Name at birth: Burton Stephen Lancaster

Burt Lancaster was an acrobat in the circus, and served in the U.S. Army in North Africa and Italy. He didn't get into the movie business until he was 32, quickly establishing himself as a tough guy in such movies as The Killers (1946, with Ava Gardner). His natural athleticism helped him in adventure movies such as The Crimson Pirate (1952), and in the 1950s and 1960s he proved his acting ability in From Here to Eternity (1953, with Frank Sinatra), The Sweet Smell of Success (1957) and Elmer Gantry (1960, co-starring Shirley Jones). Lancaster continued acting in his later years, earning his fourth Oscar nomination for his role opposite Susan Sarandon in 1980's Atlantic City and appearing with fellow movie icon Kirk Douglas in Tough Guys (1986).