Richard Burton

Richard Burton was a regal, commanding presence of the 60's cinema. Although some critics say he wasted his considerable talents, some of his films, like "Beckett", "Equus", and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?", are enduring testaments to his powerful dramatic skills and wonderful Welsh accented voice.
MovieActors.com

He was born on 10th November, 1925 as Richard Walter Jenkins in Pontrhydyfen, near Port Talbot in South Wales, the 12th of 13 children. He was a Welsh miner's son who never forgot his roots, Spoke Welsh as his mother tongue, and gained a reputation as one of the world's finest actors.

One of his teachers, Phillip Burton, changed his life. He saw something special in young Richard, and helped him get into Oxford when he was only 16 years of age. There he studied acting and where he developed a distinctive and beautiful speaking voice.

Richard adopted his former teachers last name and began acting, making his stage debut in 1943.

After leaving the Navy, Richard made his debut film -
The Last Days of Dolwyn (1947)

He made a good impression on the America critics with stage revival of "The Lady's Not for Burning" . When Burton came with the play to Broadway in 1952 , he registered solidly with American producers, and was chosen to play the male lead in My Cousin Rachel (1952), a Daphne du Maurier mystery.

Burton starred in several good British films in the late 1950s, including the acclaimed Look Back in Anger (1959), but his elevation to superstardom began with his casting as King Arthur in the Broadway musical "Camelot" in 1960 (which won him a Tony Award), and his role as Marc Antony in the 1963 film version of Cleopatra A star-crossed production, it was begun and halted several times in several different countries with several different directors. During the making of the film, Burton and his costar Elizabeth Taylor carried on an affair, which led both to divorce their current mates (Sybil Williams) - and become headline material around the world.

Their tempestuous marriage was tabloid fodder through a marriage, a divorce, a remarriage and a second divorce in the 1970's. Their unique and fiery chemistry was reflected onscreen in the 1966 film, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Their first marriage was on 16th March 1964 and lasted until 1974.
They were re-married the following year , but this did not last and they were divoced once again in 1976.
Later that year Richard married Susan Hunt - a marriage that lasted until 1982.

The following year he married Sally Hay. He wrote of his relationship with Taylor in the slim but charming volume "Meeting Mrs. Jenkins" (1966).

In 1967 Richard tried his hand at directing Doctor Faustus (1967)

Richard Burton moved easily from the screen to the stage and back again -- in 1964, he made history by playing the longest consecutive run of "Hamlet."

In 1981 he performed in the TV series the Fall Guy - playing himself.

His final work was in a well-received 1984 TV mini series, "Ellis Island" (which featured his daughter, actress Kate Burton) and the impressive remake of 1984 (1984).

Until his passing in 1984, Richard Burton's unforgettable voice and unique talent placed him among Hollywood's most fascinating leading men.

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