Formerly a circus acrobat. A star from his first film, The Killers 1946, he proved himself adept both at action roles and more complex character parts as in such films as From Here to Eternity 1953, Elmer Gantry 1960 (Academy Award), The Leopard/Il Gattopardo 1963, The Swimmer 1968, and Atlantic City 1980. Lancaster was spotted by a Hollywood agent in his first Broadway acting role 1945. Following his successful screen debut and several further underworld films, he switched to swashbuckling in The Flame and the Arrow 1950 and The Crimson Pirate 1952, taking pride in performing his own stunts. In a different vein, he took on the role of a down-at-heel ex-alcoholic in Come Back Little Sheba 1953. He continued to alternate heroic roles with offbeat characterizations like the odious gossip columnist of Sweet Smell of Success 1957. In 1948 he became one of the first Hollywood stars to form his own production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster.
