Burtons seek divorce

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33519, 27 April 1974, Page 6

Burtons seek divorce

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK. April 26. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton have ended their four-month attempt at reconciliation and are seeking a divorce, a spokesman for the couple said today. I The spokesman said their 'lawyer would file divorce papers in Berne, Switzerland, and added the divorce would probably become final within several months. | The couple separated last July after Miss Taylor, aged 42, suggested “maybe we may have loved each other too much.”

But she and Burton, who is 48, agreed to try to save their marriage last December when Burton flew to the hospital bedside of his wife in Los Angeles. John Springer, the couple’s spokesman, said today the two had agreed to seek a divorce because of “irreconcilable differences.”

“It’s obvious the attempt at reconciliation must have fallen through,” he added. The announcement appeared to represent the final stage in one of Hollywood’s most celebrated marriages. Their courtship began during the filming of “Cleopatra” in Rome in the early 19605. They were married in 1964 and made seven films together.

The marriage is the fifth for Miss Taylor and the second for Burton. After the dramatic reconciliation last December, the couple flew off together to Europe. New troubles began in their marriage last month when Burton was in Oroville in central California filming “The Klansman” with Lee Marvin.

Miss Taylor flew to Oroville to be with her husband on location. One day before she was due to host a reception with Burton for a party of press visitors, she flew out to Los Angeles saying that she wanted to get treatment for a sprained ankle.