Richard Walter Burton began his professional career with a debut in the 1949 British drama The Last Days of Dolwyn. Born in Pontrhydyfen in 1925, he rose from a Welsh mining background to become a figure of immense presence on both the stage and screen, ultimately earning seven Academy Award nominations across three decades.
Early Development and Education
Born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr., he was the twelfth of thirteen children. His early years were shaped by the death of his mother, Edith Maude Jenkins, in 1927. He was raised by his sister, Cecilia, in a terraced house in Taibach. His potential was identified early by his schoolmaster, Philip Burton, who guided his voice and encouraged his education. After attending the local secondary school, he moved to Exeter College, setting the foundation for his professional transition.
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Before his dominance in cinema, he established a reputation as a formidable Shakespearean performer. During 1951, he appeared in Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, Henry V, and The Tempest. His 1953 season included roles in Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and Coriolanus. His stage discipline was later recognized with a Theatre World Award in 1951, a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for the 1960 production of Camelot, and a Special Tony Award in 1976.
Filmography and Accolades
Burton secured his first Academy Award nomination for his performance as Philip Ashley in the 1952 romantic mystery My Cousin Rachel. Subsequent nominations followed for his work in The Robe, Becket, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Anne of the Thousand Days, and Equus. Throughout his career, he functioned as a stage actor, film actor, director, and producer, receiving a BAFTA, Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award.
Public Profile
His personal life, particularly his two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor, frequently intersected with his public persona. Together, they starred in eleven motion pictures. Despite his international fame and appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, he remained an atheist throughout his life. He maintained a secondary identity as a diarist, documenting his thoughts amidst a career that spanned the United Kingdom and global film markets.
Fast facts
- Born: 1925, Pontrhydyfen
- Died: 1984, Céligny
- Education: Exeter College
- Religion: Atheism
- Languages: English, Welsh
- Burial site: Old Cemetery of Céligny
- Honors: Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Questions readers ask
Did Richard Burton ever win an Academy Award?
No, despite receiving seven nominations for Best Actor, he did not win an Oscar.
What was Richard Burton's original name?
He was born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.
Achievements
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical — 1961
- Golden Globe Awards
- Grammy Awards
- Special Tony Award — 1976
- Educated at Exeter College
- Worked as film actor, diarist and stage actor
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