Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in film and, later, television. He was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor (winning once), and he also won two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor. The American Film Institute ranks Lancaster as # 19 of the greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema.[1]
Lancaster performed as a circus acrobat in the 1930s. After serving in World War II , the 32-year-old Lancaster landed a role in a Broadway play and drew the attention of a Hollywood agent. His breakthrough role was the film noir The Killers in 1946 alongside Ava Gardner . A critical success, it launched both of their careers. In 1953, Lancaster played the illicit lover of Deborah Kerr in the military drama From Here to Eternity . A box office smash, it won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and landed a Best Actor nomination for Lancaster. In 1956, he starred in The Rainmaker , with Katharine Hepburn , earning a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination, and in 1957 he starred in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral with frequent co-star Kirk Douglas . During the 1950s, his production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster , was highly successful, with Lancaster acting in films such as: Trapeze in 1956, a box office smash in which he used his acrobatic skills; Sweet Smell of Success (1957), a dark drama today considered a classic; Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), a WWII submarine drama with Clark Gable ; and Separate Tables (1958), a hotel-set drama which received seven Oscar nominations.
In the early 1960s, Lancaster starred in a string of critically successful films, each in very disparate roles. Playing a charismatic biblical con-man in Elmer Gantry in 1960 won him the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Actor. He played a Nazi war criminal in 1961 in the all-star, war-crime-trial film, Judgment at Nuremberg . Playing a bird expert prisoner in Birdman of Alcatraz in 1962, he earned the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor and his third Oscar nomination. In 1963, Lancaster traveled to Italy to star as an Italian prince in the epic period drama The Leopard . In 1964, he played a US Air Force general who, opposed by a colonel played by Kirk Douglas, tries to overthrow the president in Seven Days in May . Then, in 1966, he played an explosives expert in the western The Professionals .
In 1970, Lancaster starred in the box-office hit, air-disaster drama Airport . He experienced a career resurgence in 1980 with the crime-romance Atlantic City , winning the BAFTA for Best Actor and landing his fourth Oscar nomination. Starting in the late 1970s, he also appeared in television mini-series, including the award-winning Separate but Equal with Sidney Poitier . He continued acting into his late 70s, until a stroke in 1990 forced him to retire; four years later he died from a heart attack. His final film role was in the Oscar-nominated Field of Dreams .
As actor [ edit ] Year Title Role Notes 1946 The Killers Ole "Swede" Anderson With Ava Gardner 1947 Brute Force Joe Collins With Hume Cronyn Desert Fury Tom Hanson With Lizabeth Scott Variety Girl Himself With Mary Hatcher 1948 I Walk Alone Frankie Madison With Kirk Douglas All My Sons Chris Keller With Edward G. Robinson Sorry, Wrong Number Henry Stevenson With Barbara Stanwyck Kiss the Blood Off My Hands William Earle "Bill" Saunders With Joan Fontaine 1949 Criss Cross Steve Thompson With Yvonne de Carlo Rope of Sand Michael "Mike" Davis With Paul Henreid 1950 The Flame and the Arrow Dardo Bartoli With Virginia Mayo Mister 880 Steve Buchanan With Dorothy McGuire 1951 Vengeance Valley Owen Daybright With Robert Walker Jim Thorpe – All-American Jim Thorpe With Charles Bickford Ten Tall Men Sergeant Mike Kincaid With Jody Lawrance 1952 The Crimson Pirate Capitan Vallo With Nick Cravat and Eva Bartok Come Back, Little Sheba Doc Delaney With Shirley Booth 1953 South Sea Woman Master Gunnery Sgt. James O'Hearn With Virginia Mayo From Here to Eternity 1st Sergeant Milton Warden New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Three Sailors and a Girl Marine With Jane Powell Uncredited 1954 His Majesty O'Keefe Captain David O'Keefe / Narrator With Joan Rice Apache Massai With Jean Peters Vera Cruz Joe Erin With Gary Cooper 1955 The Kentuckian Elias Wakefield (Big Eli) Director Nominated—Golden Lion for Best Director The Rose Tattoo Alvaro Mangiacavallo With Anna Magnani 1956 Trapeze Mike Ribble With Gina Lollobrigida and Tony Curtis Silver Bear for Best Actor at Berlin [2] The Rainmaker Bill Starbuck Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama 1957 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Marshal Wyatt Earp With Kirk Douglas Laurel Award for Top Male Action Star Sweet Smell of Success J.J. Hunsecker With Tony Curtis 1958 Run Silent, Run Deep Lieutenant Commander Jim Bledsoe With Clark Gable Separate Tables John Malcolm With Rita Hayworth , Wendy Hiller , Deborah Kerr and David Niven 1959 The Devil's Disciple Reverend Anthony Anderson With Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier 1960 The Unforgiven Ben Zachary With Audrey Hepburn Elmer Gantry Elmer Gantry Academy Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role 1961 The Young Savages ADA Hank Bell With Dina Merrill Judgment at Nuremberg Dr. Ernst Janning With Spencer Tracy and Maximilian Schell 1962 Birdman of Alcatraz Robert Stroud BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Volpi Cup for Best Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance 1963 A Child Is Waiting Dr. Matthew Clark With Judy Garland The Leopard Prince Don Fabrizio Salina With Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon The List of Adrian Messenger Animal Rights Protester (cameo) With George C. Scott 1964 Seven Days in May General James Mattoon Scott With Kirk Douglas , Fredric March and Ava Gardner Nominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance 1965 The Train Paul Labiche With Jeanne Moreau Nominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Action Performance The Hallelujah Trail Colonel Thaddeus Gearhart With Lee Remick 1966 The Professionals Bill Dolworth With Lee Marvin 1968 The Scalphunters Joe Bass With Shelley Winters Nominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Action Performance The Swimmer Ned Merrill With Janice Rule 1969 Jenny Is a Good Thing Narrator Castle Keep Maj. Abraham Falconer With Peter Falk The Gypsy Moths Mike Rettig With Deborah Kerr 1970 Airport Mel Bakersfeld With Dean Martin King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis Himself 1971 Lawman Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox With Lee J. Cobb Valdez Is Coming Marshal Bob Valdez With Susan Clark 1972 Ulzana's Raid U.S. Cavalry Scout McIntosh With Bruce Davison 1973 Scorpio Cross With Alain Delon Executive Action James Farrington With Robert Ryan 1974 The Midnight Man Jim Slade Co-Director Conversation Piece The Professor David di Donatello for Best Actor Fotogramas de Plata Award for Best Foreign Movie Performer 1976 1900 Alfredo Berlinghieri the Elder With Robert De Niro Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson Ned Buntline With Paul Newman The Cassandra Crossing Colonel Stephen Mackenzie With Sophia Loren 1977 Twilight's Last Gleaming General Lawrence Dell With Richard Widmark The Island of Dr. Moreau Dr. Paul Moreau With Michael York 1978 Go Tell the Spartans Major Asa Barker With Craig Wasson 1979 Zulu Dawn Colonel Anthony Durnford With Peter O'Toole 1980 Atlantic City Lou Pascal BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor David di Donatello for Best Actor Fotogramas de Plata Award for Best Foreign Movie Performer Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated—Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama 1981 Cattle Annie and Little Britches Bill Doolin , the Oklahoma outlaw With Amanda Plummer and Diane Lane The Skin General Mark Cork With Marcello Mastroianni , Claudia Cardinale , Carlo Giuffrè 1983 Local Hero Felix Happer Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role The Osterman Weekend CIA Director Maxwell Danforth With Rutger Hauer 1985 Little Treasure Delbert Teschemacher With Margot Kidder and Ted Danson 1986 Tough Guys Harry Doyle With Kirk Douglas 1987 Control Dr. Herbert Monroe With Ben Gazzara 1988 Rocket Gibraltar Levi Rockwell With Patricia Clarkson The Jeweler's Shop The Jeweler With Olivia Hussey 1989 Field of Dreams Dr. Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham With Kevin Costner
As producer [ edit ] Year Film Production Company Distribution Company Awards 1948 Kiss the Blood off My Hands Norma Productions / Harold Hecht Productions Universal -International Pictures 1950 The Flame and the Arrow Norma Productions / Frank Ross Productions Warner Brothers Pictures Nominated—Academy Award for Best Dramatic or Comedy Score Nominated—Academy Award for Best Color Cinematography
1951 Ten Tall Men Norma Productions / Halburt Productions Columbia Pictures 1952 The First Time Norma Productions / Halburt Productions Columbia Pictures 1952 The Crimson Pirate Norma Productions Warner Brothers Pictures 1954 His Majesty O'Keefe Norma Productions Warner Brothers Pictures 1954 Apache Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Linden Productions United Artists 1954 Vera Cruz Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Flora Productions United Artists 1955 Marty Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Steven Productions United Artists Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress Bodil Award for Best American Film Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival OCIC Award Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures National Board of Review Award for Best Film National Board of Review Award for Best Actor National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama National Film Preservation Board National Film Registry Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Nominated—Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source
1955 The Kentuckian Hecht-Lancaster Productions / James Productions United Artists Nominated—Venice Film Festival Golden Lion 1956 Trapeze Hecht-Lancaster Productions / Joanna Productions / Susan Productions United Artists Bambi Award for Best Actress - International Berlin International Film Festival Silver Berlin Bear Award for Best Actor Berlin International Film Festival Bronze Berlin Bear Award for Audience Poll Nominated—Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
1957 The Bachelor Party Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions United Artists National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source Nominated—Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or
1957 Sweet Smell of Success Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions / Curtleigh Productions United Artists Bambi Award for Best Actor - International National Film Preservation Board National Film Registry Online Film & Television Association Award - Film Hall of Fame Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance
1958 Run Silent, Run Deep Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Jeffrey Productions United Artists Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Cinematography - Black and White 1958 Separate Tables Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Clifton Productions United Artists Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Nominated—Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Nominated—Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Director Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Dramatic Performance Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama
1959 The Rabbit Trap Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Canon Productions / Anne Productions United Artists Locarno International Film Festival Award for Best Actor 1959 Cry Tough Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Canon Productions / Anne Productions United Artists 1959 The Devil's Disciple Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Films / Bryna Productions United Artists Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best British Actor 1959 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Hecht-Hill-Lancaster (Australia) Proprietary Limited United Artists 1959 Take a Giant Step Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Sheila Productions United Artists Locarno International Film Festival Silver Sail Award Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Film Promoting International Understanding Nominated—BAFTA United Nations Award
1960 The Unforgiven Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / James Productions United Artists 1960 Elmer Gantry Elmer Gantry Productions United Artists Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Golden Laurel Award for Top Drama Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films National Board of Review Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama Nominated—Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated—Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Director Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress Nominated—Cahiers du Cinéma for Best Film Nominated—Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Dramatic Performance Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film
1961 The Young Savages Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Contemporary Productions United Artists 1962 Birdman of Alcatraz Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions United Artists BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor Golden Laurel Award for Top Drama Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance National Board of Review Award for Top Ten Films Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup Award for Best Actor Venice Film Festival San Giorgio Prize Award Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama Nominated—Venice Film Festival Golden Lion
1968 The Scalphunters Norlan Productions United Artists Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Supporting Performance Nominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Action Performance
1971 Valdez Is Coming Norlan Productions / Ira Steiner Productions United Artists 1974 The Midnight Man Norlan Productions Universal Pictures
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