Richard Burton

Richard Walter Jenkins
1924 - 1984
British born Pontrhydfen, S Wales

Nickname Rich . Height 5' 9" (1.75 m) . Probably more frequently remembered for his turbulent personal life and multiple marriages, however Richard Burton was truly one of the great UK actors of the post WW2 period. The young Richard Jenkins was the son of a Welsh coal miner, and he received a scholarship to Oxford University to study acting and made his first stage appearance in the early 1940s. His first film appearances were in non-descript movies such as _Last Days Of Dolwyn, The (1949)_ , Waterfront (1950) and _Green Grow the Rushes (1950)_ . Then he started to get noticed by producers and audiences with his lead in My Cousin Rachel (1952) _Robe, The (1953) and _Alexander The Great (1956)_ , added to this he was also spending considerable time in stage productions, both in the UK and USA, often to splendid reviews.The late 1950s was an exciting & inventive time in UK cinema, often referred to as the "British New Wave", and Burton was right in the thick of things, and showcased a sensational performance in _Look Back In Anger (1959)_ . He also appeared with a cavalcade of international stars in the WW2 magnum opus The Longest Day (1962), and then onto arguably his most "notorious" role as that of "Marc Antony" opposite Elizabeth Taylor in the hugely expensive Cleopatra (1963). This was, of course, the film that kick started their fiery and passionate romance (plus two marriages), and the two of them appeared in several productions over the next few years including _V.I.P.'s, The (1963)_ , The Sandpiper (1965), the dynamic _Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)_ and The Taming of the Shrew (1967). However, Burton was often better when he was off on his own giving higher caliber performances, such as those in Becket (1964), the brilliant thriller _Spy Who Came In from the Cold, The (1965)_ and alongside Clint Eastwood in the actioner Where Eagles Dare (1968).His audience appeal began to decline somewhat during the early 1970s as fans turned to younger, more virile male stars, however Burton was superb in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), he put on a reasonable show in Raid on Rommel (1971), was over the top in Bluebeard (1972), and wildly miscast in the ludicrous The Assassination of Trotsky (1972). By 1975, quality male lead roles were definitely going to other stars, and Burton found himself appearing in some movies of dubious quality, just to pay the bills, including The Klansman (1974), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and The Medusa Touch (1978). However in 1978, he appeared with fellow UK acting icons Richard Harris and Roger Moore in The Wild Geese (1978) about mercenaries in South Africa, and whilst the film had a modest initial run, over the past twenty five years it has picked up quite a cult following!His two last great performances were as the sinister "O'Brien" in Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984), and in the TV mini series _"Ellis Island" (1984)_ . He passed away on August 5th, 1984 in Celigny, Switzerland from a cerebral hemorrhage.Burton was an avid fan of Shakespeare, poetry and reading. Having once said "home is where the books are". Spouse Sally Hay (3 July 1983 - 5 August 1984) (his death), Susan Hunt (August 1976 - 1982) (divorced), Elizabeth Taylor (10 October 1975 - 1 August 1976) (remarried/redivorced),Elizabeth Taylor (15 March 1964 - 26 June 1974) (divorced) 1 child, Sybil Williams (5 February 1949 - 5 December 1963) (divorced) 2 children.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds (2006) , Under Milkwood (1992) , "Ellis Island" (1984) , Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) , "Wagner" (1983) , Alice in Wonderland (1983) ,Lovespell (1981) , Circle of Two (1980) , Steiner - Das eiserne Kreuz, 2. Teil (1979) , Absolution (1978) , The Wild Geese (1978) , The Medusa Touch (1978) , Equus (1977) , Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) , The Gathering Storm (1974) , Brief Encounter (1974) , The Klansman (1974) , Viaggio, Il (1974) , Rappresaglia (1973) , Sutjeska (1973) , Divorce His - Divorce Hers (1973) , The Assassination of Trotsky (1972) , Hammersmith Is Out (1972) , Bluebeard (1972) , Under Milk Wood (1972) , Villain (1971) , Raid on Rommel (1971) , Mooch Goes to Hollywood (1971) ,Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) , Staircase (1969) , Candy (1968) , Where Eagles Dare (1968) , Boom (1968) , The Comedians (1967) , Doctor Faustus (1967) , The Taming of the Shrew (1967) , Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) , The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) , The Sandpiper (1965) , What's New, Pussycat (1965) , Hamlet (1964/I) , The Night of the Iguana (1964) , Becket (1964) , Zulu (1964) , The V.I.P.s (1963) , Cleopatra (1963) , The Longest Day (1962) , The Fifth Column (1960) , The Bramble Bush (1960) , The Tempest (1960) , "Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1960) , Ice Palace (1960) , A Subject of Scandal and Concern (1960) , Sen noci svatojanske (1959) , Sea Wife (1957), Amère victoire (1957) , "The James Mason Show" (1956) , Alexander the Great (1956) , The Rains of Ranchipur (1955) , Prince of Players (1955) , Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) , The Robe (1953) , The Desert Rats (1953) , My Cousin Rachel (1952) , "Celanese Theatre" (1952) , Green Grow the Rushes (1951) , Waterfront (1950) , The Woman with No Name (1950) , Now Barabbas (1949) , The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949)