How long was Elizabeth Taylor married to Richard Burton

Summary answer

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were married for a combined total of about 10 years and 5 months. They married twice: first on 15 March 1964 and divorced on 6 June 1974 (approximately 10 years and 3 months), then remarried on 10 October 1975 and divorced again in March 1976 (about 4–5 months). The majority of their time as a couple was during their first, longer marriage.

First marriage: March 1964 to June 1974

Wedding and timing

Taylor and Burton married on 15 March 1964 in Montreal, Canada, while filming The Sandpiper. Their first marriage lasted just over 10 years, making it the longer of their two unions by far.

Key milestones and challenges

During this period they starred together in notable films such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and The Taming of the Shrew (1967). They also built a high-profile public persona as a glamorous, tempestuous power couple. The marriage endured intense media scrutiny, career pressures, and reported personal difficulties, leading to their eventual split.

Divorce

They formally divorced on 6 June 1974. The first marriage therefore spanned about 10 years and 3 months, a significant chapter in both their lives and Hollywood history.

Second marriage: October 1975 to March 1976

Remarriage and context

Taylor and Burton remarried on 10 October 1975, less than two years after their first divorce. The second marriage lasted roughly 4 to 5 months, ending in March 1976. It was shorter, more private, and coincided with periods of declining health and shifting career priorities for both.

Reflections on the reunions

Unlike their first marriage, the second reunion attracted less fanfare but drew considerable media attention due to their earlier fame. Public interest focused on whether the earlier magic could return, and the second divorce underscored that their relationship remained complex and volatile.

Comparative timeline at a glance

Marriage	Start date	End date	Duration	Context
First	15 March 1964	6 June 1974	~10 years, 2 months	Peak fame; major films together; intense media coverage
Second	10 October 1975	March 1976	~4–5 months	Later in life; fewer films; more private; shorter reunion

How the unions fit into their broader relationship

Across roughly 11 years of marriage (10 years in the first marriage plus about 5 months in the second), Taylor and Burton spent the majority of their time as a married couple during the 1960s and early 1970s. Their relationship alternated between periods of reconciliation and separation, shaped by career demands, health issues, and personal dynamics. The first marriage was their most enduring, while the second was a briefer, more turbulent attempt to reconnect.

Public and media interest

Their relationship has remained a subject of fascination for decades, often analyzed in films, biographies, and retrospectives. The combination of star power, repeated reunions, and emotional volatility contributed to a narrative that extended beyond their private lives into popular culture. The length of their first marriage—about a decade—anchors their story in Hollywood history, while the short second marriage highlights its unresolved complexities.

Key takeaways

First marriage: approximately 10 years and 3 months (15 March 1964 to 6 June 1974).
Second marriage: approximately 4–5 months (10 October 1975 to March 1976).
Combined time married: about 10 years and 5 months across two separate unions.
Most of their time together as a married couple occurred during the first marriage.
Media attention peaked during both weddings and divorces, underscoring their status as one of the 20th century’s most watched couples.

Context and legacy

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remain emblematic of both the glamour and volatility of Hollywood relationships. The duration of their marriages—particularly the decade-long first union—offers insight into a partnership that was as professionally fruitful as it was personally turbulent. Their repeated reunions, publicized divorces, and eventual second marriage continue to inform how we understand celebrity pairings and the interplay between personal life and public narrative.

Sources and further reading

Key biographies and retrospective coverage document the dates and durations outlined here. For deeper verification, consult reputable biographies, studio records, and contemporary news archives from the 1960s and 1970s that capture the timeline and context of their unions.

Category and taxonomy

This explainer falls within celebrity relationships and Hollywood history, focusing on verified timelines, public context, and durable reference points rather than moment-specific news.