Burt Lancaster

Date de naissance
2 novembre 1913 · Ville de New York, New York, États-Unis
Date de décès
20 octobre 1994 · Century City, Californie, États-Unis (infarctus)
Nom de naissance
Burton Stephen Lancaster
Surnom
- Mr Muscles and Teeth
Taille
1,85 m

A killer smile, which he called "The Grin"
A great physique, of which director John Frankenheimer said, "Nobody ever looked like Burt Lancaster in Le corsaire rouge (1952) ."
His movies often reflected his very liberal political beliefs
Roles in westerns
Very distinctive, clipped manner of speaking

In November 1990 suffered a severe stroke while visiting Dana Andrews, who was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Lancaster remained hospitalized until February 1991 and was incapacitated and unable to speak until his death in October 1994.
Helped pay for the defense of Pvt. Billy Dean Smith, an African-American soldier accused of 'fragging' two officers in Vietnam in 1971. Lancaster gave $3,000 to his defense attorneys to hire ballistics experts to testify at Smith's court-martial. Smith was acquitted.
His was the first star placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which now numbers in the thousands.
Joined Gregory Peck, James Stewart, Liza Minnelli, and Orson Welles in testifying against the colorization of old movies by Ted Turner in the mid-'80s.
Attended Elizabeth Taylor's "Commitment to Life" fundraiser on 9/19/85, despite being warned his appearance would resurrect the longtime rumors about his sexuality. At the event Lancaster read out Rock Hudson's letter admitting that he had AIDS.

Most people seem to think I'm the kind of guy who shaves with a blowtorch. Actually I'm bookish and worrisome.
[on being a director] It's the best job in the picture business because when you're a director, you're God. And you know that's the best job in town.
Life is to be lived within the limits of your knowledge and within the concept of what you would like to see yourself to be.
[speaking in 1983] Tits and sand - that's what we used to call sex and violence in Hollywood.
I don't know why Airport (1970) was nominated for any Oscars - it's the biggest piece of junk ever.