Richard Burton
Acting
Richard Burton CBE (born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable performance of Hamlet in 1964. He was called "the natural successor to Olivier" by critic Kenneth Tynan. A heavy drinker, Burton's perceived failure to live up to those expectations disappointed some critics and colleagues and added to his image as a great performer who had wasted his talent. Nevertheless, he is widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. Burton was nominated for an Academy Award seven times, but never won an Oscar. He was a recipient of BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Tony Awards for Best Actor. In the mid-1960s, Burton ascended into the ranks of the top box office stars. By the late 1960s, Burton was one of the highest-paid actors in the world, receiving fees of $1 million or more plus a share of the gross receipts. Burton remained closely associated in the public consciousness with his second wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. The couple's turbulent relationship, in which they were married twice and divorced twice, was rarely out of the news.
Known for
Acting117
movieRichard Burton: Wild Genius
2025
Self (archive footage)
movieElizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
2024
Self (archive footage)
movieGuilty Rebel
2024
Narrator (archive footage)
movieThis Is Joan Collins
2022
Self (Archive Footage)
movieJulie Andrews Forever
2019
Self (archive footage)
tvTalking Pictures
2013
Self (archive footage)
movieJeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: Live
2006
George Herbert, The Journalist (archive sound)
movieBroadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003
Self (archive footage)
movieCleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Screen Tests: Take 1
1999
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvSphinx – Secrets of the History
1994
Marc Antony (archive footage)
movieUnder Milk Wood
1992
First Voice (voice) (archive sound)
movieJohn Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick
1988
Self (archive footage)
movieIn from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
1988
Self (Archive Footage)
movieHappy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvEllis Island
1984
Sen. Phipps Ogden
movieAlice in Wonderland
1983
White Knight
tvWagner
1983
Richard Wagner
I, Leonardo: A Journey of the Mind
1983
Self - Narrator (voice)
movieCircle of Two
1981
Ashley St. Clair
movieLovespell
1981
King Mark of Cornwall
movieBreakthrough
1979
Sergeant Steiner
movieThe Wild Geese
1978
Col. Allen Faulkner
movieAbsolution
1978
Father Goddard
movieThe Medusa Touch
1978
John Morlar
movieEquus
1977
Martin Dysart
movieExorcist II: The Heretic
1977
Father Philip Lamont
movieBrief Encounter
1976
Alec Harvey
movieVolcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry
1976
Malcolm Lowry (voice)
movieThe Gathering Storm
1974
Winston Churchill
movieThe Klansman
1974
Breck Stancill
tvDinah!
1974
Self
tvSpécial cinéma
1974
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Voyage
1974
Cesare Braggi
movieMassacre in Rome
1973
SS-Obersturmbannführer Herbert Kappler
movieThe Battle of Sutjeska
1973
Josip Broz Tito
tvDivorce His, Divorce Hers
1973
Martin Reynolds
movieBluebeard
1972
Baron von Sepper
movieHammersmith Is Out
1972
Hammersmith
movieThe Assassination of Trotsky
1972
Leon Trotsky
movieUnder Milk Wood
1972
First Man
movieMooch Goes to Hollywood
1971
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
movieVillain
1971
Vic Dakin
movieRaid on Rommel
1971
Capt. Alex Foster
tvGreat Performances
1971
White Knight
movieAnne of the Thousand Days
1969
King Henry VIII
movieStaircase
1969
Harry Leeds
movieThe Violent Universe
1969
Narrator - Verse Spoken
movieCandy
1968
MacPhisto
movieWhere Eagles Dare
1968
Maj. Smith
movieA Wall in Jerusalem
1968
Narrator (English version) (voice)
tvHere's Lucy
1968
Richard Burton
movieBoom!
1968
Chris Flanders
movieDoctor Faustus
1967
Doctor Faustus
movieThe Comedians in Africa
1967
Self (uncredited)
movieActing in the 60's: Richard Burton
1967
Self - Interviewee
movieThe Taming of the Shrew
1967
Petruchio
movieLionpower from MGM
1967
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieFor Florence
1966
Self - Narrator
movieThe Spy Who Came In from the Cold
1965
Alec Leamas
movieThe Sandpiper
1965
Edward Hewitt
movieWhat's New Pussycat?
1965
Man In Strip Club
movieThe Big Sur
1965
Self / Narrator
movieHamlet
1964
Hamlet
movieThe Night of the Iguana
1964
Rev. Dr. T. Lawrence Shannon
movieBecket
1964
Thomas Becket
movieZulu
1964
Narration spoken (voice)
movieThe V.I.P.s
1963
Paul Andros
movieCleopatra
1963
Marcus Antonius
movieThe Longest Day
1962
Flight Officer David Campbell
movieThe Broadway of Lerner and Loewe
1962
Self / Arthur
tvWinston Churchill: The Valiant Years
1960
Winston Churchill
movieA Subject of Scandal and Concern
1960
George Holyoake
movieThe Bramble Bush
1960
Dr. Guy Montford
movieThe Tempest
1960
Caliban
movieIce Palace
1960
Zeb Kennedy
movieBorrowed Pasture
1960
Self - Narrator
movieLook Back in Anger
1959
Jimmy Porter
movieMarch to Aldermaston
1959
Narrator (voice)
movieWuthering Heights
1958
Heathcliff
movieBitter Victory
1957
Capt. Leith
movieSea Wife
1957
Biscuit
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Host / Self - Nominee / Award Accepter / Self - Co-Host / Special Award Recipient / Presenter / Self - Co-Host / Arthur (archive footage)
movieAlexander the Great
1956
Alexander
movieThe Rains of Ranchipur
1955
Dr. Major Rama Safti
moviePrince of Players
1955
Edwin Booth
movieThursday's Children
1954
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Robe
1953
Marcellus Gallio
movieThe Desert Rats
1953
Captain "Tammy" MacRoberts
movieMy Cousin Rachel
1952
Philip Ashley
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Caliban / Alec Harvey / Winston Churchill
movieGreen Grow the Rushes
1951
Robert 'Bob' Hammond
movieThe Woman with No Name
1950
Nick Chamerd
movieWaterfront
1950
Ben Satterthwaite
tvBambi
1948
Self
Production3
movieDoctor Faustus
1967
Producer
movieThe Taming of the Shrew
1967
Producer
movieThe Caretaker
1964
Associate Producer
Directing1
movieDoctor Faustus
1967
Director
