 In 1965 he appeared in the outstandingly successful RSC production of Gogol's "The Government Inspector" at the Aldwych Theatre, London, with Paul Scofield, Eric Porter, Paul Rogers, Stanley Lebor, Bruce Condell and other outstanding Shakespearian actors of the period

Burton's television roles included "Big Breadwinner Hog", "Warship", "The Duchess of Duke Street"; "The Doombolt Chase"; "Upstairs, Downstairs", "Public Eye", "Minder" (Gunfight at the O.K.Laundrette) and "Fraud Squad".His more contemporary theatre roles included "How the Other Half Loves" and "Educating Rita".