How Many Wives Did Richard Burton Have
Richard Burton had five wives. He married five different women over the course of his life, with two of those marriages occurring while he was already married to someone else. His marital history is a defining part of his public persona and personal biography. You can find an overview of his life and relationships on his Wikipedia page here.
The five women he married were Sybil Williams, Elizabeth Taylor (twice), Sally Hay, Suzy Hunt, and Barbara Andrews. His relationships with Elizabeth Taylor and Suzy Hunt were particularly notable for their intensity and media coverage. Each marriage had distinct circumstances and durations.
First Marriage to Sybil Williams
Burton's first wife was Sybil Williams, whom he married in 1949. They had two daughters together before divorcing in 1963. This marriage occurred before his rise to international stardom.
The divorce from Sybil Williams was relatively private compared to his later high-profile unions. After the split, Burton's career accelerated, leading to his most famous roles and relationships.
Marriages to Elizabeth Taylor
Burton married Elizabeth Taylor twice. Their first marriage lasted from 1964 to 1974, and their second marriage lasted from 1975 to 1976. Their relationship was famously dubbed "Le Scandale" by the French press.
Their first marriage ended in divorce, but they remarried just a year later. The couple's on-again, off-again dynamic captivated the public for decades. More details on their relationship can be found on Elizabeth Taylor's official biography page here.
Later Marriages and Final Years
After his divorce from Taylor in 1976, Burton married Sally Hay in 1976. They remained married until his death in 1984. Sally Hay was his final wife and his companion during his last years.
Burton's earlier marriage to Suzy Hunt lasted from 1970 to 1976, and his marriage to Barbara Andrews in 1949 ended in annulment the same year. His complex personal life has been the subject of numerous documentaries and biographies, cementing his legacy as a figure of both artistic and personal drama.