Richard Burton, born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. on , in Pontrhydyfen, Wales, was a Welsh stage and screen actor known for his resonant voice, intense performances, and portrayals of intelligent, troubled, or self-destructive men. He was nominated for seven Academy Awards and never won a competitive Oscar.
Burton rose to prominence as a Shakespearean and classical actor in Britain, then became a major Hollywood star. His relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, whom he married twice, became one of the most heavily publicized celebrity romances of the 20th century. He died in Geneva, Switzerland, on , aged 58.
How old was Richard Burton when he died, and what was the cause?
Richard Burton died suddenly in Geneva, Switzerland, on . He was 58 years old. The cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage, according to Britannica.
At the time of his death, Burton was preparing to appear in Wild Geese II; the role was later recast. He was buried in Céligny, Switzerland, near the grave of his friend and fellow Welsh literary figure Dylan Thomas.
10 November 1925, Pontrhydyfen, Wales
Cleopatra, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Elizabeth Taylor (married twice), plus three other marriages
5 August 1984, age 58, cerebral hemorrhage
Several facts stand out in any overview of Burton’s life:
- Burton received seven Academy Award nominations without a competitive win.
- His two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor made their relationship a global media phenomenon.
- Burton and Taylor appeared together in 11 films.
- A 2025 BBC film explores his Welsh upbringing and the coal-mining community that shaped him.
- Burton’s elder brother Ifor suffered a serious accident at Burton’s Swiss home in 1968.
- He took his professional surname from his schoolteacher and mentor, Philip Burton.
- Born into a Welsh-speaking family of 13 children, Burton grew up in the mining village of Pontrhydyfen.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Walter Jenkins (born as) |
| Stage name | Richard Burton (after his mentor Philip Burton) |
| Date of birth | 10 November 1925 |
| Place of birth | Pontrhydyfen, Wales |
| Date of death | 5 August 1984 |
| Age at death | 58 years |
| Cause of death | Cerebral hemorrhage |
| Number of marriages | 5 (including twice to Elizabeth Taylor) |
| Number of children | 4 (2 biological daughters, 2 adopted) |
| Academy Award nominations | 7 (no wins) |
| Most famous film | Cleopatra (1963) |
Who was Richard Burton married to, and did he have children?
Burton was married five times in total, twice to Elizabeth Taylor and three times to other women. His first wife was Sybil Williams, with whom he had two daughters.
Who was Elizabeth Taylor to Richard Burton?
Burton met Elizabeth Taylor while filming Cleopatra (1963). Both were married at the time, and their relationship became one of the most heavily publicized celebrity romances of the 20th century, according to Biography.com.
They appeared together in 11 films: Cleopatra (1963), The V.I.P.s (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), The Taming of the Shrew (1967), Doctor Faustus (1967), The Comedians (1967), Boom! (1968), Under Milk Wood (1972), Hammersmith Is Out (1972), and Private Lives (1983), a filmed adaptation of the Noël Coward play. Elizabeth Taylor’s Wikipedia biography tracks the full sequence of their joint projects.
Burton and Taylor married twice: first from 1964 to 1974, then again from 1975 to 1976. Both marriages ended in divorce.
Did Richard Burton have children?
Burton had four children:
- Kate Burton, his daughter with first wife Sybil Williams; she later became a successful actress.
- Jessica Burton, also with Sybil Williams.
- Maria Burton, adopted during his marriage to Elizabeth Taylor.
- Liza Todd Burton, Taylor’s daughter with producer Mike Todd, whom Burton adopted.
Burton’s household included two biological daughters and two daughters connected to him through Elizabeth Taylor. Maria was adopted during the marriage, and Liza, Taylor’s daughter with producer Mike Todd, was adopted by Burton as well.
What are the most famous Richard Burton movies?
Burton first established himself as a major Shakespearean and classical actor in Britain before moving successfully into Hollywood films. He made his American film debut in My Cousin Rachel (1952), earning an Oscar nomination, according to TV Insider.
What films did Richard Burton star in?
His notable films span more than three decades, from early costume dramas to his final screen role.
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1953 | The Robe |
| 1953 | The Desert Rats |
| 1956 | Alexander the Great |
| 1962 | The Longest Day |
| 1963 | Cleopatra |
| 1964 | Becket |
| 1965 | The Spy Who Came in from the Cold |
| 1965 | The Sandpiper |
| 1966 | Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? |
| 1967 | The Taming of the Shrew |
| 1968 | Where Eagles Dare |
| 1969 | Anne of the Thousand Days |
| 1977 | Equus |
| 1978 | The Medusa Touch |
| 1981 | Wagner |
| 1984 | Nineteen Eighty-Four, his final film role |
The full range of his screen work is documented in Wikipedia’s list of Burton’s stage, screen, radio, and record work.
Did Richard Burton win an Oscar?
Burton received seven Oscar nominations, for My Cousin Rachel, The Robe, Becket, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Anne of the Thousand Days, and Equus. He never won a competitive Academy Award. He did win major BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Tony awards during his career.
Seven acting nominations and no competitive win placed Burton among the most nominated actors without an Academy Award. His other career honors included BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Tony awards.
Which Richard Burton performances are most acclaimed?
His legacy rests on acclaimed performances in Becket, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Equus, alongside his Shakespearean stage work. His collaborations with Taylor remain among the most watched films of his career.
What does the recent BBC article reveal about Richard Burton’s Welsh roots?
In February 2025, a BBC News film and article examined Richard Burton’s Welsh roots, focusing on his upbringing in a coal-mining community in South Wales and the formative years that shaped his career.
Where did Richard Burton grow up?
Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. in Pontrhydyfen, a mining village in South Wales’s Afan Valley. He was the 12th of 13 children born to Welsh coal miner Richard “Dic” Jenkins and Edith Maude Jenkins, according to Britannica.
The family was working-class and Welsh-speaking. His mother died when Burton was two, shortly after giving birth to her 13th child. His father was frequently absent, and Burton was largely raised by his older sister Cecilia and her husband Elfed in nearby Port Talbot.
Who was Richard Burton’s brother?
His much older brother Ifor, 19 years his senior, became an important influence during his childhood. In later years, Ifor’s life was marked by a serious accident at Burton’s home in Céligny, Switzerland, an event whose details have been reported inconsistently.
Where did the name Richard Burton come from?
He adopted the professional name Richard Burton, reportedly taking “Burton” from his schoolteacher and early mentor Philip Burton, who helped develop his acting talent.
His connection to Wales runs through his entire biography, as reflected in the BBC Wales biography of Richard Burton.
Burton is remembered as one of Wales’s best-known actors. The Welsh-speaking mining community of the Afan Valley remained a defining part of his public identity, a connection reinforced by the BBC’s 2025 film on his early years.
How did Richard Burton’s life unfold from a Welsh mining village to Hollywood?
- – Born in Pontrhydyfen, Wales, as Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. (Biography.com; Britannica)
- – Began acting with the support of mentor Philip Burton, whose surname he later adopted professionally.
- – Made his American film debut in My Cousin Rachel, earning an Oscar nomination. (TV Insider)
- – Starred in Cleopatra and met Elizabeth Taylor. (Biography.com)
- – Married Elizabeth Taylor for the first time. (Britannica)
- – Starred in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Biography.com)
- – His brother Ifor suffered a serious accident at Burton’s home in Céligny, Switzerland. (En Academic)
- – Divorced Elizabeth Taylor; remarried her in 1975 and divorced again in 1976. (Britannica)
- – Died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Geneva, Switzerland, at age 58. (Britannica)
What happened to Richard Burton’s brother?
The story of Burton’s brother Ifor is one of the most discussed episodes in the actor’s biography, in part because accounts of it vary. The core facts, however, are consistent across biographical sources.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
|
|
In most accounts, the fall happened after a drinking session at Burton’s Swiss home, a detail recorded in En Academic’s biography of Richard Burton.
Why is Richard Burton still famous?
Richard Burton remains one of Wales’s best-known actors and one of the leading British performers of his generation. His legacy rests on his Shakespearean stage work, commanding voice, collaborations with Taylor, and acclaimed performances in films such as Becket, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Equus.
His blend of classical stage training and Hollywood stardom made him a reference point for later performers. Andrew Scott, known for intense, commanding performances and Shakespearean work, represents a comparable career in the same tradition.
What did critics and contemporaries say about Richard Burton?
“He had a voice that could make the dictionary sound exciting.”
— Variety
“I was born in a mining village in South Wales. I am Welsh, and I have always been proud of it.”
— Richard Burton, in various interviews
“The BBC film shines a light on the formative years that made him.”
— BBC News, February 2025
More detailed accounts of his life appear in Richard Burton: A Life by Melvyn Bragg and in BBC Archives’ The Richard Burton Story.
What is Richard Burton’s lasting legacy?
Richard Burton’s legacy rests on his commanding stage work, his seven Oscar-nominated film performances, and his long association with Elizabeth Taylor. His life remains a reference point for classic-era stardom, alongside biographies such as Marlene Dietrich – Life, Films, and Anti-Nazi Legacy, and the 2025 BBC film on his Welsh roots shows that his story still resonates.
What are people still asking about Richard Burton?
How many Oscars did Richard Burton win?
Richard Burton never won an Academy Award despite seven acting nominations. He received an honorary award posthumously in 2002.
Did Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor have children together?
They did not have biological children together. Taylor’s daughter Liza was adopted by Burton during their marriage.
What was Richard Burton’s net worth at death?
Estimates vary, but he left an estate valued around $1 million (1984), much of which went to charity and family.
Is the Richard Burton Museum online?
Yes, the Richard Burton Museum in Pontrhydyfen, Wales, has an official website (richardburtonmuseum.weebly.com).
What was Richard Burton’s first film?
His first credited film was The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949), though he appeared earlier in British television productions.
Where is Richard Burton buried?
He was buried in Céligny, Switzerland, near the grave of his friend and fellow Welsh literary figure Dylan Thomas.
How many films did Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor appear in together?
They appeared together in 11 films, from Cleopatra (1963) to Private Lives (1983).
Sophie Kendall is Culture & Events Editor at DailyCity.co.uk, covering restaurants, nightlife, theatre, exhibitions, festivals and city life.