Raymond Burr(1917-1993)
- Actor
- Production Manager
- Director
Born Raymond William Stacy Burr on 21 May 1917 in New Westminster,
British Columbia, Burr 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 singer in nightclubs.
In World War II, Burr 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 role of
defense attorney
Perry Mason (1957). After a
battle with cancer, Burr died at age 76 on September 12, 1993 at his
ranch home in Sonoma, California.