Burt Lancaster
Biography
Burton Stephen Burt Lancaster was an American film actor born in New York City on November 2, 1913, and he died on October 20, 1994, at the age of 80. Known for his athletic physique and distinctive smile which he called The Grin, Lancaster initially portrayed tough guy and all-American roles before shifting to parts that went against this image in the late 1950s, eventually becoming regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. His production company was named Hecht-Hill-Lancaster. During his career, he was nominated four times for Academy Awards, winning once for Elmer Gantry in 1960. He also won a Golden Globe Award for Elmer Gantry, alongside BAFTA Awards for The Birdman of Alcatraz in 1962 and Atlantic City in 1980.
Career overview
Burton Stephen Burt Lancaster was an American film actor born in New York City on November 1, 1913, and he passed away on October 20, 1994, at the age of eighty. Known in his career for his athletic physique and distinctive smile, which he referred to as The Grin, Lancaster initially cultivated a tough guy and all-American image in film. Over time, he took on roles that moved away from this initial persona, and by the late 1950s, he came to be regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation. Across his extensive career, he accumulated 147 known acting credits in movies and television shows.
Lancaster received significant critical acclaim throughout his career, earning four Academy Award nominations and winning one for his performance in Elmer Gantry in 1960. For that same performance, he also won a Golden Globe. Additionally, he earned BAFTA Awards for his work in The Birdman of Alcatraz in 1962 and Atlantic City in 1980. Beyond his acting work, Lancaster was involved in a production company named Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, which achieved recognition as the most successful and innovative of its kind.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Airports (2025)
- Paul Newman: The Restless (2023) as Self
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Rat Pack (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Morceaux de Cannes (2021)
- Claudia Cardinale, la créature du secret (2019) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Untameable Kirk Douglas (2017) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Luchino Visconti: Between Truth and Passion (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau (2014) as Self (archive footage)
- L'ultimo gattopardo - Ritratto di Goffredo Lombardo (2010) as Self
- Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood sul Tevere (2009)
- Luchino Visconti: Life as in a Novel (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Filmmakers vs. Tycoons (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Luchino Visconti (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- La Classe américaine (1993) as José (archive footage)
- Separate but Equal (1991) as John W. Davis
- Separate but Equal (1991) as John W. Davis
- Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- Movie Tough Guys (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- The Phantom of the Opera (1990) as Gérard Carrière
- Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair (1990) as Leon Klinghoffer
- Benny Carter: Symphony in Riffs (1990) as Self - Narrator
- Field of Dreams (1989) as Doc "Moonlight" Graham
- I promessi sposi (1989) as Cardinal Federigo Borromeo
- Dawn's Early Light: Ralph McGill and the Segregated South (1989) as Self
- The Jeweller's Shop (1989) as The Jeweller
- Rocket Gibraltar (1988) as Levi Rockwell
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) as Self
- Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist (1987) as Self - Host, Narrator
- Control (1987) as Dr. Herbert Monroe
- Barnum (1986) as PT Barnum
- On Wings of Eagles (1986) as Lieutenant Colonel Arthur E. 'Bull' Simons
- Tough Guys (1986) as Harry Doyle
- Mackendrick: The Man Who Walked Away (1986) as Self
- Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) Thanks
- Little Treasure (1985) as Delbert Teschmacher
- Scandal Sheet (1985) as Harold Fallen
- The Osterman Weekend (1983) as Maxwell Danforth
- Local Hero (1983) as Felix Happer
- James Bond: The First 21 Years (1983) as Self
- The Making of a 'Local Hero' (With a Little Help from His Friends) (1983) as Self
- Marco Polo (1982) as Teobaldo Visconti
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) as (in "The Killers") (archive footage)
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- I Love Liberty (1982) as Self
- Race to Oblivion (1982) as Self - Host / Narrator
- Race to Oblivion (1982) Thanks
- Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981) as Bill Doolin
- The Skin (1981) as Generale Clark
- Atlantic City (1980) as Lou
- Zulu Dawn (1979) as Col. Anthony Durnford
- Arthur Miller on Home Ground (1979)
- A Walking Tour of Sesame Street (1979) as Self (archive footage)
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- The Unknown War (1978) as Self - Host
- Go Tell the Spartans (1978) as Maj. Asa Barker
- Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977) as Gen. Lawrence Dell
- The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) as Dr. Paul Moreau
- 1900 (1976) as Alfredo Berlinghieri the Elder
- The Cassandra Crossing (1976) as Col. Stephen Mackenzie
- Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) as The Legend Maker (Ned Buntline)
- Victory at Entebbe (1976) as Shimon Peres
- Moses the Lawgiver (1976) as Moses
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self
- Système 2 (1975) as Self
- Moses the Lawgiver (1975) as Moses
- Moses the Lawgiver (1974) as Moses
- Conversation Piece (1974) as Professor
- The Midnight Man (1974) as Jim Slade
- The Midnight Man (1974) Screenplay
- The Midnight Man (1974) Producer
- The Midnight Man (1974) Director
- The Fighters (1974) as Narrator
- Scorpio (1973) as Cross
- Executive Action (1973) as Farrington
- Ulzana's Raid (1972) as McIntosh
- Ulzana's Raid (1972) Producer
- Lawman (1971) as Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox
- Valdez Is Coming (1971) as Valdez
- Valdez Is Coming (1971) Executive Producer
- Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier I (1971)
- Fight of the Century (1971) as Self - Presenter
- Airport (1970) as Mel Bakersfeld
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- The Gypsy Moths (1969) as Mike Rettig
- Castle Keep (1969) as Maj. Abraham Falconer
- The Sky Divers (1969) as Self
- Jenny is a Good Thing (1969) as Narrator
- Big Game America (1969) as Narrator
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- The Scalphunters (1968) as Joe Bass
- The Scalphunters (1968) Producer
- The Swimmer (1968) as Ned Merrill
- The Professionals (1966) as Dolworth
- Games in Depth (1966) as Self
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Col. Thaddeus P. Gearhart
- The Train (1964) as Paul Labiche
- Seven Days in May (1964) as Gen. James Mattoon Scott
- The Leopard (1963) as Prince Fabrizio Corbera of Salina
- A Child Is Waiting (1963) as Matthew Clark
- The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) as Protester
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) as Robert Stroud
- Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) as Ernst Janning
- The Young Savages (1961) as Hank Bell
- The Unforgiven (1960) as Ben Zachary
- The Unforgiven (1960) Producer
- Elmer Gantry (1960) as Elmer Gantry
- The Devil's Disciple (1959) as Anthony Anderson
- Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) as Lt. Jim Bledsoe
- Separate Tables (1958) as John Malcolm
- Separate Tables (1958) Producer
- Separate Tables (1958) Presenter
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) as Marshal Wyatt Earp
- Sweet Smell of Success (1957) as J.J. Hunsecker
- Sweet Smell of Success (1957) Executive Producer
- The Rainmaker (1956) as Bill Starbuck
- Trapeze (1956) as Mike Ribble
- Marty (1955) Producer
- The Rose Tattoo (1955) as Alvaro Mangiacavallo
- The Kentuckian (1955) as Elias Wakefield
- The Kentuckian (1955) Director
- Reflets de Cannes (1954) as Self
- Vera Cruz (1954) as Joe Erin
- His Majesty O'Keefe (1954) as Capt. David Dion O'Keefe
- Apache (1954) as Massai
- Apache (1954) Producer
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- From Here to Eternity (1953) as 1st Sgt. Milton Warden
- South Sea Woman (1953) as Sgt. James O'Hearn
- Come Back, Little Sheba (1953) as Doc Delaney
- Three Sailors and a Girl (1953) as Marine (uncredited)
- The Crimson Pirate (1952) as Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)
- The Crimson Pirate (1952) Producer
- Jim Thorpe – All-American (1951) as Jim Thorpe
- Ten Tall Men (1951) as Sergeant Mike Kincaid
- Vengeance Valley (1951) as Owen Daybright
- The Screen Director (1951) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Self - Intermission Guest
- The Flame and the Arrow (1950) as Dardo Bartoli
- Mister 880 (1950) as Steve Buchanan
- Criss Cross (1949) as Steve Thompson
- Rope of Sand (1949) as Michael (Mike) Davis
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) as Henry Stevenson
- All My Sons (1948) as Chris Keller
- Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948) as William Earle 'Bill' Saunders
- Brute Force (1947) as Joe Collins
- Variety Girl (1947) as Burt Lancaster
- I Walk Alone (1947) as Frankie Madison
- Desert Fury (1947) as Tom Hanson
- The Killers (1946) as 'Swede' Andersen
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Handle With Care as Narrator