Richard Burton

Who Was Richard Burton?

Richard Burton was a distinguished actor renowned for his exceptional contributions to both stage and screen. His illustrious career was marked by seven Academy Award nominations for films such as The Robe, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Becket, and Equus. In 1964, he married the iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor, and their relationship was characterized by its volatility, including a tumultuous romance that encompassed two divorces and a remarriage. Burton passed away on August 5, 1984, in Céligny, Switzerland.

A Coalminer’s Son

Born Richard Walter Jenkins on November 10, 1925, in Pontrhydfen, South Wales, Burton was the twelfth child of a struggling coal miner. Tragically, he lost his mother at the age of two. He was subsequently taken in by Philip Burton, a teacher who became his guardian and introduced him to the world of theater. Adopting the Burton surname, he made his London debut as a Welsh youth in the play The Druid’s Rest. His talent earned him a scholarship to Oxford University, after which he served in the British Air Force during World War II.

Early Career

Following his military service in 1947, Burton continued to hone his craft on stage, gaining recognition for his powerful voice and oratory skills. His performance in The Lady’s Not for Burning alongside Sir John Gielgud showcased his remarkable talent. Burton made his film debut in 1949 with The Last Days of Dolwyn and married actress Sybil Williams the same year, with whom he had two daughters.

Throughout his career, Burton’s work received mixed commercial and critical acclaim, yet he appeared in over 40 films. After signing a contract with 20th Century Fox post-Dolwyn, he starred in My Cousin Rachel (1952), earning his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His role in the 1953 biblical epic The Robe garnered him a nomination for Best Actor. Additionally, he portrayed the title character in Alexander the Great (1956) and starred in the British film Look Back in Anger (1959). During this period, he also performed extensively on stage with the Old Vic and Royal Shakespeare companies in Britain, achieving significant acclaim for his Broadway performance in Camelot in 1960.

Meeting Elizabeth Taylor

In the early 1960s, Burton met actress Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the lavish film Cleopatra (1963), where he was brought in to replace Stephen Boyd. Their first encounter was marked by a moment of intimacy, as Taylor recounted holding a trembling Burton’s coffee to his lips while he recovered from a hangover. At the time, both were married to other partners, but their ensuing relationship was met with considerable scrutiny, particularly from traditional institutions such as the Vatican. Their romance, characterized by lavish lifestyles and tumultuous events, became a staple of tabloid headlines.

After both Burton and Taylor divorced their respective spouses, they married on March 15, 1964. Over the years, they collaborated on 11 films, including notable adaptations of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and The Taming of the Shrew (1967). Their work in Woolf earned both actors Academy Award nominations, with Taylor securing a win. During this time, Burton also returned to Broadway, performing in a 1964 production of Hamlet directed by Gielgud. He continued to receive recognition for his film performances, earning further Oscar nominations for Becket (1964), The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1965), and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969).

Divorce, Remarriage, and Later Work

Richard Burton’s personal life was marked by significant turbulence, particularly in his relationships. His marriage to Elizabeth Taylor was characterized by volatility and frequent conflicts, both of which stemmed from their struggles with substance addiction. The couple experienced a period of estrangement in 1970, leading to their divorce in 1974. However, they reconciled and remarried in Botswana in the fall of 1975, only to face further challenges that resulted in another divorce the following year. In 1976, Burton married model Suzy Hunt.

Professionally, Burton remained active in the film industry throughout the 1970s, contributing to notable projects such as Villain (1971), Brief Encounter (1975), and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). His performance as a psychiatrist in the 1977 drama Equus earned him a nomination for his seventh Academy Award.

In 1980, Burton made a return to the New York stage with a revival of Camelot. Unfortunately, his performance was cut short due to complications arising from medication for spinal pain, prompting him to undergo surgery. By 1983, Burton reunited with Taylor for a production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives.

Burton’s final film, released in 1984, was an adaptation of George Orwell’s classic novel. He passed away on August 5, 1984, at the age of 58, due to a brain hemorrhage at his home in Céligny, Switzerland. He was survived by his fourth wife, Sally Hay Burton, who has since managed his estate. Burton had four children: two daughters, Kate and Jessica, from his marriage to Sybil Christopher, and a daughter, Elizabeth “Liza” Todd, whom he adopted from Taylor, along with another daughter, Maria, whom he and Taylor adopted together. Several biographical works, including The Richard Burton Diaries published in 2012, have chronicled his life, providing insights through his journal entries and notes.