Hollywood Collection - Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach

Burt Lancaster, born on November 2, 1913, in New York City, was one of five children of a postal worker. He recalled his family life as warm and mutually supportive. At the Union Settlement House, Lancaster and his boyhood friend Nick Cravat formed an acrobatic team. By the age of eighteen, Lancaster stood at 6'2" and possessed an athletic physique and dynamic good looks that would later contribute to his fame.

Despite receiving a basketball scholarship, Lancaster did not remain at NYU beyond his sophomore year. Instead, he and the 5'2" Cravat joined a circus, earning $3 weekly between them. Lancaster's stint in the Army introduced him to acting and led him to Hollywood, where his first release, The Killers (1946), propelled him to stardom at the age of 32. From that point on, Lancaster took control of his own career and seldom faltered.

Throughout his life, Lancaster was married three times and had five children. Upon his death in 1994, the four-time Academy Award-nominated actor was acknowledged as one of the greatest stars in the Hollywood firmament.

Lancaster's filmography spanned a wide range of genres, including Westerns, Costume Epics, and serious Contemporary Dramas. He captivated audiences with his performances in swashbucklers like The Crimson Pirate (1952), as well as more complex roles, such as the aging alcoholic in Come Back Little Sheba (1952). Other notable acting triumphs included The Rose Tattoo (1955), The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), From Here To Eternity (1953), The Rainmaker (1956), The Sweet Smell of Success (1957), and Elmer Gantry (1960), for which he won an Academy Award.

Lancaster's production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, was also responsible for the multi-Oscar-winning film Marty (1955). Though known for his demanding personality, Lancaster was beloved for his loyalty to his friends and his humble beginnings.

In interviews, various individuals, including directors Sydney Pollack, Ted Post, and Delbert Mann, as well as actors Rhonda Fleming, Virginia Mayo, Terry Moore, Peter Reigert, Earl Holliman, Jeff Corey, and producer James Hill, along with biographer Gary Fishgall, have shared their perspectives on Lancaster's life and career.

From street-wise tough to art-collector liberal-activist, and from circus-acrobat hunk to Academy Award winner, Burt Lancaster's journey exemplified the versatility and resilience that made him one of the greatest stars in Hollywood history.

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