Profile Text
publicity still of Burt Lancaster for film “Desert Fury,” 1947, Hal Wallis Productions
Birth Name: Burton Stephen Lancaster
Date of Birth: November 2, 1913
Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: October 20, 1994
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Irish/Northern Irish
Burt Lancaster was an American actor, producer, and circus acrobat. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Elmer Gantry (1960). He also starred in the films The Killers (1946), Sorry, Wrong Number ; From Here to Eternity , Trapeze , The Rainmaker (1956), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , Sweet Smell of Success , Run Silent, Run Deep ; Separate Tables , Judgment at Nuremberg , Birdman of Alcatraz , The Leopard (1963), Seven Days in May , The Professionals (1966), The Swimmer , Airport , Conversation Piece , Atlantic City , Tough Guys , and Field of Dreams , and on television’s Separate but Equal .
Burt was the son of Elizabeth and James Lancaster, a mailman. His father was born in New York. His mother was born in Connecticut. All of his grandparents were Protestant emigrants, from what is now Northern Ireland. He was married to Susan Martin, until his death. He had five children, including actor and screenwriter Bill Lancaster, with his former wife Norma Anderson. Bill was married to Kippie, the daughter of comedian and actor Ernie Kovacs .
Burt’s paternal grandfather was James Henry Lancaster/Lancester (the son of Henry Lancaster and Mary Anne Burgess). Burt’s great-grandfather Henry was the son of William Burgess.
Burt’s paternal grandmother was named Susan Murray (the daughter of Alexander Murray and Elsie).
Burt’s maternal grandfather was James R. Roberts (the son of Alexander Roberts and Ann McDowell). Alexander was the son of John Roberts and Elinor.
Burt’s maternal grandmother was Jane/Jennie/Fannie Smythe (the daughter of James Smythe and Sara McNally).
Sources: Genealogies of Burt Lancaster – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com https://www.geni.com
Burt Lancaster on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org