British film and theater actor Richard Burton conquered Hollywood. During his 40-year creative career, Burton starred in 75 films, films with his participation quickly gained popularity and brought large fees. Richard Burton's romance with Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor went down in history as one of the brightest and most beautiful.
Childhood and early years of Richard Burton
Born Richard Walter Jenkins was born on November 10, 1925, into a mining family, where, in addition to him, twelve children were growing up. Father's name was Richard "Dick" Walter, and mother's name was Edith Jenkins. The boy grew up in Pontrheidifen, a picturesque valley in South Wales, but when he was two years old, his mother died at the age of 44 from postpartum fever. Then Richard was taken up by his own older sister and her husband.
From his older brother, Richard learned mechanics, coal mining, construction, economic affairs, and also got acquainted with the sports game of rugby and fell in love with poetry.
At school, Richard studied diligently and excelled in many subjects, including sports. The young man even became the captain of the cricket team. But shortly before graduation, Richard dropped out of school and got a job as a haberdasher in order to earn money. Soon he began to hate his job and became addicted to alcohol and cigarettes, so the teenager was placed under the care of teacher Philip Burton. They developed a good relationship, Philip had a great positive influence on Richard, and the young man returned to his studies. A teacher and mentor helped Richard develop his artistic and oratory skills.
Subsequently, he even took the name of his teacher as a creative pseudonym.
Richard entered Oxford University to study acting and began performing on the stage in 1944.
Richard Burton's creative career
For the first time Burton appeared on the screen in 1949 in the drama "Dolvin's Last Days", after the release of which he signed a contract with Fox Studios. In 1952, the actor starred in the melodrama My Cousin Rachel. For his excellent acting and successful film debut in this film, Richard Burton received his first Golden Globe.
After the presentation of the honorary award, the actor received offers to participate in various films with high fees.
Richard Burton starred in the historical films Alexander the Great, Anna's Thousand Days and the most famous film of the 1960s, Cleopatra, dramas Look Back in Anger, VIPs, Iguana Night, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? and Late Love, the thrillers The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, Boom and The Touch of Medusa, the action movie Where Eagles Nest with Clint Eastwood, the comedy The Ladder, the horrors The Exorcist II: The Heretic.
The last creative participation of Richard Burton was the fantastic motion picture "1984", where he played a supporting role.
Throughout his film career, Richard Burton simultaneously appeared in British theater productions.
The novel by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
For the first time, two famous Hollywood stars met on the set of the historical film "Cleopatra" in 1962. This acquaintance changed the professional and personal life of both actors. In "Cleopatra" Burton got the role of Mark Antony, and Taylor - the Egyptian queen. The on-screen love story turned into real affection.
Elizabeth Taylor recalled their first meeting: “On the first day of filming, Richard suffered from a hangover and looked very vulnerable. He tried to drink coffee, but his hands were shaking so much that I decided to help him. Our gazes met and we just looked at each other."
Richard Burton, in their first meeting, remembered Taylor as a gloomy, uncommunicative, but the most beautiful woman in the world.
The relationship of the two stars attracted the attention of the paparazzi and the public also by the fact that at the time they met, both were married. Richard Burton married Elizabeth in 1964, and the couple adopted a girl.
The marriage of the two celebrities resembled an active volcano, both had explosive temperaments. Richard presented his chosen one with diamonds, spending a huge fortune on rings, necklaces and other jewelry.
The Hollywood marriage lasted ten years, until 1974. But after the divorce, Burton and Taylor got back together, and a year later, a second wedding took place. However, less than six months later, the couple broke up completely. Elizabeth commented on the divorce from the actor: “We had a good marriage. But something went wrong. We remained friends. I did everything in my power to keep us together. But maybe we loved each other too much."
After Burton's death, the actress expressed a desire to be buried next to him, but Richard's widow, Sally, declined this request. Taylor wanted to come to Richard's funeral procession, but the actor's family dissuaded her from doing so, so as not to attract the attention of reporters.
Personal life of the actor
In 1949, Richard Burton married Welsh-born actress Sybil Williams. He was married to her for 14 years. But after meeting Elizabeth, Taylor hastily divorced. Burton had two children from his first marriage.
The second time Burton married Taylor. The star marriage broke up in 1976.
A month after the divorce, Richard Burton married a little-known actress, Susan Hunt. Burton lived with her for six years, after which he divorced again, and a year later married the producer Sally Ann Hay again. The couple lived together for a year, until the death of Richard Burton in 1984. The actor was 58 years old.
