Richard Burton-Welsh, and World Class, Actor

The late Richard Burton, CBE, was a fine actor. He was world class and world famous but for more than his acting. As a hard living man Richard was one of many famous celebrities who have battled the booze. He was also famous as being one of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands.

Their love affair, at the time, was fast and furious. They starred together in blockbuster films such as Cleopatra, and had an on screen chemistry, among the tears and tantrums.

Taylor and Burton divorced and re-married each other, but the marriage still failed.

It seemed as if it was one of those cases of cannot live with you but cannot live without you.

Richard Burton was born on 10th November 1925 in Wales. He died on 5th August 1984 aged 58. It was no age but this once famous Hell-raiser had lived life to the full.

His often turbulent marriages to Elizabeth Taylor ultimately drew more press coverage than his acting work. This is a shame as he was a fine actor. With a booming, earthy yet soft voice there was no mistaking Richard Burton.

His Hell-raising meant that he had drunk and smoked too much over the years and I guess these factors will have taken their toll.

As a child in the sixties I well remember seeing Burton on British TV screens often. He was married to Sybil, for around 14 years. My Mum said that, once Taylor had made a bee line for him, his poor wife never stood a chance. I do not know about that but I know that, in her heyday, Taylor was a stunning looking woman and she appealed to many men.

Burton ended up being married five times in all but two of these marriages were to Taylor. Their first marriage lasted ten years but their second only 9 months. It is usually a mistake to go back and this seems to have been true of this second marriage.

Burton however was no angel. It was rumoured that he was a philanderer who would attempt to seduce his female co-stars. In fact any women that he could. This in some ways is strange as there has also been gossip about Burton's sexuality. It would seem that he was bi-sexual to say the least.

Joan Collins, who was one of the women that Burton unsuccessfully pursued, says that when she challenged Burton about his behaviour, this is what was said:-

"Collins playfully told Burton that she believed he would sleep with a snake if he had the chance, to which Burton is alleged to have replied "only if it was wearing a skirt, darling".

His personal life was also tinged with sadness. His Mum died in childbirth when Richard was only two years old. He was from a large family who obviously struggled without a Matriarchal figure.

Burton's father was a heavy drinking coal miner who often gambled and had a violent streak. No wonder Burton lived life to excess once he was a man.

Richard left school and, after a spell in the RAF, and other work, he began acting. By the late 1940s his first film, The Last Days of Dolwyn, was released. By the early fifties Burton was also a Hollywood star.

More trauma was to follow, with the accident of his brother, Ifor. Burton blamed himself for this accident. It appears that when Ifor died, it was the catalyst for Burton to begin drinking alcohol in unbelievable quantities.

By the 1970s Burton seemed to be acting in any old production as long as the money was right. His credibility as an actor began to fade. He had success as the very distinctive narrator on Jeff Wayne's musical masterpiece Ward Of The Worlds though.

Despite his fame, and early acclaim, winning an Oscar escaped him. He received various nominations but an award was not to be.

In 1984, when death came, Burton had seemed to be happily married to Sally Hay.He died, and is buried, in Switzerland, which had become their home. Although Burton had many health problems the actual cause of death was a cerebral haemorrhage.

As a person who was proud of his Welsh heritage it is fitting that he was buried in a red suit, as a tribute to his Welsh roots. A copy of the poems of fellow Welsh man, Dylan Thomas, was buried with him.