Raymond Burr Canadian-born actor Date of Birth: 21.05.1917 Country: USA

Biography of Raymond Burr

Raymond William Stacey Burr was born on May 21, 1917, in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. He was an actor of Canadian origin who was known for his love of acting. In addition to his acting career, Raymond also had a business growing orchids and vineyards. He was a collector of wines and art objects and enjoyed cooking.

Early Career
At the beginning of his career, Burr appeared in movies, television, radio, and Broadway, often playing villainous roles. He received two Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Perry Mason, a defense attorney, in the successful television series of the same name, which ran for nine seasons from 1957 to 1966. He also earned nine Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for his role as Robert Ironside in the hit series "Ironside."

Personal Life
Raymond Burr was known to be private about his personal life. According to his official biography, he was married three times. In 1942, he married actress Annette Sutherland whom he met while working in London. However, she tragically died in 1943 when her plane, flying from Lisbon to London, was shot down by the Germans. His second marriage to Isabelle Ward ended in divorce. Finally, his third wife, Laura Andrina Morgan, passed away from cancer in 1955. Two years prior to her death, his 10-year-old son Michael Evan Burr died of leukemia. However, after his death, it was revealed that friends and family knew nothing about his first and third marriages, as well as his son. Rumors also circulated that Raymond had a romantic relationship with actor and Korean War veteran Robert Benevides, who lived on his estate.

Later Career and Personal Interests
Burr's acting career began in 1937 at the Pasadena Playhouse, and in 1941, he received his first role on Broadway in the play "Crazy with the Heart." He then signed a contract with "RKO" studios and predominantly played villainous roles. From 1946 to 1957, Burr appeared in over 60 films, and he received critical acclaim for his role as prosecutor R. Frank Marlowe in the melodrama "A Place in the Sun" (1951) alongside Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor. One of his most famous roles was as a murder suspect Lars in Alfred Hitchcock's classic film "Rear Window" (1954) with James Stewart and Grace Kelly. In 1955, Burr portrayed Steve Martin in the American-Japanese horror film "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" and reprised his role almost 30 years later in the 1985 film "Godzilla." For his performance in the latter, he received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actor.

Apart from his acting career, Raymond Burr cultivated orchids, collected wines and art objects, collected seashells, enjoyed cooking, fishing, and sailing. He donated a large portion of his wealth to charity and gave away items to friends. Burr was also known as an avid reader and had a remarkable memory. He taught acting lessons at Columbia University. Raymond Burr was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and posthumously received the Canadian Legend Award and a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2009.