The name Burt Lancaster conjures up the famous beach scene from “From Here To Eternity,” where he and Deborah Kerr share a passionate kiss amid crashing waves.
Born as Burton Steven Lancaster in 1913 in New York City, his journey from joining the circus at 19 to becoming a Hollywood icon with roles that showcased both strength and vulnerability is well-documented.
Following his Army service during World War II, Lancaster ventured into acting, eventually making his mark on Broadway in 1945 before breaking into Hollywood with the film noir classic, “The Killers.”
Apart from his unconventional roles, Burt Lancaster was known for his vocal support of liberal ideals.
His upbringing near the Union Settlement House influenced his political leanings, leading him to denounce the House Un-American Activities Committee’s actions in the 1940s.
The FBI’s interest in Lancaster dates back to 1963, but their surveillance began much earlier due to his advocacy for civil rights and association with progressive causes.
In a memo dated 1963 from FBI agent Milton A. Jones to Deputy Associate Director Cartha “Deke” DeLoach, Lancaster’s involvement with the National Council of the Arts, Sciences, and Professionals in 1947, urging the dissolution of HUAC, caught the Bureau’s attention.
Lancaster’s desire to visit FBI headquarters and meet J. Edgar Hoover in 1957 was snubbed by Hoover due to alleged subversive ties.
The memo highlighted Lancaster’s participation in a Beverly Hills meeting focused on promoting integration, organized by Dr. Christopher L. Taylor of the NAACP.
Further revelations in the memo detailed a 1960 raid on the residence of an unnamed wealthy individual with links to homosexuality, where Lancaster’s name appeared in the guest register alongside other celebrities.
In 1962, the CIA forwarded a letter expressing concern over Lancaster’s inclination towards socially conscious filmmaking.
According to Marquette University Raynor Memorial Libraries, the FBI probed Lancaster for alleged Communist Party affiliations in the 1940s, suspected homosexual activities in the 1950s, and involvement with the Civil Rights Congress in the 1960s.
Despite his cinematic success, Burt Lancaster’s off-screen activism and progressive views drew the FBI’s scrutiny, painting a complex portrait of the actor beyond his on-screen persona.
The Bureau’s monitoring of Lancaster’s activities sheds light on the era’s political tensions and the challenges faced by public figures who dared to voice dissenting opinions.
As Lancaster straddled the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, his legacy remains intertwined with a tumultuous period in American history, where artistry often intersected with activism.
