Richard Burton
At one time, this British movie icon was the highest paid actor in the world. His natural charm and impressive acting abilities led to seven Oscar nominations for his flawless performances. Off-screen, Richard Burton led a turbulent personal life. A heavy drinker and smoker, he was married five times, twice to screen legend Elizabeth Taylor.
Richard Walter Jenkins was born on November 10th, 1925 in Pontrhydyfen, Wales. Appearing in school productions at a young age, his schoolmaster, Phillip H. Burton, saw something special in his young pupil. When Richard left school at sixteen to work as a shop assistant, his former teacher legally adopted him to allow him to return to school. After completing his studies, Burton made his stage debut in Liverpool in Druid’s Rest and made his first film, The Last Days of Dolwyn, in 1947. For over the next three decades, Burton graced the screen in a great number of films and stage productions. From 1952 to 1977, he received an amazing seven Oscar nominations (six for Best Actor in a Leading Role and one for Best Actor in a Supporting Role). Despite his prestigious nominations for appearances in The Robe, Becket, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Anne of the Thousand Days among others, Burton never brought home a single Oscar. In 1968 Burton appeared with Clint Eastwood in 'Where Eagles Dare', considered one of the best war films ever to come out of Hollywood. His last on-screen appearance was in the movie adaptation of the George Orwell novel 1984, which was released in the same year.
Aside from his multitude of film roles, Burton also enjoyed a successful stage career during his lifetime, appearing in many Shakespeare productions at the Old Vic in London, including Measure for Measure, Hamlet, The Tempest and Othello. His last stage appearance was in the 1983 production of Private Lives. Honors for his stage work include a Tony Award nomination for the 1958 production Time Remembered, a Tony Award for Best Actor for Camelot, and a Special Tony Award in 1976 for his work in Equus.
Additional honors given to Richard include a spot on the BBC’s list of 100 Greatest Britains and being named a commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. Burton suffered an untimely death when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 58 years old.
With five marriages and four wives, Burton’s love life did not go as smoothly as his film career. His first marriage was in 1949, to the South African Sybil Williams. Two children, Kate and Christopher, were born during the marriage. They divorced in 1963, but Burton soon tied the knot again. This time it was to film icon Elizabeth Taylor. Their stormy relationship ended in divorce, but they remarried a second time. During their total of twelve years together, the couple appeared alongside each other in 11 films, including Cleopatra. Together they adopted a German baby girl whom they named Maria. After their tumultuous relationship ended for the second and final time in 1976, Burton married Susan Hunt, the ex wife of race car driver James Hunt, the same year. However, the fourth time was unsuccessful as well, ending in 1982. Finally, Richard married Sally Hay in 1983. Their marriage, however, was also short-lived. Just one year later, the actor succumbed to a hemorrhage in their Switzerland home.
Of Richard's outragious sex life it is rumoured that Joan Collins once remarked to Richard,"I do believe you would screw a snake.' To which Richard replied, 'It would have to be wearing a skirt, darling, and it would have to be a female snake.' |
