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Burt Lancaster Biography

Birth Name:

Burton Stephen Lancaster

Birth Place:

New York, New York, United States

Profession

Actor

Fast Facts

Performed as an acrobat in a circus troupe as a teenager
Won an athletic scholarship to New York University
Made his Broadway debut in A Sound of Hunting after being discovered on an elevator by a producer
At 32, made his film debut in the 1946 film noir piece The Killers
Partnered with his manager to form his own production company, Hecht-Lancaster, which was the first notable star-owned venture of its kind
Declined the title role in Ben-Hur
Co-starred with Kirk Douglas in six films, beginning with 1948's I Walk Alone

1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1984BAFTA Film Awards-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1982BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor: winner
1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1981New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor: winner
1981Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor: winner
1981Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1981Genie Awards-Best Performance by a Foreign Actor: nominated
1963Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1963BAFTA Film Awards-Best Foreign Actor: winner
1962Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1962Venice Film Festival-Best Actor: winner
1961Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1961BAFTA Film Awards-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1960Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1960New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor: winner
1957Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1956Berlin Film Festival-Silver Bear for Best Actor: winner
1953New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor: winner
1953Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated