Burt Lancaster, one of five siblings, was born in Manhattan to Elizabeth (Roberts) and James Henry Lancaster, a postal worker, whose grandparents were immigrants from the north of Ireland. Growing up, Lancaster was a tough street kid who developed an early interest in gymnastics, which eventually led him to join the circus as an acrobat. However, his time in the circus was cut short due to an injury, prompting him to seek a new path.
During World War II, Lancaster served in the Army, where he was introduced to the USO and the world of acting. His first film appearance was in The Killers (1946),which catapulted him to stardom. Notably, Lancaster was a self-taught actor who learned the ins and outs of the business as he went along.
In 1948, Lancaster co-founded his own production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, with Harold Hecht and James Hill, to guide his career. Throughout his extensive filmography, Lancaster took on a wide range of roles in movies as diverse as The Crimson Pirate (1952),From Here to Eternity (1953),Elmer Gantry (1960),and Atlantic City (1980).
His production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, was responsible for producing notable films such as Paddy Chayefsky's Oscar-winning Marty (1955) and The Catered Affair (1956). In the 1980s, Lancaster continued to appear in various films, including Local Hero (1983) and Field of Dreams (1989).
Despite his many accomplishments, it is Lancaster's distinctive voice, his infectious laughter, and the larger-than-life characters he portrayed on screen that will forever be etched in the memories of his fans.
