Richard Burton

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RichardBurton Last Updated: 1/15/25
Real Name: Richard Walter Jenkins, Jr.
Born: November 10, 1925
Died: August 5, 1984 (aged 58)
Height: 5' 9"

Grade: A+
Actor/Movie Star: 60%-40%
Prime Years: 1952-53, 1959, 1963-66, 1968, 1969, and 1977
Most Famous Film: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Most Infamous Film: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Masterpiece: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), and Equus (1977)
Outstanding: My Cousin Rachel (1952), Look Back in Anger (1959), and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
Honorable: The Robe (1953), The V.I.P.s (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), and Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Opinion: The greatest actor to come out of Wales, Richard Burton had a distinctive voice with supreme command of the English language. Often shouted to reach for the desired effect, he became the symbol of British kitchen sink realism. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Richard Burton was unfairly shut out from receiving any when he should've won two or three times, most especially for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I consider Equus to be the finest work of his career. Despite his history of being a hit-or-miss actor, Richard Burton had the best decade of anybody when it came to the 60's. I credit him for making Elizabeth Taylor a better actress. Because of alcoholism, Richard Burton more often wasted his talent than not.

Confirmed: The twelfth child of thirteen in the family, was born in Wales to a coal miner and a barmaid. The former was a lifelong heavy drinker and a gambling man while the latter died when Richard turned 2. Had been largely raised by his older sister and her husband afterwards. Showed avid interest in rugby, poetry, and literature. Developed a strong speaking voice and could sing well during childhood which resulted in being befriended by a schoolmaster named Philip Burton after he sought help to remedy his cracked voice in order to win a singing competition. Afterwards, began appearing in theatrical plays in small doses.

Left school in 1941 and drifted around before joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) where he reinitiated contact with Philip Burton, his now-squadron commander. Came back to the theater by joining a drama group and attended school again. Became Philip Burton's legal ward which lead to a change in Richard's last name from Jenkins to Burton. Was accepted at Exeter College where he continued to perform in plays to great acclaim while serving his stint in the RAF until 1947.

Moved to London to pursue serious theater work, catching the eye of future Oscar winner John Gielgud who encouraged him to progress further. Others such as Claire Bloom and Humphrey Bogart thought the same as well. Began to appear in movies during 1948. It wasn't until 1952 that Burton made the transition to Hollywood by starring in My Cousin Rachel which saw him win an Academy Award nomination, the first of seven. Continued to act in various plays, often those by Shakespeare, at London's Old Vic.

Took on an "angry young man" role in a 1959 seminal British New Wave film called Look Back in Anger. Was the original actor in the Broadway production of Camelot, having been responsible for doing everything possible to keep it afloat. Eventually, his lead role went to Richard Harris for the filmed version.

In 1961, Richard Burton's career and personal life completely took off after he cheated on his wife with married Elizabeth Taylor during the making of Cleopatra. Afterwards, they divorced their spouses before exchanging vows. Did eleven movies together with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? being the best work ever which ultimately played out the same way in real life, taking a heavy toll on their marriage. Made news all over the world wherever they went, becoming the most famous couple in Hollywood history.

The 70's saw the biggest decline in Richard Burton's career as his alcoholism grew worse (possibly due to one night of heavy drinking that left his brother paralyzed from the neck down, contributing to his eventual death in four years' time). Didn't remember that he had done The Klansman. Made the greatest comeback in 1977 when he did Equus. Met Kevin Costner, 23, during a chance encounter on an airplane in 1973 and encouraged him to take up acting for good. Shocked everybody with his gaunt appearance in Nineteen Eighty-Four and would die during the same year from various ailments including his entire spinal column having been coated in crystallized alcohol.

Was a heavy smoker all his life. Drank heavily with Richard Harris and Peter O'Toole. Often bored everybody while reciting his lines drunk. Married Elizabeth Taylor twice. Escaped living in the UK for Switzerland because of heavy taxation. Was a lifelong atheist and a big fan of crossword puzzles, especially those with puns and wordplay. Thought highly of Marlon Brando and said, "He surprises me. He's the only one that does." Then again, he remarked, "Marlon has yet to learn to speak. Christ knows how often I've watched Marlon ruin his performance by under-articulation. He should have been born two generations before and acted in silent films." From first marriage, daughter, Kate Burton, is currently an actress, most notable for her work in a couple of television shows: Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

Rumors: Bisexual. Had a romantic relationship with Philip Burton.