Richard Burton’s Death and His Love for Elizabeth Taylor

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were one of Hollywood’s most explosive couples — married twice, divorced twice, and never quite done with each other. When Burton died suddenly in 1984 at age 58, the world expected Taylor to be at his side one last time. She wasn’t. But what happened in the years that followed revealed a bond that death couldn’t sever.

Born: 10 November 1925 · Died: 5 August 1984 · Cause of Death: Intracerebral hemorrhage · Academy Award Nominations: 7 (0 wins) · Times Married to Elizabeth Taylor: 2

Eight key facts about Richard Burton, from his Welsh roots to his final years in Switzerland.

What caused Richard Burton’s death?

What was Richard Burton’s cause of death?

Richard Burton died on 5 August 1984 from a cerebral hemorrhage (intracerebral hemorrhage) at his home in Celigny, Switzerland, according to BBC News (UK public broadcaster). He was 58 years old. Vanity Fair (American magazine) reported that the hemorrhage struck during the night after he had gone to bed.

Did Richard Burton have any health issues?

Burton had been suffering from chronic alcoholism for many years. The condition contributed to his deteriorating health and ultimately his death. He sought treatment but relapsed.

Did Elizabeth Taylor attend Richard Burton’s funeral?

Why didn’t Elizabeth Taylor attend?

Elizabeth Taylor did not attend Richard Burton’s funeral. BBC News (UK public broadcaster) reported that Burton’s family feared her presence would create a media circus. Another account, from Biography.com (A+E Networks), says Taylor was reportedly asked to stay away because Burton’s widow was wary of a spectacle.

Where is Richard Burton buried?

Richard Burton is buried in Celigny, Switzerland, the small village where he died. Reuters (international news agency) described his grave as a quiet rural site, far from the Hollywood spotlight.

Is Liz Taylor buried next to Richard Burton?

No. Elizabeth Taylor was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles (The Independent) after her death from congestive heart failure in 2011. She was buried with a love letter Burton had written to her shortly before his death, according to The Independent (UK newspaper).

Who did Richard Burton say was the love of his life?

What did Richard Burton say about Elizabeth Taylor?

Richard Burton repeatedly said Elizabeth Taylor was the only woman he ever loved. In interviews and letters, he called her the love of his life. Biography.com (A+E Networks) notes that Taylor remained madly in love with Burton years after their divorce.

What did Richard Burton say about Elizabeth Taylor’s breasts?

In a letter to Taylor, Burton described her breasts as “perfect.” The letter was published in Burton’s collected correspondence and remains one of the most quoted examples of his romantic passion.

What did Elizabeth Taylor say when Richard Burton died?

What was Elizabeth Taylor’s reaction to Burton’s death?

Elizabeth Taylor was devastated. BBC News (UK public broadcaster) described her as inconsolable. She later said, “I loved him with all my heart.” She could not attend the funeral because of her own health and the family’s concerns.

Did Elizabeth Taylor cry at Burton’s funeral?

Taylor did not attend the funeral, so she did not cry there. But at Taylor’s own funeral in 2011, Burton’s favorite poem — “The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo” by Gerard Manley Hopkins — was read at her insistence, according to TNT Magazine (travel and lifestyle publication).

Was Richard Burton a heavy drinker?

How much did Richard Burton drink?

Burton was a famously heavy drinker. Accounts say he consumed up to three bottles of vodka a day. His alcoholism was widely reported and acknowledged by Burton himself in interviews.

Did alcoholism affect Richard Burton’s career?

Yes. Burton’s drinking affected his health, his relationships, and his work. He entered treatment multiple times but always relapsed. Vanity Fair (American magazine) described his alcoholism as a central thread in his life story.

Timeline: Richard Burton’s life and death

• 10 November 1925: Born in Pontrhydyfen, Wales
• 1949: Married Sybil Williams
• 1963: Met Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Cleopatra; their affair begins
• 15 March 1964: Married Elizabeth Taylor (first marriage)
• 26 June 1974: Divorced Elizabeth Taylor
• 10 October 1975: Remarried Elizabeth Taylor in Botswana
• 29 July 1976: Second divorce from Elizabeth Taylor
• 1983: Married Sally Hay
• 5 August 1984: Died of cerebral hemorrhage in Celigny, Switzerland

The implication: Burton’s life moved in cycles of passion, collapse, and renewal — a pattern that ended abruptly in a Swiss bedroom.

Clarity check: Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Voices from the story

“I loved him with all my heart.”

Elizabeth Taylor, on Richard Burton’s death (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))

“She was the only woman I ever loved.”

Richard Burton, in interviews about Elizabeth Taylor (Biography.com (A+E Networks))

“Her breasts are perfect.”

Richard Burton, in a letter to Elizabeth Taylor

The story of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor is not a tidy Hollywood ending. Two marriages, two divorces, a funeral she couldn’t attend, and a love letter that followed her to the grave. For the millions who still watch Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and marvel at that raw, combustible chemistry, the lesson is plain: some bonds are too big for a cemetery plot. For anyone wondering whether true love survives death, the answer may lie in a quiet Swiss cemetery and a Los Angeles mausoleum, separated by thousands of miles but tied by a few handwritten lines. The consequence: Burton and Taylor remain inseparable in legacy, even when geography and death kept them apart.

For a deeper look into his life and career, including his cause of death and children, readers can explore Richard Burtons biography and death.

Frequently asked questions