Adorable Story #118: The Many Lives of Richard Burton - Part 2

Turmoil and Timeless Stardom

“After Richard, the men in my life were just there to hold the coat, to open the door. All the men after Richard were really just company.”

— Elizabeth Taylor

8th April 1963: Welsh-born British actor Richard Burton (1925 - 1984) — Photo © by Evening Standard/Getty Images

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Table of Contents of Part 2: Rise to Stardom / 1960s: Peak of His Career / Stage Work / Meeting Elizabeth Taylor / Personal Life / Alcoholism / Financial Strains / Later Years / Did you know?

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This is the Part 2 of the Richard Burton’s Adorable Story #118. Part 1 can be found here.

Rise to Stardom

After the mid-1950s, Richard Burton’s career flourished with a series of iconic roles in both Hollywood films and on stage.

His magnetic screen presence and commanding performances made him one of the most celebrated actors of his time.

Some of his major roles during this period include:

• “Alexander the Great” (1956): Burton played the title role in this historical epic, showcasing his ability to carry large-scale productions.

• “Look Back in Anger” (1959): This adaptation of John Osborne’s play was a career-defining performance, with Burton portraying the volatile and disillusioned Jimmy Porter, a key figure in the “angry young men” movement in British cinema.

1960s: Peak of His Career

• “Cleopatra” (1963): Burton famously portrayed Mark Antony opposite Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra. The film became legendary for its on-screen grandeur and the off-screen romance between Burton and Taylor, which captivated the public worldwide.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Cleopatra (1963)