in touch over the years with
Burt Lancaster being skeptical about its prospects. By the time they finally got serious about it, they worked
on the script for seven solid months before it was ready to be filmed. The final result led to Burt Lancaster's
only Oscar win. Famous for being associated with Kirk Douglas, having done seven films together, beginning
with I Walk Alone. Their friendship started to bloom during the making of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,
but they weren't that great friends as the public had been led to believe. Yet Kirk Douglas had always admired
Burt Lancaster, having wanted to be like him.
Despite his tremendous fitness which included rising early to jog several miles and maintaining a gymnastics
routine in the afternoon, was a lifelong heavy smoker which led to a series of heart attacks and a stroke.
Played golf daily. Famous for his violent temper tantrums on the movie set, especially when he flubbed a line
and couldn't get it right after many takes. Had a violent physical spat with Margot Kidder during the making
of Little Treasure. Tended to be aloof around others because of his intense concentration to play a
character. Liked to exercise control over directors by telling them how to shoot this or that scene. Would argue
many times with others to understand the reasons why a scene must be done in a particular way but was willing
to admit to being wrong afterwards. Performed nearly all of his stunts in every single film, hence the
heightened excitement.
Was intimidated by just one actor during his lifetime: Montgomery Clift which occurred during the making of
From Here to Eternity. Because of his immense respect for Clift, Burt Lancaster said, "He approached
the script like a scientist. I've never seen anyone so meticulous. I'll never forget when we shot our first
scene together. It was the only time that I could not stop my knees from shaking because he had such power. His
concentration was enormous." Thought of Marlon Brando as the other eminent actor of his generation.
By all accounts, the character that described Burt Lancaster the best was Elmer Gantry, and he admitted that it was
true although he incorporated some aspects of John Huston. Gave some people a big break in their career such as Tony
Curtis, Sydney Pollack, and Ed Lauter. Did some movies for free. Most loved working with Burt Lancaster despite his
occasional volatile behavior because he actually cared about his work and never gave the vibe of a big star who
couldn't be bothered with.
Wore eyeglasses in public. Was an extremely private man and a loner who preferred books and music and didn't
attend parties, nightclubs, and the like. A serious bridge player who had gatherings at his house nearly every
Saturday night but still flashed temper tantrums from time to time while playing. Showed a lifelong love for
opera and often carried his record player to wherever he traveled. Was a serial womanizer and had an affair
with Shelley Winters for years. Had plastic surgeries and facelifts, claiming that the only thing that was real
was his eyes. Drank heavily in his later years.
Rumors: Bisexual.