Burt Lancaster: His Life, Cause of Death & Best Movies

If you grew up watching classic Hollywood movies, chances are you’ve seen Burt Lancaster’s trademark grin and athletic build light up the screen. But there’s more to the man than the roles—he started as a circus acrobat, served in World War II, and became one of the most fiercely independent stars of his era, and this guide separates the verified facts from the rumors, covering his cause of death, his Oscar-winning career, and the personal feuds that defined him.

Born: November 2, 1913 ·
Died: October 20, 1994 ·
Occupation: Actor, acrobat ·
Oscar: Best Actor for Elmer Gantry (1960) ·
Films: More than 50

Eight verified facts, one takeaway: Burt Lancaster’s life was a mix of public triumph and private complexity that few Hollywood bios capture fully.

What was Burt Lancaster’s cause of death?

Heart attack in Century City

• Burt Lancaster died on October 20, 1994 at his condominium in Century City, California (Los Angeles Times obituary).
• The cause was a heart attack, as confirmed by his physician (The New York Times).
• No funeral was held (Los Angeles Times).

The catch: Lancaster had been in declining health after a stroke in 1991, but the heart attack was sudden. His death cut short a late-career renaissance in smaller, character-driven roles.

What is considered Burt Lancaster’s best movie?

Elmer Gantry (1960) – The Oscar winner

• Lancaster won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as the charismatic evangelist Elmer Gantry (The New York Times).
• The film itself won three Oscars and is considered one of the great American satires.

From Here to Eternity (1953) – The classic

• His role as Sergeant Warden in this WWII drama made him a household name (The New York Times).
• The film earned eight Academy Awards and $12.5 million at the box office.

The pattern: Lancaster’s best work married his physical intensity with emotional vulnerability. Elmer Gantry remains the critical consensus pick, though From Here to Eternity is the audience favorite.

Who were Burt Lancaster’s wives?

Three marriages, all ended in divorce

• June Ernst (1935–1946) – his first wife, a circus performer he married young.
• Norma Anderson (1946–1969) – the mother of five children; their divorce was amicable.
• Susie Martin (1991–1994) – his third wife, a former private secretary; they were together until his death.

Why this matters: Lancaster’s first two marriages spanned his rise to stardom, and his long partnership with Norma Anderson grounded his family life even as his public persona grew.

How many children did Burt Lancaster have?

Five children from his second marriage

• Burt Lancaster had five children with Norma Anderson: Bill, James, Susan, Joanne, and William (the younger).
• All five survived him, though none pursued major acting careers.

The implication: Lancaster was a devoted father who kept his family out of the Hollywood spotlight, a deliberate contrast to his larger-than-life screen image.

Why did Burt Lancaster not like John Wayne?

Political differences and a refusal to work together

• Lancaster was a liberal Democrat who campaigned for progressive causes; Wayne was a conservative Republican and outspoken anti-communist.
• Accounts say Lancaster refused to co-star with Wayne, though no direct on-set clash has been documented.
• The feud was more a matter of principle than personality – they simply inhabited opposite corners of Hollywood’s political divide.

What this means: The publicized “feud” was less a personal vendetta and more a reflection of the broader ideological split in 1960s America. Lancaster’s independence extended to who he would work with.

Timeline of Burt Lancaster’s life

• 1913 – Born in New York City (Britannica)
• 1930s – Works as a circus acrobat
• 1942–1945 – Serves in the U.S. Army during World War II
• 1946 – Film debut in The Killers (Fandango)
• 1953 – Stars in From Here to Eternity (Britannica)
• 1960 – Wins Academy Award for Elmer Gantry (The New York Times)
• 1994 – Dies of a heart attack in Century City (Los Angeles Times)

This timeline captures the key milestones of a career that evolved from circus performer to Oscar winner.

What we know vs. what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Cause of death: heart attack (Los Angeles Times)
• Won Best Actor Oscar for Elmer Gantry (The New York Times)
• Married three times
• Five children from second marriage

What’s unclear

• Exact nature of personal feud with John Wayne beyond political differences
• Whether Lancaster had male lovers – no confirmed sources exist
• True net worth at death – estimates range from $30–$50 million
• Height often reported as 6 ft 1 in (though not verified in official sources)

These gaps in the record remind us that even famous lives have unanswered questions.

What others said about Burt Lancaster

“I never thought of myself as a movie star. I’m an actor who happens to work in films.”

— Burt Lancaster (The Independent obituary)

“He was a gentle man with a tough exterior. The toughness was on the screen; the gentleness was off it.”

— A colleague, as remembered in the New York Times obituary

The pattern: Those who worked with him consistently described a man whose on-screen ferocity masked a quiet, professional generosity.

Why Burt Lancaster still matters

For modern film fans, Burt Lancaster represents a breed of actor who refused to be owned by the studio system. He produced his own films, chose risky scripts, and never played the publicity game. The catch: his insistence on independence cost him some commercial successes, but it gave him a legacy that few stars of his era can match. For today’s streaming-era viewers, the choice is clear: discover Lancaster’s work on digital platforms, or miss one of Hollywood’s most authentic rebels.

For a more comprehensive look at his life and career, you can read this detailed biography of Burt Lancaster that covers his early years as a circus acrobat and his rise to Hollywood stardom.

Frequently asked questions

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These answers address the most common questions about Lancaster’s life and career.