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 of the greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema."AFI's 50 GREATEST AMERICAN SCREEN LEGENDS" American Film Institute. Retrieved: December 7, 2016.
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.
Film
As actor YearTitleRoleNotes1946The KillersOle "Swede" Anderson1947Brute ForceJoe CollinsDesert FuryTom HansonVariety GirlHimself1948I Walk AloneFrankie MadisonAll My SonsChris KellerSorry, Wrong NumberHenry StevensonKiss the Blood Off My HandsWilliam Earle "Bill" Saunders1949Criss CrossSteve ThompsonRope of SandMichael "Mike" Davis1950The Flame and the ArrowDardo BartoliMister 880Steve Buchanan1951Vengeance ValleyOwen DaybrightJim Thorpe – All-AmericanJim ThorpeTen Tall MenSergeant Mike Kincaid1952Capitan ValloCome Back, Little ShebaDoc Delaney1953South Sea WomanMaster Gunnery Sgt. James O'HearnFrom Here to Eternity1st Sergeant Milton WardenNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorNominated—Academy Award for Best ActorThree Sailors and a GirlMarineUncredited1954His Majesty O'KeefeCaptain David O'Keefe / NarratorApacheMassaiVera CruzJoe Erin1955Elias Wakefield (Big Eli)DirectorNominated—Golden Lion for Best DirectorThe Rose TattooAlvaro Mangiacavallo1956TrapezeMike RibbleSilver Bear for Best Actor at BerlinBill StarbuckNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama1957Gunfight at the O.K. CorralMarshal Wyatt EarpLaurel Award for Top Male Action StarSweet Smell of SuccessJ.J. Hunsecker1958Run Silent, Run DeepLieutenant Commander Jim BledsoeSeparate TablesJohn Malcolm1959Reverend Anthony Anderson1960Ben ZacharyElmer GantryElmer GantryAcademy Award for Best ActorGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture DramaLaurel Award for Top Male Dramatic PerformanceNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorNominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role1961ADA Hank BellJudgment at NurembergDr. Ernst Janning1962Birdman of AlcatrazRobert StroudBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleVolpi Cup for Best ActorNominated—Academy Award for Best ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture DramaNominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance1963Dr. Matthew ClarkPrince Don Fabrizio SalinaAnimal Rights Protester (cameo)1964Seven Days in MayGeneral James Mattoon ScottNominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance1965The TrainPaul LabicheNominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Action PerformanceColonel Thaddeus Gearhart1966Bill Dolworth1968Joe BassNominated—Laurel Award for Top Male Action PerformanceNed Merrill1969Jenny Is a Good ThingNarratorCastle KeepMaj. Abraham FalconerMike Rettig1970AirportMel BakersfeldKing: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisHimself1971LawmanBannock Marshal Jared MaddoxValdez Is ComingMarshal Bob Valdez1972Ulzana's RaidU.S. Cavalry Scout McIntosh1973ScorpioCrossExecutive ActionJames Farrington1974Jim SladeCo-directorConversation PieceThe ProfessorDavid di Donatello for Best ActorFotogramas de Plata Award for Best Foreign Movie Performer19761900Alfredo Berlinghieri the ElderBuffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History LessonNed BuntlineColonel Stephen Mackenzie1977Twilight's Last GleamingGeneral Lawrence DellDr. Paul Moreau1978Go Tell the SpartansMajor Asa Barker1979Zulu DawnColonel Anthony Durnford1980Atlantic CityLou PascalBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleBoston Society of Film Critics Award for Best ActorDavid di Donatello for Best ActorFotogramas de Plata Award for Best Foreign Movie PerformerKansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best ActorNational Society of Film Critics Award for Best ActorNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorNominated—Academy Award for Best ActorNominated—Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama1981Cattle Annie and Little BritchesBill Doolin, the Oklahoma outlawThe SkinGeneral Mark Cork1983Local HeroFelix HapperNominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleCIA Director Maxwell Danforth1985Little TreasureDelbert Teschemacher1986Tough GuysHarry Doyle1987ControlDr. Herbert Monroe1988Rocket GibraltarLevi RockwellThe Jeweler's ShopThe Jeweler1989Field of DreamsDr. Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham
As producer YearFilmProduction companyDistribution CompanyAwards1948Kiss the Blood off My HandsNorma Productions / Harold Hecht ProductionsUniversal-International Pictures1950The Flame and the ArrowNorma Productions / Frank Ross ProductionsWarner Brothers PicturesNominated—Academy Award for Best Dramatic or Comedy Score Nominated—Academy Award for Best Color Cinematography1951Ten Tall MenNorma Productions / Halburt ProductionsColumbia Pictures1952The First TimeNorma Productions / Halburt ProductionsColumbia Pictures1952The Crimson PirateNorma ProductionsWarner Brothers Pictures1954His Majesty O'KeefeNorma ProductionsWarner Brothers Pictures1954ApacheHecht-Lancaster Productions / Linden ProductionsUnited Artists1954Vera CruzHecht-Lancaster Productions / Flora ProductionsUnited Artists1955MartyHecht-Lancaster Productions / Steven ProductionsUnited ArtistsAcademy 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 Source1955The KentuckianHecht-Lancaster Productions / James ProductionsUnited ArtistsNominated—Venice Film Festival Golden Lion1956TrapezeHecht-Lancaster Productions / Joanna Productions / Susan ProductionsUnited ArtistsBambi 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 Pictures1957The Bachelor PartyHecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma ProductionsUnited ArtistsNational 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'Or1957Sweet Smell of SuccessHecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Norma Productions / Curtleigh ProductionsUnited ArtistsBambi 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 Performance1958Run Silent, Run DeepHecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Jeffrey ProductionsUnited ArtistsNominated—Golden Laurel Award for Top Cinematography - Black and White1958Separate TablesHecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions / Clifton ProductionsUnited ArtistsAcademy 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