Richard Burton (I) (1925–1984)

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Probably best-remembered for his turbulent personal life with Elizabeth Taylor (whom he married twice), Richard Burton was nonetheless also regarded as an often brilliant British actor of the post-WWII period. Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins in 1925 into a Welsh (Cymraeg)-speaking family in Pontrhydyfen to Edith Maude (Thomas) and Richard ... See full bio »

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Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 18 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

498 photos | 37 videos »

Known For

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George
(1966)
1984
1984 O'Brien
(1984)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Alec Leamas
(1965)
Becket
Becket Becket / Thomas Becket
(1964)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actor (79 credits)
 1984 Ellis Island (TV Mini Series)
Sen. Phipps Ogden
- Episode #1.3 (1984) ... Sen. Phipps Ogden
- Episode #1.2 (1984) ... Sen. Phipps Ogden
- Episode #1.1 (1984) ... Sen. Phipps Ogden
 1984 1984
O'Brien
 1983 Wagner (TV Mini Series)
Richard Wagner
- Episode #1.10 (1983) ... Richard Wagner
- Episode #1.3 (1983) ... Richard Wagner
- Episode #1.2 (1983) ... Richard Wagner
- Episode #1.5 (1983) ... Richard Wagner
- Episode #1.4 (1983) ... Richard Wagner
Show all 10 episodes
 1983 Great Performances (TV Series)
White Knight
- Alice in Wonderland (1983) ... White Knight
 1982 The Fall Guy (TV Series)
Richard Burton
- Reluctant Traveling Companion (1982) ... Richard Burton
 1981 Lovespell
King Mark of Cornwall
 1981 Obsession
Ashley St. Clair
 1979 Breakthrough
Sgt. Rolf Steiner
 1978 Absolution
Father Goddard
 1978 California Suite
Richard Burton on TV (uncredited)
 1978 The Wild Geese
Colonel Allen Faulkner
 1978 The Medusa Touch
John Morlar
 1977 Equus
Martin Dysart
 1977 Exorcist II: The Heretic
Father Philip Lamont
 1974 The Gathering Storm (TV Movie)
Winston Churchill
 1974 Brief Encounter (TV Movie)
Alec Harvey
 1974 Aquarius (TV Series documentary)
narrator (Augustus)
- Augustus John/Morecambe&Wise (1974) ... narrator (Augustus)
 1974 The Klansman
Breck Stancill
 1974 Mooch (TV Movie)
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
 1974 The Voyage
Cesare Braggi
 1973 Massacre in Rome
Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler
 1973 The Battle of Sutjeska
Josip Broz Tito
 1973 Divorce His - Divorce Hers (TV Movie)
Martin Reynolds
 1972 Bluebeard
Kurt Von Sepper
 1972 Hammersmith Is Out
Hammersmith
 1972 Mordet på Trotskij
Leon Trotsky
 1971 Under Milk Wood
First Man
 1971 Villain
Vic Dakin
 1971 Raid on Rommel
Foster
 1970 Here's Lucy (TV Series)
Richard Burton
- Lucy Meets the Burtons (1970) ... Richard Burton
 1969 Anne of the Thousand Days
King Henry VIII
 1969 Staircase
Harry Leeds
 1969 Laughter in the Dark
Sir Edward More (scenes deleted)
 1968 Where Eagles Dare
Maj. Smith
 1968 Candy
MacPhisto
 1968 Boom!
Chris Flanders
 1967 Wir sterben vor (Short)
Narrator
 1967 The Comedians
Brown
 1967 Doctor Faustus
Doctor Faustus
 1967 The Taming of The Shrew
Petruchio
 1965 The Days of Wilfred Owen (Short)
Narrator
 1965 The Sandpiper
Dr. Edward Hewitt
 1965 What's New Pussycat
Man in Strip Club (uncredited)
 1964/I Hamlet
Hamlet
 1964 The Night of the Iguana
Rev. Dr. T. Lawrence Shannon
 1964 Becket
Becket / Thomas Becket
 1964 Zulu
Narration spoken by (voice)
 1963 The V.I.P.s
Paul Andros
 1963 Cleopatra
Mark Antony
 1962 The Longest Day
Flying Officer David Campbell
 1960 BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series)
George Holyoake
- A Subject of Scandal and Concern (1960) ... George Holyoake
 1960 The Bramble Bush
Dr. Guy Montford
 1960 The Tempest (TV Movie)
Caliban
 1960 Buick-Electra Playhouse (TV Series)
Philip Rawlings
- The Fifth Column (1960) ... Philip Rawlings
 1960 The Fifth Column (TV Movie)
 1960 Ice Palace
Zeb Kennedy
 1959 Look Back in Anger
Jimmy Porter
 1959 A Midsummer Night's Dream
Narrator
 1958 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series)
Heathcliff
- Wuthering Heights (1958) ... Heathcliff
 1957 Bitter Victory
Captain Leith
 1957 Sea Wife
Biscuit
 1956 The James Mason Show (TV Series)
Performer (1956)
 1956 Alexander the Great
Alexander
 1955 The Rains of Ranchipur
Dr. Major Rama Safti
 1955 Prince of Players
Edwin Booth
 1953 The Robe
Marcellus Gallio
 1953 The Desert Rats
Capt. 'Tammy' MacRoberts
 1952 My Cousin Rachel
Philip Ashley
 1952 Celanese Theatre (TV Series)
Mat Burke
- Anna Christie (1952) ... Mat Burke
 1951 Green Grow the Rushes
Robert 'Bob' Hammond
 1951 Michèle and René (TV Series)
Prince Henry
- Up the River (1951) ... Prince Henry
 1950 Her Panelled Door
Nick Chamerd
 1950 Waterfront Women
Ben Satterthwaite
 1950 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series)
Richard
- The Lady's Not for Burning (1950) ... Richard
 1949 Now Barabbas
Paddy
 1949 Woman of Dolwyn
Gareth - Her Adopted Son
 1946 The Corn Is Green (TV Movie)
Morgan Evans
Show Show Producer (2 credits)
Show Show Director (1 credit)
Show Show Soundtrack (4 credits)
Show Show Writer (1 credit)
Show Show Thanks (4 credits)
Show Show Self (93 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (91 credits)

Related Videos

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Replaced fellow Welshman Anthony Hopkins in the role of psychiatrist Martin Dysart in Peter Shaffer's play "Equus" at Broadway's Plymouth Theatre and won a Special Tony Award. See more »

Publicity Listings:

6 Biographical Movies | 16 Print Biographies | 1 Portrayal | 6 Interviews | 47 Articles | 18 Pictorials | 53 Magazine Cover Photos | See more »

Height:

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Spouse:

Sally Burton  (his death) | See more »

Children:

Kate Burton

Parents:

Thomas, Edith Maude | Jenkins, Walter
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Actors go through cycles - remarkable, weird cycles. There was one period from 1956 to 1961 or so when I couldn't do anything right. My voice went foul, my luck was bad, I chose badly. I thought I had lost what I had, and I nearly retired right then and there. See more »

Trivia:

An article Burton wrote in memory of his longtime friend, Sir Stanley Baker, following the actor's death in June 1976, caused so much offence that Baker's widow, Lady Ellen Martin, considered suing Burton. However, shortly afterwards, she recalled standing near the tree where Baker's ashes had been scattered and hearing his voice saying, "You know what Rich is like when he's in his cups". See more »

Trademark:

Rich, gravelly, yet authoritative voice with Welsh accent. See more »

Nickname:

Rich See more »

Star Sign:

Scorpio
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