Few actors lived a life as dramatic off-screen as Richard Burton did on it. He grew up as a miner’s son in Wales, became one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, and died at 58 from a cerebral hemorrhage (Biography.com).
Born: 10 November 1925, Pontrhydyfen, Wales ·
Died: 5 August 1984, Céligny, Switzerland ·
Age at death: 58 ·
Marriages: 5, including two to Elizabeth Taylor ·
Biological children: 2 ·
Oscar nominations: 7
Quick snapshot
- Richard Burton died on 5 August 1984 in Céligny, Switzerland (Biography.com (biographical database))
- Burton was a Welsh actor and the son of a miner (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- He married Elizabeth Taylor twice: 1964 and 1975 (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
- Cause of death: cerebral hemorrhage (Museum Wales (cultural institution))
- Exact value of Burton’s estate and split among heirs (The New York Times (major newspaper))
- Whether “love of his life” derives from Burton’s own words or public framing (People (celebrity magazine))
- Role of infidelity in the Burton-Taylor divorces (BBC News)
- Full estate inventory is not itemized in the 1984 probate reporting (The New York Times)
- 10 Nov 1925: Born Richard Walter Jenkins in Pontrhydyfen (Wikipedia)
- 1964: First marriage to Elizabeth Taylor (BBC News)
- 1974: First divorce from Elizabeth Taylor (Wikipedia)
- 5 Aug 1984: Died of cerebral hemorrhage (Biography.com)
- Researchers continue to piece together details of Burton’s estate from 1984 probate records (Los Angeles Times (major newspaper))
- Public curiosity about his relationship with Taylor remains high — the Taylor-Burton diamond still fascinates (Wikipedia)
Eight key facts, one portrait: a Welsh actor whose life spanned mining valleys and Hollywood mansions.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Walter Jenkins, professionally Richard Burton |
| Born | 10 November 1925, Pontrhydyfen, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Died | 5 August 1984, Céligny, Switzerland |
| Age at death | 58 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouses | Sybil Williams, Elizabeth Taylor (twice), Susan Hunt, Sally Hay |
| Biological children | Kate Burton and Jessica Burton |
| Notable awards | Tony Award, Golden Globe Award, Grammy Award; 7 Academy Award nominations |
What caused Richard Burton’s death?
Richard Burton died suddenly on 5 August 1984 at his home in Céligny, Switzerland, at the age of 58 (Biography.com). The immediate cause was a cerebral hemorrhage (Museum Wales). Long-term heavy drinking and declining health were contributing factors. At the time, he was married to his fifth wife, Sally Hay (Wikipedia).
How old was Richard Burton when he died?
- He was 58 years old on the day of his death (BBC News).
Where did Richard Burton die?
- At his home in Céligny, Switzerland (Museum Wales).
The implication: Burton’s death at 58 cut short a career that still had potential, but his health had been fragile for years.
Who was Richard Burton’s love of his life?
The defining romantic relationship of Burton’s public life was with Elizabeth Taylor. They met on the set of Cleopatra in 1963 and their affair became international news (BBC News). Burton and Taylor married twice: first in 1964, then again in 1975 after divorcing in 1974 (Wikipedia).
Who were Richard Burton’s wives?
- Burton had five marriages total: to Sybil Williams, Elizabeth Taylor (twice), Susan Hunt, and Sally Hay (BBC News).
Who was Richard Burton’s first wife?
- Actress Sybil Williams, whom he married in 1949 and divorced in 1963 (Wikipedia).
How many times was Richard Burton married?
Burton married five times, including twice to the same woman: Elizabeth Taylor (BBC News).
What this means: Taylor was the gravitational center of his personal life, but his relationships with other women were substantial — he was never simply “Elizabeth Taylor’s husband.”
Did Richard Burton have any biological children?
Burton had two biological daughters with his first wife, Sybil Williams: Kate Burton and Jessica Burton (IMDb (film database)). Kate Burton became an actress, known for roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Broadway. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor had no biological children together, though Taylor’s children became his stepchildren during their marriages (People).
Who are Richard Burton’s children?
- Kate Burton and Jessica Burton, his two biological daughters by Sybil Williams (IMDb).
Did Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor have children together?
- No. They did not have biological children (BBC News).
The catch: Burton’s legacy lives on through his daughters, but the public’s fascination with a Burton-Taylor child remains a “what if” of Hollywood history.
How much older was Richard Burton than Elizabeth Taylor?
Richard Burton was born on 10 November 1925 (Biography.com). Elizabeth Taylor was born on 27 February 1932 (BBC News). That makes Burton about six years older than Taylor. Their first marriage lasted from 1964 to 1974; their second, from 1975 to 1976 (Wikipedia).
When was Richard Burton born?
10 November 1925, in Pontrhydyfen, Wales (Biography.com).
When was Elizabeth Taylor born?
27 February 1932 (BBC News).
How long were Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor married?
First marriage: 1964–1974. Second marriage: 1975–1976 (Wikipedia).
The pattern: a small age gap by Hollywood standards, yet it contributed to a dynamic that the press often framed as a pairing of equals — two stars at similar peaks.
Was Richard Burton unfaithful to Elizabeth Taylor?
The Burton-Taylor marriage was publicly volatile and widely covered by the press (BBC News). Contemporary reporting described difficulties, breakups, heavy drinking, and reconciliations. No single cause of their divorce is established in provided SERP sources — infidelity is frequently cited by gossip columns but not confirmed by court records or direct admissions (People). They divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, and divorced again in 1976 (Wikipedia).
Did Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor divorce because of infidelity?
The sources do not confirm a single cause; infidelity was widely speculated but not established in court records (People).
Why did Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor split?
Public reporting cites volatility, heavy drinking, and separations, but no definitive reason appears in the provided sources (BBC News).
Why this matters: the lack of a definitive answer underscores how little of their private life was ever truly shared with the public.
How wealthy was Richard Burton when he died?
At his peak in the 1960s, Burton was among the highest-paid film actors in Hollywood (Biography.com). He spent heavily on homes, travel, taxes, alimony, and luxury gifts — most famously the diamond later known as the Taylor-Burton diamond (Wikipedia). By 1984, his wealth was a fraction of his peak earnings. The New York Times reported that Burton left an estate valued at $4.58 million (The New York Times). UPI-era reporting put the figure at roughly $4 million, reflecting differing contemporaneous estimates (UPI Archives).
What did Richard Burton spend his fortune on?
Homes, travel, taxes, alimony, and luxury gifts, including the diamond later known as the Taylor-Burton diamond (Wikipedia).
How much money did Richard Burton earn?
At his peak in the 1960s, he was among Hollywood’s highest-paid actors (Biography.com).
The reported $4 million-to-$4.58 million range in Burton’s estate reflects contemporaneous estimates, not a single confirmed figure.
The trade-off: Burton lived like a king and died with a few million — a fraction of what he earned, but still a substantial sum for a man many presumed died nearly broke.
Who inherited Richard Burton’s money?
The bulk of Burton’s estate went to his widow, Sally Hay (also known as Sally Burton) (The New York Times). The Los Angeles Times reported that his British will left 25% of the money to his daughters Kate and Jessica Burton (Los Angeles Times). It also left 10% to his adopted daughter, Maria Burton (Los Angeles Times). Elizabeth Taylor was explicitly excluded from the will (UPI Archives) — though her two children each received a bequest (UPI Archives). The estate included real estate, investments in three countries, and works of art (Wikipedia).
Did Kate Burton inherit anything from Richard Burton?
Yes. The Los Angeles Times reported that the British will left 25% of the money to Kate and Jessica Burton (Los Angeles Times).
What happened to Richard Burton’s estate after his death?
Sally Hay received the bulk of the estate; Kate and Jessica Burton received 25%, and Maria Burton received 10% (The New York Times; Los Angeles Times).
The pattern: Burton made sure his widow and his biological children were taken care of — but completely cut out the woman who was arguably the most famous person in his life.
Richard Burton timeline
- : Born Richard Walter Jenkins in Pontrhydyfen, Wales (Biography.com)
- : Adopted the stage surname Burton after his mentor Philip Burton (Wikipedia)
- : Married first wife Sybil Williams (Wikipedia)
- : Cleopatra released; affair with Elizabeth Taylor became international news (BBC News)
- : Married Elizabeth Taylor for the first time (Wikipedia)
- : Divorced Elizabeth Taylor (Wikipedia)
- : Remarried Elizabeth Taylor (Wikipedia)
- : Divorced Elizabeth Taylor for the second time (Wikipedia)
- : Married Sally Hay (Wikipedia)
- : Died of cerebral hemorrhage in Céligny, Switzerland (Museum Wales)
The timeline shows a public life moving from a Welsh mining village to global celebrity, with Elizabeth Taylor at the center of its most turbulent chapters.
Confirmed facts
- Richard Burton was born on 10 November 1925 and died on 5 August 1984 (Biography.com)
- He was a Welsh actor and the son of a miner (BBC News)
- He married Elizabeth Taylor twice (Wikipedia)
- He had two biological daughters with Sybil Williams (IMDb)
- The immediate cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage (Museum Wales)
- He was about six years older than Elizabeth Taylor (BBC News)
In short: the confirmed record places Burton’s life and death within a narrow set of dates and relationships.
What’s unclear
- The exact value of Richard Burton’s estate and how it was divided among heirs (The New York Times)
- Whether the “love of his life” label reflects Burton’s own words or later public framing (People)
- The precise role infidelity played in the Burton-Taylor divorces (BBC News)
- Full estate details are not available in the provided top SERP results (The New York Times)
- Reported estate valuations range from roughly $4 million to $4.58 million across contemporaneous accounts (UPI Archives; The New York Times)
- Burton’s total number of children depends on whether adopted and stepchildren are counted; People counts seven total (People)
What remains open is the size of the estate and the full story of his marriages.
Burton’s financial legacy remains the most opaque chapter of his biography. For wealth managers and fans, the lesson is that even Hollywood’s highest earners can leave a tangle of questions.
“Richard Burton’s story is one of enormous talent, an iconic voice, and the remarkable journey from a mining village to international stardom.”
“He was the miner’s son who became a global icon alongside Elizabeth Taylor.”
“He was a husband, father, brother, son, friend, Welshman, and a talented actor.”
— Elizabeth Taylor Archives (Facebook)
For anyone tracing the arc of Richard Burton’s life, the pattern is clear: he earned millions, spent freely, loved intensely, and left behind more questions about his estate than definitive answers. For those curious about his legacy, the implication is clear: Richard Burton burned bright and left a complicated financial and emotional aftermath.
Frequently asked questions
What was Richard Burton’s real name?
Richard Walter Jenkins. He adopted the stage surname Burton from his mentor, Philip Burton (Wikipedia).
Where did Richard Burton grow up?
He grew up in Pontrhydyfen, a mining village in Glamorgan, Wales (BBC News).
What are Richard Burton’s most famous movies?
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), Cleopatra (1963), The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965), and Becket (1964) are among his most acclaimed (IMDb).
Did Richard Burton ever win an Oscar?
No. He received seven Academy Award nominations but never won a competitive Oscar (Biography.com).
Who was Richard Burton’s last wife?
Sally Hay, whom he married in 1983 and was his wife at the time of his death (Wikipedia).
Why is Richard Burton buried in Switzerland?
He lived in Switzerland for many years and chose to be buried there. His grave is in the village cemetery of Céligny (BBC News).
The questions people still ask about Burton are the same ones that defined his public life: death, marriage, and money.
Related reading: James Caan: Cause of Death, Relationships & Legacy · Sam Shepard: Life, Death, and Lasting Legacy
Sources
- Biography.com (biographical database)
- BBC News (UK public broadcaster)
- Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia)
- Museum Wales (cultural institution)
- The New York Times (major newspaper)
- People (celebrity magazine)
- Los Angeles Times (major newspaper)
- IMDb (film database)
- UPI Archives (news wire service)
- UPI Archives (news wire service)
- Wales.com (official Welsh brand)
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Craig Newton is Senior Reporter at ScopePress.uk, covering breaking technology news and consumer tech stories across the UK.