After suffering injuries that cut short his circus career with Cravat, Burt Lang went to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting. He became an instant star at this very first attempt with The Killers, within a couple of years he was already one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and he began to have more creative control over his films. This creativeness included the casting of his old partner Nick in his films, where the two would showcase some of their acrobatic skills from their trapeze act.
By the late 50's Burt had become more than just a movie star, but also a refined actor. The great amount of sensitivity he brought to his role, as well as his male bravado and charisma, made him that all could admire. He would go on to make films with some of the greatest artists in both American and European cinema; such as John Frankenheimer, Luchino Visconti, Bernardo Bertolucci and Louis Malle. Not only a great actor, Burt was a staunch liberal throughout his life and he campaigned alongside Martin Luther King, James Baldwin, Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston and Harry Belafonte during the Civil Rights movement.
Below is a 15 minute tribute to Burt and his cinematic legacy:
