Richard Burton gets Hollywood star

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HOLLYWOOD, March 2 (UPI) -- Welsh actor Richard Burton's posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame star was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the release of "Cleopatra," officials said.

The 2,491st star was laid Friday next to that of his former wife, Elizabeth Taylor, ABC News reported. The two married and divorced twice, and appeared in 10 films together, including "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "The Taming of the Shrew."

The event also coincided with Wales' national holiday, St. David's Day, the BBC reported.

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama campaigned for a number of years for Burton to be recognized with a star, said college development director Lucy Stout.

"It starts from the talent you have in Richard Burton but we know that Welsh talent has continued after him," she said. "For the college it will be all about promoting the fact we are training and nurturing the rising generation of performers, designers, technical and managers."

It wasn't an easy or quick feat to get Burton nominated and selected for a star, she said. The cost of the star and ceremony is approximately $30,000.