Richard Burton: 1925-1984

Richard Burton and his then wife Elizabeth Taylor announce at a press conference that they will co-star in the play, "Private lives" in 1982.

The son of a coal miner, Burton was once considered one of the finest classical actors in Great Britain. He worked on stage, screen and TV. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award and once for an Emmy. He was married five times,including twice to actress Elizabeth Taylor, and fathered three daughters, one of whom is actress Kate Burton.

British actor Richard Burton and his then wife Elizabeth Taylor, both holding pet dogs, arrive on Feb. 16 1967, at Le Bourget airport. Burton's romance with Taylor, whom he met during the making of "Cleopatra" (1962), and their two marriages made headlines around the world.

Actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton kneel in a scene from the film "The Taming of the Shrew" 1973 in Italy. The film, based on Shakespeare's play of the same name, tells the story of two sisters and their family's struggle to find husbands for them.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton hold their granddaughter Leyla on Jan. 15, 1973, in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Israel, during their second marriage, circa 1976.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor smile following the opening of their Broadway play, "Private lives" at the Lunt Fontanne Theater in New York on Aug. 5, 1983.

Richard Burton gives his former wife Elizabeth Taylor a kiss following the opening of their Broadway play, "Private lives" at the Lunt Fontanne Theater in New York on Aug. 5, 1983.

An undated photo shows actor Richard Burton and former wife actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in London, for Burton's 50th Birthday on Nov. 14, 1975.

A photo taken on Feb. 8, 1966, shows actress Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Richard Burton in Oxford.