- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRaymond William Stacey Burr
- Nickname
- Ray
- Height5′ 11½″ (1.82 m)
- Born Raymond William Stacy Burr on May 21, 1917 in New Westminster, British Columbia, he spent most of his early life traveling. As a youngster, his father moved his family to China, where the elder Burr worked as a trade agent. When the family returned to Canada, Raymond's parents separated. He and his mother moved to Vallejo, California, where she raised him with the aid of her parents. 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 nightclub singer.
During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. In Okinawa, he was shot in the stomach and sent home. In 1946, Burr made his film debut in San Quentin (1946). From there, he appeared in more than 90 films before landing the titular character on Perry Mason (1957), the role for which he was best-known. Decades later, he reprised the role opposite former co-star Barbara Hale in a series of NBC television movies. At age 65, he returned to teaching drama as a professor of theatre at Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park.
After a brave battle with cancer, Burr died at age 76 on September 12, 1993 at his ranch home in Geyserville, Sonoma County, California. Married once, the union ended in divorce. He had no children.
- IMDb mini biography by: Kelleher, Brian
- SpouseIsabella Ward(January 10, 1948 - August 22, 1952) (divorced)
- ParentsMinerva Annetta SmithWilliam Johnston Burr
- RelativesJames Edmond Burr(Sibling)Geraldine Edmond(Sibling)
- Heavyset stature.
- Deep commanding voice.
- Before the Perry Mason series, almost all of his film roles were villainous.
- 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.
- Suffered eye strain from always having to look upwards while in a wheelchair on the Ironside (1967) set.
- [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.
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