Richard Burton, the Shakespearean actor who was married twice to actress Elizabeth Taylor, died August 5, 1984. He was 58.

Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins on November 19, 1925 in Pontrhydyfen, South Wales. The 12th of 13 children, his father was a miner.

One of his teachers, Phillip Burton, encouraged Jenkins to pursue his education and was helpful in getting him into Oxford. Jenkins changed his last name to Burton, and began an acting career.

Burton made his show business debut in 1943. But it wasn’t until 1952, with his performance in My Cousin Rachel, that Hollywood and the public took notice. He was nominated for an Academy Award for this film, but did not win.

The 1960’s proved to be a benchmark decade for Burton. While starring as King Arthur in the Broadway production of Camelot, he was recruited to play the part of Mark Antony in the upcoming film Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor in the title role.

Burton and Taylor began a torrid affair during filming, and later married. They made another memorable film together in the late 1960’s called Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. The two divorced and then re-married in the 1970’s. They divorced again.

Burton last marriage was to Susan Hunt. They divorced in 1982.

Burton’s reputation as a Shakespearean actor was legendary. His distinctive booming voice gave him a stage presence equaled by very few actors. In 1964, his portrayal as Hamlet put him in the history books for having the longest consecutive run in a stage production.

A hard drinker, Burton’s lifestyle led to many physical ailments. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Geneva, Switzerland on August 5, 1984.