Raymond Burr
Raymond Burr, born on May 21, 1917, and passed away on September 12, 1993, was a Canadian-American actor known for his remarkable career in film and television. He was born Raymond William Stacy Burr in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.
Burr began his acting career on Broadway before transitioning to film in the late 1940s. He gained recognition for his role as the prosecuting attorney in the film "A Place in the Sun" (1951), starring Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor. However, Burr's most enduring and iconic roles came in the realm of television.
He is best remembered for his portrayal of defense attorney Perry Mason in the long-running series "Perry Mason" (1957-1966). Burr's portrayal of the brilliant and relentless defense lawyer earned him two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series. "Perry Mason" was a major success and established Burr as a prominent television star.
Burr's other notable television role came in the series "Ironside" (1967-1975), in which he played the wheelchair-bound Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside. The show was another success and further solidified Burr's position as a versatile and talented actor.
In addition to his television work, Burr also appeared in several films throughout his career. Some of his notable film credits include "Rear Window" (1954), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" (1956), where he provided the voiceover for the character Steve Martin.
Raymond Burr was known for his deep, authoritative voice and his ability to command the screen with his presence. He had a versatile acting range, portraying both heroic and villainous characters with equal skill.
Burr was a private individual and kept his personal life out of the public eye. He never publicly discussed his sexuality during his lifetime, and it wasn't until after his death that it was revealed that he was gay. He had been in a long-term relationship with actor Robert Benevides since the 1960s.
Raymond Burr passed away on September 12, 1993, in Healdsburg, California, at the age of 76. He left behind a lasting legacy as one of the most recognizable and respected actors in television history, with his performances in "Perry Mason" and "Ironside" earning him a place in the pantheon of iconic television characters.
Burr began his acting career on Broadway before transitioning to film in the late 1940s. He gained recognition for his role as the prosecuting attorney in the film "A Place in the Sun" (1951), starring Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor. However, Burr's most enduring and iconic roles came in the realm of television.
He is best remembered for his portrayal of defense attorney Perry Mason in the long-running series "Perry Mason" (1957-1966). Burr's portrayal of the brilliant and relentless defense lawyer earned him two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series. "Perry Mason" was a major success and established Burr as a prominent television star.
Burr's other notable television role came in the series "Ironside" (1967-1975), in which he played the wheelchair-bound Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside. The show was another success and further solidified Burr's position as a versatile and talented actor.
In addition to his television work, Burr also appeared in several films throughout his career. Some of his notable film credits include "Rear Window" (1954), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" (1956), where he provided the voiceover for the character Steve Martin.
Raymond Burr was known for his deep, authoritative voice and his ability to command the screen with his presence. He had a versatile acting range, portraying both heroic and villainous characters with equal skill.
Burr was a private individual and kept his personal life out of the public eye. He never publicly discussed his sexuality during his lifetime, and it wasn't until after his death that it was revealed that he was gay. He had been in a long-term relationship with actor Robert Benevides since the 1960s.
Raymond Burr passed away on September 12, 1993, in Healdsburg, California, at the age of 76. He left behind a lasting legacy as one of the most recognizable and respected actors in television history, with his performances in "Perry Mason" and "Ironside" earning him a place in the pantheon of iconic television characters.
Quotes:
[about his character in Perry Mason (1957)] "Let's just say that the part isn't conducive to leisurely living the way I once knew it. I only hope that I can regain my own identity, once I decide that Perry Mason and myself have come to the parting of the road. Perry Mason has become a career for me . . . all I know is that I work, eat and sleep Perry Mason."
"Try and live your life the way you wish other people would live theirs."
- Raymond Burr
Trivia:
After he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, he refused to undergo surgery so that he could star in his final television movies: The Return of Ironside (1993) and Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993).
Before dying from cancer he threw parties to say farewell to many of his friends.
While working with Errol Flynn, Flynn told him that if he died with $10 in his pocket he hadn't done a good job. This inspired him to always share his wealth with all.
Was incredibly generous, giving most of his money to charities and sharing it with friends.
Was considered for the role of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke (1955). In an 8/23/75 article in "TV Guide" called "When Chester Forgot to Limp" commemorating trivia from the show as it was about to leave the air, the show's first producer, Charles Marquis Warren, recalled, "His voice was fine, but he was too big. When he stood up, his chair stood up with him". William Conrad, who played Matt Dillon on radio, was rejected for the TV version for similar reasons. In a memorial article in "TV Guide" published shortly after Burr's death, the original producers of Perry Mason (1957) almost rejected Burr for that role, again because Burr was overweight. He went on an intensive diet to get down to a size acceptable to the producers.
Before dying from cancer he threw parties to say farewell to many of his friends.
While working with Errol Flynn, Flynn told him that if he died with $10 in his pocket he hadn't done a good job. This inspired him to always share his wealth with all.
Was incredibly generous, giving most of his money to charities and sharing it with friends.
Was considered for the role of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke (1955). In an 8/23/75 article in "TV Guide" called "When Chester Forgot to Limp" commemorating trivia from the show as it was about to leave the air, the show's first producer, Charles Marquis Warren, recalled, "His voice was fine, but he was too big. When he stood up, his chair stood up with him". William Conrad, who played Matt Dillon on radio, was rejected for the TV version for similar reasons. In a memorial article in "TV Guide" published shortly after Burr's death, the original producers of Perry Mason (1957) almost rejected Burr for that role, again because Burr was overweight. He went on an intensive diet to get down to a size acceptable to the producers.
