Raymond Burr

Biography for Raymond Burr

Born as Raymond 'William Stacy' Burr, 21 May 1917, in New Westminster, British Columbia, Burr spent most of his early life travelling. While still young, his father moved his family to China, while the elder Burr worked as a trade agent. When the family returned to Canada, Raymond's parents divorced; his mother then took him to Vallejo, California, where she raised him with the aid of his grandparents. As he got older, Burr began to take jobs to support his mother, younger sister and younger brother. He took jobs as a ranch hand in Roswell, New Mexico; as a deputy sheriff; a photo salesman; and even as a singer in night clubs.

In World War Two, Burr served in the Navy. When in Okinawa, he was shot in the stomach and sent home. Soon after this, in 1946, Burr made his film debut in San Quentin (1946). From there, he went on to act in more than 90 films before landing the role of defense attorney "Perry Mason" (1957) in the series of the same name. Then, in 1993, after a battle with cancer that dated back to his days on "Perry Mason", Burr died on 12 September 1993 at his ranch home.

Raymond Burr is known for his roles of Perry Mason and Robert Dacier in the TV series Perry Mason and the Iron Man. He also turned for cinema and in particular in window on Alfred Hitchcock Cours. He died on September 12, 1993 from cancer.

Raymond Burr was an American actor born May 21, 1917 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. He was mainly known for his role as Irving Thalberg in the MGM musical, "La Grande Illusion", as well as for his main role in the television series "Perry Mason". Burr has also played in many other movies and television series, including "Rear Window", "Godzilla" and "Dallas".

Photos

Filmography

Trivia

• His favorite hobby, later developed into a business, was cultivating orchids. Raymond developed one orchid which he named the Barbara Hale Orchid.
• Had an art gallery on California's Rodeo Drive in the early '50s.
• Raymond loved to cook and throw intimate dinner parties.
• While working with Errol Flynn, Flynn told him that if he died with ten dollars in his pocket he hadn't done a good job. This inspired him to always share his wealth with all.
• On October 1, 1993 a memorial service was held at the Pasadena Playhouse, the very same theatre that he had made his acting debut 50 years before. A director's chair with "RAYMOND BURR" placed in the centre stage played host to friends who paid tribute.
• Suffered eye damage from always having to look upwards while in a wheelchair on the "Ironside" (1967) set.
• Was once a famous loungeroom singer in his younger days.
• Before dying from cancer, he threw some grand parties to say farewell to many of his friends.
• Interred at Fraser Cemetery, New Westminister, British Columbia, Canada.
• Bought his own 3,000-acre island 165 miles northeast of Suva in Fiji in 1965 and named it Naitamba
• Left his $32-million estate solely to Robert Benevides.
• The Burr Theatre was created in 2000 in the old site of the Columbia Theatre on Columbia Street in New Westminster.
• He, Michael J. Fox and Jim Carrey head list of top Canadians in U.S. television compiled by Banff Television Festival, June 2002.
• Portrayed Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry, on CBS Radio's "Fort Larmaie" in 1956.
• He was the director of the Pasadena Community Playhouse before entering the Navy in World War II.
• He attended Stanford, Columbia and Chungking universities.
• He taught drama at Columbia University.
• He was incredibly generous, giving most of his money to charities and sharing it with friends.
• Longtime companion of Robert Benevides.

Family

• Spouse : Isabella Ward (1947 - ?) (divorced)

Author of the card

• Creation date: 01/07/2003 by abdest