Burt Lancaster: Career, Movies, Height, Hit Movies, Roles

Burt Lancaster is a personality known in the world of cinema for his tough exterior that treasures a tender and sensitive human being. This was the most noticeable trait of Burt’s acting – a tough man with a soft heart.

Burt’s story is very versatile as a person and as an actor. He was a very tough youth who started performing in the circus. Later, he joined World War II. After serving in the US Army, Burt got interested in acting and started his broadway debut in 1945. 

Soon Lancaster was in Hollywood. He was the one-time winner and four times nominees for the Academy award. Here is a small story on Burt Lancaster, the #19th greatest male star of all time in Hollywood. 

Early life

Burt Lancaster was born to a protestant family in Manhattan, New Work. His parents, James and Elizabeth Lancasters, were American working-class people. Burt’s Father, James Lancaster, was a mailman by profession. 

During his youth, Lancaster usually spent most of his time in the streets of East Harlem. He was skilled in gymnastics. At the time of attending Dewitt Clinton High School, Lancaster was the basket b all-star. However, before graduating high school, Lancaster lost his mother to a cerebral hemorrhage. 

Circus

The New York University accepted Burt Lancaster with a scholarship in athletics; however, he dropped out. At a very early age, Burt Lancaster developed a friendship with Nick Cavort at the age of 9. Cavart and Lancaster learned the art of acting in theaters early. 

When they grew up, Cavart and Lancaster developed a circus acrobat duo named Lang and Cavart. Two of them joined the Kay Brothers circus in 1930. However, due to an injury, Lancaster had to leave the circus in 1939. 

World War II

When the US entered WWII, Lancaster joined the US army in 1943. He was performing USO entertainment for the US army to keep them entertained. Lancaster took a liking to acting when performing in the USO. When Lancaster got discharged in 1945, he came back from the war.

Career

Burt Lancaster, an entertainment specialist, left the war with the rank of technician in fifth grade. When Lancaster came back, he did not have much intention to act. But a producer encouraged him to act in the Broadway plays while he was visiting his girlfriend.

Broadway Shows

Following this encouragement, Burt auditioned for Broadway and was cast in Harry Brown’s A Sound Of Hunting, a 1945 Broadway show.  The show did not last for long ( only three weeks). However, this was a good start for Burt because his actions caught the eyes of a  Hollywood casting agent named Harold. 

Lancaster was getting other offers as well. However, he stuck to Harold’s promise. Harold introduced Lancaster to Hal Willis. Willis Lancaster had a contract for 8 movies. This was a kickstart for his career in Hollywood. 

Professional growth

When we are talking about his professional career, we must highlight his rise to fame in the 80s. Even though he was constantly suffering from health issues, he starred in some big movies, including Firestarter, Gorky Park and Maria’s lovers. 

Burt Lancaster starred in the highly acclaimed film Field of dreams, co-starring Kevin Costner! It was one of the last big screen performances for the man and it alighted critics and fans. He was praised for his performance. 

He has also appeared in television miniseries called separate, but equal which is his final performance of the lifetime. The series aired in the year 1991. People has appreciated his screen performance and presence for a lifetime! 

Films

Burt Lancaster appeared in many good-quality films throughout his career following his contract with Willis. The first two decades of Lancaster’s career were very prolific. He appeared in some of the best films during the 1940s and the 1950s. 

The 40s, 50s

I Walk Alone,  All My Sons, Sorry, Wrong Number came out in 1948. Criss Cross in 1949 and The Flame and the Arrow in 1950 were a few of Lancaster’s early movie hits. Jim Thorpe—All American ( 1951) and The Crimson Pirate, and some Back, Little Sheba came in 1952.

Lancaster’s classic From Here to Eternity in 1953 earned him his Academy Award.  He was nominated for the Academy Awards in the Best Actor category four times.  The series of hits continued with movies like Apache in  1954.

He appeared in many other films in the 50s. Some of the most notable films were –

 The Rose Tattoo in 1955, Trapeze and The Rainmaker in 1956; Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and Sweet Smell of Success in 1957; Run Silent, Run Deep, and Separate Tables in 1958.

The 60s To 80s

In the 1960s, Lancaster’s role in the movie Elmer Gantry got him the Academy Award for a charismatic and powerful performance. Lancaster was also nominated for Oscar for another movie named  Birdman of Alcatraz (1962).  He appeared in several other films during the 60s. Some of them include – Seven Days in mya in 1964, The Train in 1964, The Professionals in 1966, and The Swimmer in 1968.

Lancaster also appeared in several movies during the 70s and 80s. Airport, 1900, Atlantic City, Local Hero, Tough Guys, and Field of Dreams are some worth mentioning names from Lancaster’s later career as a movie star.

Personal life

Burt, Lancaster had three marriages, what is the third marriage continuing till his death. His first marriage was to an acrobat, June Ernst from 1935 to 1946. 

He did not have any children from this marriage. In a second marriage to Norma Andersen, he had five children named James, Joanna, Patel, Sigle and Susan. They were married from 1946 to 1965 when they separated. Finally, they got divorced in 1969. 

His third marriage was in September 1990 to Susan Martin. He was a very private person thus, never allow or authorising any biography on himself. He’s also very devoted to the people in his life. People who knew him said he was a friend for life. 

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Legacy 

For most of his life, Lancaster has survived and created a brand for himself. However, in the later years, his smoking habit what up with him. Apparently, he had a routine called better operation in 1980, which became very serious because of the condition his body was in. 

He had to spend two days in intensive care after his conditions became severe. Even he suffered from to heart attacks in 1983. His heart condition became so severe that he was constantly getting sick.  

Again, in 1990, he suffered from a stroke which led to him being partially paralysed. He was unable to speak after that. It was in the early 1994, 20th October, that Lancaster suffered his third heart attack thus, leading to his death. 

A brilliant actor, gifted, and charismatic performer of Hollywood was named 19^th on the list of greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema according to the American film Institute. He was a director and producer apart from being a very talented actor. 

Burt Lancaster’s Net Worth

Lancaster was one of the prominent classic actors in Hollywood. He delivered lots of hits during his career. He is among the great male stars of all time in Hollywood with a rank of #19. Different reports suggest that Lancaster had a net worth of $60 million before his death. 

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Concluding Words

Burt Lancaster also had a production company named Hecht-Hill-Lancaster. His production company is responsible for producing oscar winner movies like  Paddy Chayefsky’s Marty (1955),  and The Catered Affair. Lancaster played many larger-than-life characters that highlighted him as one of the best actors of his time. 

I hope that this article was helpful. However, if you have any queries you can comment below. 

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