Raymond Burr was born on May 21, 1917 in New Westminister,
British Columbia, Canada.
After his parents divorced, his mother moved them to Vallejo, California, where her parents helped to raise him, and his brother and sister. As Raymond grew older, he sought jobs to help supplement his mother's income. He even was singing in various night clubs.
Raymond attended Stanford University, Columbia and Chungking Universities.
Later on in his life, he taught drama classes at Columbia.
He was the director at the Pasadena Plyahouse before he joined the service during WW 2.
In World War Two, Burr served in the Navy. When in Okinawa,
he was shot in the stomach and sent home.
In 1946, Burr made his film debut in SAN QUENTIN. Raymond
Burr acted in more than 90 films before landing the role of
defense attorney PERRY MASON (1957).
On January, 10th, 1948, Raymond married Isabella Ward, but their marriage ended on August 22nd, 1952. Raymond Burr was gay, and this fact was hidden for many years.
Raymond Burr had a long-time companion for 35 years, Robert Benvides, whom he met on the set of Perry Mason.
In Hithcock's REAR
WINDOW, (1954), Raymond Burr played opposite Jimmy Stewart and
Grace Kelly.
Raymond Burr enjoyed success on the hit TV series, IRONSIDE; 1967-1975. He played a wheel-chair-bound detective, hunting down the criminals in San Francisco.
RAYMOND BURR was in the TV mini-series, CENTENNIAL
Over his long career, Raymond won 2 Emmys; ('59, and '61) for PERRY MASON, and nominated for 3 more.
Raymond Burr's favorite hobby, that was later developed into a business with Robert Benevides, Sea God Nurseries.
They cultivated over 1,500 new orchids. Raymond developed one orchid which
he named the Barbara Hale Orchid.
Raymond Burr was know for his generousity, and gave a lot of his money to charities.
Burr passed away on September
12, 1993 in Sonoma, California from liver cancer.
On October 1, 1993, a memorial service was held for Raymond
Burr at the Pasadena Playhouse, the very same theatre that
he had made his acting debut 50 years before.
Raymond Burr's other notable credits include...
PERRY MASON (1957 -1966 TV series)
DELIRIOUS (1991)
AIRPLANE II (1982)
THE RETURN (1980)
OUT OF THE BLUE (1980)
TOMORROW NEVER COMES (1978)
GODZILLA (1977)
PERRY MASON (1957 -1966 TV series)
CRIME OF PASSION (1957)
RIDE THE HIGH IRON (1956)
GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956)
YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG (1955)
THE BLUE GARDENIA (1953)
HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951)
Burr in A
PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
Raymond Burr in the classic PERRY MASON (TV Series)
Raymond Burr in IRONSIDE (TV Series)
Burr in CRIME OF PASSION (1957)
Raymond Burr in HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951)
Raymond Burr - MovieActors.com
