Burt Lancaster
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| Burt Lancaster | |||||||||||||||
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| Born | Burton Stephen Lancaster 2 November 1913 New York City, New York |
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| Died | 20 October 1994 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California |
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| Years active | 1945–1991 | ||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | June Ernst (1935–1946) Norma Anderson (1946–1969) Susan Martin (1990–1994) |
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Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster (2 November 1913–20 October 1994) was an American film actor and star, noted for his athletic physique, distinct smile (which he called "The Grin") and, later, his willingness to play roles that went against his initial "tough guy" image. Initially dismissed as "Mr Muscles and Teeth", in the late 1950s Lancaster abandoned his "all-American" image and gradually came to be regarded as one of the best actors of his generation.
Lancaster was nominated four times for Academy Awards and won once, for his work in Elmer Gantry in 1960. He also won a Golden Globe for that performance, and BAFTA Awards for The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Atlantic City (1980).
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[edit] Early life
Lancaster was born in New York City, the son of Elizabeth (née Roberts) and James Henry Lancaster, who was a postman.[1] His parents were both Protestants of working-class Irish origin, with Lancaster's grandparents having been immigrants to the U.S. from Belfast and descendants of English immigrants to Ireland.[1] Lancaster's family believed themselves to be related to Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts; their surname originates from 11th century French immigrants to England with the surname "de Lancastre".[1] Lancaster grew up in East Harlem and spent much of his time on the streets, where he developed great interest and skill in gymnastics while attending the DeWitt Clinton High School. Later, he worked as a circus acrobat until an injury forced him to give up the profession. During World War II, Lancaster joined the United States Army and performed with the USO.
[edit] Career
Though initially unenthusiastic about acting, he returned from service, auditioned for a Broadway play and was offered a role. Though Harry Brown's A Sound of Hunting was not successful, Lancaster's performance drew the attention of a Hollywood agent who had him cast in the 1946 motion picture The Killers. The tall, muscular actor[2] won significant acclaim and appeared in two more films the following year. Subsequently, he played in a variety of movies, especially in dramas, thrillers, and military and adventure films. In two, The Flame and the Arrow and The Crimson Pirate, a friend from his circus years, Nick Cravat, played a leading role, and both actors impressed audiences with their acrobatic prowess. In 1953, he played one of his most famous roles with Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity. The American Film Institute acknowledged the iconic status of the scene from that film in which he and Deborah Kerr make love on a Hawaii beach amidst the crashing waves. The organization named it one of "AFI's top 100 Most Romantic Films" of all time.
In the mid 1950s, Lancaster went on challenging himself with varied cinematic roles, and satisfied longtime aspirations by moving into film producing as well. In most of his roles, whether in drama, circus, western or other genres, the self-taught actor was successful; he evolved into a solid and versatile performer and eventually a star. His work was recognized in 1960 when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe Award, and the New York Film Critics Award for his performance in Elmer Gantry.
Lancaster had tremendous screen presence. His versatility often surprised the critics, but some roles and certain genres suited him better than others. He excelled in westerns, and had the guts to choose projects that were not obviously commercial. Valdez is Coming (1971) explored racial tension between whites and Hispanics, and Ulzana’s Raid (1972) made cinemagoers squirm for all the right reasons: its depiction of the gulf in understanding between the white man and the Apache was stark and unrelenting. The latter film, under-rated on its release, exemplifies Lancaster’s eye for a talented writer, in this case the Scottish novelist Alan Sharp. In Robert Altman’s Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976), Lancaster was happy to excel in a supporting role, playing Buffalo Bill’s effective creator, the journalist Ned Buntline.
Lancaster made several films over the decades with Kirk Douglas, including I Walk Alone (1948), Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957), The Devil's Disciple (1959), Seven Days in May (1964), and Tough Guys (1986), which fixed the notion of the pair as something of a team in the public's imagination. Douglas was always second-billed under Lancaster in these films but, with the exception of I Walk Alone, in which Douglas played a villain, their roles were usually more or less the same size.
During the latter part of his career, Lancaster left adventure and acrobatic movies behind and portrayed distinguished characters. This period brought him work on several European productions, with directors such as Luchino Visconti and Bernardo Bertolucci. Lancaster sought demanding roles and, if he liked a part or a director, was prepared to work for much lower pay than he might have earned elsewhere; he even helped to finance movies in whose artistic value he believed. He produced a number of films himself and also mentored such new directors as Sydney Pollack and John Frankenheimer, thus adding to his numerous acting achievements a pioneering role in the development of independent cinema. He also appeared in several TV films.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Lancaster has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.
[edit] Personal life
As famous for his prickly, temperamental personality as for his willingness and skills at taking on different characterizations, Lancaster vigorously guarded his private life. He was married three times and had five children. His first spouse, from 1935 to 1946, was June Ernst, whom he divorced. His second marriage was with Norma Anderson from 1946 to 1969 and also ended in divorce. He was romantically involved with Deborah Kerr during the filming of From Here to Eternity in 1953.[3] With Norma, he had Billy (who became a screenwriter), James, Susan, Joanna and Sighle (pronounced Sheila). His third wife was Susan Martin, whom he married in September 1990.
Lancaster was an unabashed liberal activist, who frequently spoke out with support for minorities. He was also instrumental in the formation of many liberal groups, through financial support. At one point, he was rumored to be a member of the Communist Party, in light of his many liberal causes. He was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and oppressive political movements like McCarthyism, and helped pay for the successful defense of a soldier accused of fragging another soldier during the war.[4] In 1968 Lancaster actively supported the antiwar presidential candidacy of Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, and frequently spoke on his behalf in the Democratic primaries. In 1985 Lancaster, a longtime supporter of gay rights, joined the fight against AIDS after his close friend, Rock Hudson, became ill with the disease. He campaigned for Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election.
[edit] Health problems and death
As Lancaster aged, heart trouble increasingly hindered him from working as intensely as his passion and determination demanded. He nearly died during a routine gall bladder operation in January 1980. Following two minor heart attacks he had to undergo an emergency quadruple heart bypass in 1983, after which he was in frail health. He suffered a severe stroke in November 1990, which left him partly paralyzed and with restricted speech. Lancaster died in his Century City apartment in Los Angeles from a third heart attack on 20 October 1994, at the age of 80.
[edit] Quotations
"Most people seem to think I’m the kind of guy who shaves with a blowtorch. Actually, I’m bookish and worrisome."
"Brave, vigorous, handsome, and an actor of great range, Lancaster never yielded in his immaculate splendor, proud to be a movie actor. He was one of the great stars. Perhaps the last." — David Thomson
[edit] Filmography and awards
| Year | Film | Role | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | The Killers | 'Swede' Andersen | |
| 1947 | Brute Force | Joe Collins | |
| Desert Fury | Tom Hanson | ||
| 1948 | I Walk Alone | Frankie Madison | |
| All My Sons | Chris Keller | ||
| Sorry, Wrong Number | Henry Stevenson | ||
| Kiss the Blood Off My Hands | William Earle 'Bill' Saunders | ||
| 1949 | Criss Cross | Steve Thompson / Narrator | |
| Rope of Sand | Michael (Mike) Davis | ||
| 1950 | The Flame and the Arrow | Dardo Bartoli | |
| Mister 880 | Steve Buchanan | ||
| 1951 | Vengeance Valley | Owen Daybright | |
| Jim Thorpe -- All-American | Jim Thorpe | ||
| Ten Tall Men | Sgt Mike Kincaid | ||
| 1952 | The Crimson Pirate | Capitan Vallo | |
| Come Back, Little Sheba | Doc Delaney | ||
| 1953 | South Sea Woman | Master Gunnery Sgt. James O'Hearn | |
| From Here to Eternity | 1st Sgt. Milton Warden | Academy Award for Best Actor nomination New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor |
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| Three Sailors and a Girl | Marine (uncredited) | ||
| 1954 | His Majesty O'Keefe | Captain David Dion O'Keefe/Narrator | |
| Apache | Massai | ||
| Vera Cruz | Joe Erin | ||
| 1955 | The Kentuckian | Elias Wakefield (Big Eli) | |
| The Rose Tattoo | Alvaro Mangiacavallo | ||
| 1956 | Trapeze | Mike Ribble | |
| The Rainmaker | Bill Starbuck, aka Bill Smith, Bill Harley, Tornado Johnson | ||
| 1957 | Gunfight at the O.K. Corral | Marshal Wyatt Earp | |
| Sweet Smell of Success | J.J. Hunsecker | ||
| 1958 | Run Silent Run Deep | Lt. Jim Bledsoe | |
| Separate Tables | John Malcolm | ||
| 1959 | The Devil's Disciple | The Rev. Anthony Anderson | |
| 1960 | The Unforgiven | Ben Zachary | |
| Elmer Gantry | Elmer Gantry | Academy Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor |
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| 1961 | The Young Savages | Hank Bell | |
| Judgment at Nuremberg | Dr. Ernst Janning | ||
| 1962 | Birdman of Alcatraz | Robert Stroud | BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for Best Actor nomination |
| 1963 | A Child Is Waiting | Dr. Ben Clark | |
| The Leopard (Gattopardo, Il) | Prince Don Fabrizio Salina | ||
| The List of Adrian Messenger | Cameo | ||
| 1964 | Seven Days in May | Gen. James Mattoon Scott | |
| The Train | Paul Labiche | ||
| 1965 | The Hallelujah Trail | Col. Thaddeus Gearhart | |
| 1966 | The Professionals | Bill Dolworth | |
| 1967 | All About People | Narrator | |
| 1968 | The Scalphunters | Joe Bass | |
| The Swimmer | Ned Merrill | ||
| 1969 | Castle Keep | Maj. Abraham Falconer | |
| The Gypsy Moths | Mike Rettig | ||
| 1970 | Airport | Mel Bakersfeld | |
| 1971 | Lawman | Bannock Marshal Jered Maddox | |
| Valdez Is Coming | Valdez | ||
| 1972 | Ulzana's Raid | McIntosh | |
| 1973 | Scorpio | Cross | |
| Executive Action | James Farrington | ||
| 1974 | The Midnight Man | Jim Slade | |
| Gruppo di famiglia in un interno (Conversation Piece) | The Professor | ||
| Moses the Lawgiver (TV mini-series) | Moses | ||
| 1976 | ' 'Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson | Ned Buntline | |
| 1900 (Novecento} | Alfredo's Grandfather | ||
| Victory at Entebbe (TV) | Shimon Peres | ||
| The Cassandra Crossing | Col. Stephen Mackenzie | ||
| 1977 | Twilight's Last Gleaming | Gen. Lawrence Dell | |
| The Island of Dr. Moreau | Dr. Paul Moreau | ||
| 1978 | Go Tell the Spartans | Maj. Asa Barker | |
| 1979 | Zulu Dawn | Col. Anthony Durnford | |
| 1980 | Atlantic City | Lou Pascal | BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for Best Actor nomination New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor |
| 1981 | Cattle Annie and Little Britches | Bill Doolin | |
| La Pelle | Gen. Mark Clark | ||
| 1982 | Marco Polo TV mini-series | TeobaldoVisconti / Pope Gregory X | |
| Verdi (TV mini-series) | Narrator in American version | ||
| 1983 | Local Hero | Felix Happer | |
| The Osterman Weekend | Maxwell Danforth | ||
| 1985 | Scandal Sheet | Harold Fallen | |
| Little Treasure | Delbert Teschemacher | ||
| 1986 | Väter und Söhne - Eine deutsche Tragödie (TV mini-series) | Geheimrat Carl Julius Deutz | |
| On Wings of Eagles (TV mini-series) | Lieutenant Colonel Arthur D. "Bull" Simons | ||
| Barnum | Phineas Taylor 'P.T.' Barnum | ||
| 1991 | Separate But Equal (TV) | John W. Davis | |
| 1986 | Tough Guys | Harry Doyle | |
| 1987 | Il Giorno prima | Dr. Herbert Monroe | |
| 1988 | Rocket Gibraltar | Levi Rockwell | |
| 1989 | Field of Dreams | Dr. Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham | |
| La Bottega dell'orefice | The Jeweller | ||
| I Promessi sposi (TV mini-series) | Cardinal Federigo Borromeo | ||
| 1990 | The Phantom of the Opera | Gerard Carriere | |
| Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair (TV) | Leon Klinghoffer |
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Burt Lancaster
- ^ Lancaster's exact height is disputed, with contemporary sources listing him at 6 foot 2 inches (1.8796m), but modern sources putting him at 6 foot 1 inch (1.85412m) at his peak.
- ^ Buford, Kate (2000). - Burt Lancaster: An American Life. - New York, New York: Knopf - Distributed by Random House. - ISBN 0679446036
- ^ Buford, Kate (2000). - Burt Lancaster: An American Life. - Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press, - p.266. - ISBN 0306810190
[edit] External links
- Burt Lancaster at the Internet Movie Database
- Burt Lancaster at the TCM Movie Database
- Burt Lancaster at Allmovie
- Burt Lancaster at the Internet Broadway Database
- Burt Lancaster at Find A Grave
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Ralph Richardson for The Sound Barrier |
NYFCC Award for Best Actor 1953 for From Here to Eternity |
Succeeded by Marlon Brando for On the Waterfront |
| Preceded by James Stewart for Anatomy of a Murder |
NYFCC Award for Best Actor 1960 for Elmer Gantry |
Succeeded by Maximilian Schell for Judgment at Nuremberg |
| Preceded by Robert DeNiro for Raging Bull |
NYFCC Award for Best Actor 1981 for Atlantic City |
Succeeded by Ben Kingsley for Gandhi |
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[edit] tags:
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Lancaster, Burt |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Lancaster, Burton Stephen |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American film actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 2, 1913 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New York City, New York |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 20, 1994 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Los Angeles, California |
