Richard Burton

Last updated on the 8 June 2024 by Evandrus

Mini Biography

Born: 10 November 1925, Pontrhydyfen, Neath Port Talbot, Wales. 

Richard Burton wasn’t born under the glitz of Hollywood. Born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr., he was the twelfth child of a Welsh coal miner and poverty marked his early life. Yet, a chance encounter with a schoolmaster named Philip Burton changed his destiny. Recognising the young Richard’s potential, Philip became his guardian and instilled a love for theatre. This formative experience not only gifted him a new surname but also opened the door to a world far removed from the mines.

Education offered another escape route. With Philip’s support, Richard secured a scholarship to Oxford University. There he delved into the classics, particularly the works of Shakespeare. However, World War II interrupted his academic pursuits. He served as a navigator in the Royal Air Force, putting his studies on hold but gaining valuable life experiences.

After the war, Burton, now using his adopted stage name, returned to the stage. His powerful voice and captivating presence quickly garnered attention. The 1950s saw him establish himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor. His portrayal of Hamlet in 1964 was particularly acclaimed, with some even calling him the “natural successor to Olivier,” the legendary Laurence Olivier. He wasn’t confined to Shakespeare, though. Films like “The Robe” (1953) and “Becket” (1964) showcased his versatility and brought him international recognition.

Hollywood beckoned, and Richard transitioned seamlessly between stage and screen. He appeared in countless films, from historical epics like “Cleopatra” (1963) alongside Elizabeth Taylor to the Cold War thriller “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” (1965). He earned seven Oscar nominations but never took home the golden statuette. Despite this, his talent was undeniable. His booming voice, intense performances and undeniable charisma captivated audiences worldwide.

Richard’s personal life was as dramatic as some of the roles he played. His tempestuous relationship with Elizabeth Taylor dominated headlines. They married twice, their fiery romance and public spats becoming tabloid fodder. While married to others, their undeniable chemistry kept drawing them back together. Beyond Taylor, he had four other marriages and fathered four children. His personal struggles with alcohol were well-documented, adding another layer of complexity to his public image.

Richard Burton’s life wasn’t without controversy. Some critics argued his potential wasn’t fully realised, overshadowed by his celebrity lifestyle. However, his impact on cinema remains undeniable. He breathed life into iconic characters, leaving an enduring legacy for future generations of actors. When he passed away in 1984, the world mourned a theatrical giant, a man who rose from humble beginnings to become a legend of the silver screen.

WINNER | Film: British Actor for The Spy Who Came In From The Cold / Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1967)

Biopic

Suggested viewing

Cleopatra (1963)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.0

A powerful Egyptian queen, renowned for her beauty and cunning, plays two Roman leaders against each other in a seductive game of love, power and ultimate betrayal, leaving empires in ashes and her own fate hanging in the balance.

Top cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Pamela Brown, Roddy McDowall, Martin Landau, Francesca Annis, George Cole.

The Spy Who Came in from
the Cold (1965)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.5

A disillusioned British spy, burned out by the Cold War’s brutality, undertakes a perilous undercover mission. Feigning defection to infiltrate East Germany, he navigates a web of deceit and manipulation, only to find himself questioning loyalty, love and the very purpose of his sacrifice.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Oskar Werner, Claire Bloom, Sam Wanamaker, George Voskovec, Rupert Davies, Cyril Cusack, Peter van Eyck, Michael Hordern, Robert Hardy, Bernard Lee.

The Desert Rats (1953)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.7

In the brutal North African desert of World War II, a tenacious band of outnumbered soldiers led by a demanding captain hold the line against a relentless enemy, earning the nickname “The Desert Rats” for their resilience and daring raids.

Top cast: Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher, Chips Rafferty, Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell, Charles Davis, Ben Wright.

Alexander the Great (1956)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 5.8

Born into royalty, a young leader unites warring Greek city-states before embarking on a daring conquest of the vast Persian Empire. Through strategic brilliance and unwavering bravery, he forges a sprawling empire, forever etching his name in history but grappling with the burdens of power and ambition.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Fredric March, Claire Bloom, Barry JonesHarry Andrews, Stanley Baker, Niall MacGinnis, Peter Cushing, Michael Hordern, Niall MacGinnis, Marisa de Leza, Peter Wyngarde.

Look Back in Anger (1959)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.0

A working-class man, brimming with frustration towards societal expectations, clashes with his upper-class wife. Their volatile relationship intensifies with the arrival of her friend, leading to a whirlwind of arguments, infidelity and a stark realisation about the complexities of love and class.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Mary Ure, Edith Evans, Gary Raymond, Glen Byam Shaw, Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Donald Pleasence, Nigel Davenport.

More British New Wave

Becket (1964)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.8

A king’s loyal advisor, unexpectedly thrust into a powerful religious position, defies his friend and monarch. Torn between loyalty and faith, their bond unravels in a clash of wills that tests the boundaries of friendship, duty and the power struggle between church and crown.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi, Paolo Stoppa, Donald Wolfit, Martita Hunt, Pamela Brown.

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.4

An ambitious young woman, defying a king’s desires, becomes his queen, only to face a treacherous court and the burden of failing to deliver the heir he craves. Love curdles into resentment as her reign crumbles, culminating in a tragic fall from grace.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Geneviève Bujold, Irene Papas, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos, Michael Hordern, Katharine Blake, Peter Jeffrey, Joseph O’Conor, Valerie Gearon, William Squire, Vernon Dobtcheff.

Related to

The Wild Geese (1978)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8

A grizzled mercenary, haunted by his past, leads a band of aging soldiers on a perilous mission into war-torn Africa. Tasked with rescuing a deposed leader, they face betrayal, dwindling resources and the harsh realities of a brutal conflict, forcing them to confront their own mortality and fading ideals.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Krüger, Stewart Granger, Winston Ntshona, John Kani, Jack Watson, Frank Finlay, Barry Foster, Ronald Fraser.

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.6

Disguised paratroopers infiltrate a Nazi castle high in the Alps to rescue a captured general. Their daring mission takes a deadly turn as they uncover a traitor within, forcing them to fight for survival and escape from the clutches of the enemy.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, Michael Hordern, Donald Houston, Peter Barkworth, William Squire, Robert Beatty, Brook Williams, Neil McCarthy, Vincent Ball, Anton Diffring, Ferdy Mayne, Derren Nesbitt, Ingrid Pitt.

The Medusa Touch (1978)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.9

A tormented writer, plagued by visions of disaster, discovers a horrifying truth: his thoughts trigger deadly catastrophes. As a detective examines his past, the man races to contain his destructive power before it consumes him and unleashes ultimate chaos.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Lee Remick, Lino Ventura, Harry Andrews Alan Badel, Marie-Christine Barrault, Jeremy Brett, Michael Hordern, Gordon Jackson, Michael Byrne, Derek Jacobi, Robert Lang, Norman Bird.

Under Milk Wood (1971)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 5.8

A spring night descends on Llareggub, a whimsical Welsh village. Blind Captain Cat, the town’s sole witness, observes the slumbering inhabitants – farmers, shopkeepers, dreamers, and the lovelorn – each entangled in their own world of hopes, desires and quiet anxieties. As the night deepens, their dreams and unspoken thoughts paint a portrait of this unique, eccentric community.

Top cast: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O’Toole, Glynis Johns, Vivien Merchant, Siân Phillips, Victor Spinetti, Ryan Davies, Angharad Rees.

Richard Burton full filmography @ Wikipedia