Richard Burton

Biography:

Richard Burton was an accomplished Welsh actor known for his strong voice, commanding presence and for acting both in the theatre and in movies. Originally born as Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. on November 10, 1925 in Pontrhydyfen, Wales, Burton first made a name in theatre. His fame spread after appearing in films such as My Cousin Rachel (1952), The Robe (1953), Look Back in Anger (1959), and The Longest Day (1962). Burton acted in a series of films in which he had a commanding stage presence and a strong voice.

Burton received seven Academy Award nominations as Best Actor including for The Robe, Becket (1964), The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and Equus (1977), but never won any award in competition. Burton also earned praise for his acting skills as a stage actor especially for Shakespeare plays, winning a Tony Award for his performance as King Arthur in the Broadway musical Camelot. Burton’s tumultuous life included several highly publicized marriages with actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Among his other notable movies were Cleopatra (1963), The Night of the Iguana (1964), The Taming of the Shrew (1967), and The Wild Geese (1978). Richard Burton died on August 5, 1984, in Céligny, Switzerland, aged 58.