A true rags to riches story, Richard Burton overcame abject poverty as a child in Wales to become one of the world’s highest paid and respected actors.
Born as Richard Jenkins in 1925, Burton was the 12th of 13 children. Whilst at school, he was encouraged to try his hand at acting by his schoolmaster Philip Burton, who was the inspiration for his eventual name change. Although Burton made his London stage debut in the early forties, he didn’t become a household name in Shakespearean theatre until 1951. He soon made it on to the big screen, starring in films such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Yet, despite his successes both on stage and on screen, he became the most nominated actor who never won an Oscar.
Burton’s notoriety extended to his personal life. He was married five times throughout his life – most famously to Elizabeth Taylor, whom he married twice. He also battled the bottle throughout his career, and tragically died in Switzerland in 1984 at the age of 58. Whether you know him best as one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men, a Shakespearean great, or someone with a turbulent private life, there’s no denying that Richard Burton was one of the true icons of our time.
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Richard Burton
Photo by: Harry Langdon
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Burton getting into his Rolls Royce
Photo by: Mirrorpix
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Richard Burton in ‘Cleopatra’ 1962
Photo by: Paul Schutzer © Life Picture Collection
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Taylor And Burton, Paris, 1964
Photo by: © Gamma Rapho
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Taylor And Burton, 1964
Photo by: © Gamma Rapho
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Burton and Taylor arrive
Photo by: Mirrorpix
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Taylor and her Award
Photo by: Mirrorpix
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Burton and Taylor going to Paris
Photo by: Mirrorpix
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Taylor and Burton in the Studios
Photo by: Bridgeman Images
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Burton and Taylor Dancing
Photo by: AGIP / Bridgeman Images
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Burton and Taylor at the Awards ceremony
Photo by: Mirrorpix
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Taylor And Burton at Dinner
Photo by: AGIP / Bridgeman Images
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Burton and Taylor Talking
Photo by: AGIP / Bridgeman Images
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Burton, Taylor and Princess Margaret
Photo by: Bridgeman Images
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