Burt Lancaster was an American film actor. On November 2, 1913, he was born Burton Stephen Lancaster in New York City to James Henry Lancaster (a postman) and Elizabeth Roberts, both of whom were the children of Irish Protestant immigrants.

He grew up in East Harlem, much as a street kid and he developed great interest and skill in gymnastics. He also worked as a circus acrobat until he had an injury. You can see some of those skills in his movie "Trapeze"