Richard Burton's Biography

Richard Burton, originally Richard Walter Jenkins Jr, was born in Pontrhydfen, Wales on 10 November 1925.

Burton, the 12th child of a coal miner, managed to get a scholarship to Oxford.

Richard Burton made his stage debut in 1943 and his film acting career began in 1948.

His first Hollywood film was 'My Cousin Rachel' in 1952, for which Burton received one of his six Best Actor Academy Award nominations.

He was also once nominated for Best Supporting Actor and up until 2007 Richard Burton shared with Peter O'Toole the record for the most nominations without actually winning an Oscar. Peter O'Toole went one ahead in 2007.

Richard Burton twice married his co-star in 'Cleopatra', Elizabeth Taylor, having left his first wife, Sybil.

Burton's other wives included Sally Hay Burton, whom he met on the set of the television series 'Wagner'; and Susan, former wife of James Hunt.

Other films with Richard Burton roles include: 'The Spy Who Came in From The Cold', 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', and 'Equus'.

Burton also narrated Dylan Thomas's acclaimed radio play, 'Under Milk Wood'.

Richard Burton died in 1984.