Lancaster Sues Columbia Over ‘Old Gringo’

When Columbia Pictures decided that insuring 74-year-old Burt Lancaster for the lead role in its upcoming film “Old Gringo” would be too expensive, the studio replaced him with an equally big name, Gregory Peck, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Now Lancaster is suing Columbia for $1.5 million. “Columbia had no right to terminate the agreement between the parties based on an inability to obtain insurance on (Lancaster) until it first notified (him) or his representative of any potential problem,” Lancaster contends in the suit. He also argues that although he had a heart condition, a doctor concluded it had stabilized, leaving him in good physical condition.

Columbia officials declined to comment on the suit, but released a statement saying the studio holds Lancaster “in the highest regard.” Lancaster also declined to comment.

Studios regularly purchase insurance policies to protect against financial loss should a major star die or become physically disabled. Lancaster said in the suit that he would have received at least $1.5 million for the part. He said he asked for full payment when he was removed, but Columbia sent him a check for $196,428, which he returned.