Burr Raymond: cinema and personal life

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Actor Burr Raymond is best known for his role in the cult series about lawyer Perry Mason. The film was based on a cycle of stories by E. Gardner. The series has been filmed several times, but the picture with Burr is considered the most successful version.

Short Biographical Information

Raymond William Stacy Burr was born in Canada in 1917. Mom - Minerva Smith, worked as a music teacher. William Johnston, father, was a salesman. When he was engaged in trade, the family spent several years in China.

After my parents divorced, my mother moved to California with Ray and his brother and sister. Burr found his way in his youth. He studied at the military academy, taking courses at Stanford, at the local university.

As a teenager, Ray made his first appearance on the Vancouver theater stage. The mother did not like her son's passion for acting, and she sent him to a ranch in New Mexico. Burr was tall and strong beyond his years, so it was no surprise that he joined the student group and got into all sorts of stories with her.

Theater and cinema

Like many actors of that period, Burr Raymond began hisprofessional activities with Broadway productions. In 1941, he participated in the play Crazy Heart. And almost immediately concludes a contract with one of the television studios. Short film roles followed.

The first film with the participation of the actor was the drama "Desperado" in 1947. Then there are small episodes in the films "Ruthless", "Bride of the Gorilla" and the thriller "Scream in the Night", where Raymond Burr and Natalie Wood play together.

In 1956, the film "Godzilla" was released with Burr, who played Martin. Almost 30 years later, the actor again participated in a modified version of Godzilla.

Over a 10-year period, Burr Raymond starred in more than 60 films. Most of this work was made up of villain characters.

The most important role in the life of the actor happened in 1957, when he was invited to play the role of Perry Mason in the series of the same name based on the book by E. Gardner. Work on the project lasted almost 10 years.

During the period 1985-1993. he again played an intellectual lawyer in the continuation of the original series. Brutal, with a penetrating look, Burr, like no one else, was able to get used to the role and show the inner world of Perry Mason as Gardner described it.

This long work brought Raymond two Emmy awards. And in 1960, the actor received a star on the famous Walk of Fame.

Eight more prestigious award nominations for Burr's role in the television movie Ironside.

Private life

Burr Raymondled a busy personal life. Annette Sutherland - the very first and beloved wife, was also an actress. In the war year of 1943, she went on tour to Spain. Her plane was shot down by the Germans. Young people lived together for about a year.

Ray married actress Isabelle Ward for the second time. By virtue of their profession, they did not see each other for months. Amicably divorced after several years.

Laura Morgan was the third wife and also not for long. After a few years of marriage, she died of cancer. And two years before this event, Ray's only son, Michael Evan, also died of leukemia. He was 10 years old.

The actor himself also died of kidney cancer in 1993. The disease was discovered after an injury on the set of Perry Mason. Almost 5 months later, Burr passed away.

Nice details

The truly great and tragic life of Raymond Burr has always been filled with various rumors and speculation.

In 1956, the press attributed him an affair with 17-year-old Natalie Wood. But these rumors had a positive effect on the box office of the film in which they both starred.

After the death of the actor, information appeared that Ray had no son, as well as his first and last wives. During Burr's lifetime, many claimed that the actor was fond of men. His close friend, Robert Benevides, lived on Ray's estate for many years. And it was to him that the actor left his funds, while ignoring his own sister. I must say that Ray gave most of the money to charity. I gave some money to my close friends.

Whatever the loveaddictions of this man, Raymond Burr, whose films and roles are known and remembered by many, is deservedly considered a talented actor. He contributed to world cinema.

In life, Raymond simply adored breeding orchids. He was also a connoisseur of good wine and antiques. He was fond of sailing, in his spare time he preferred to cook or fish.

His love of books helped develop an excellent memory, which he used to teach acting classes at Columbia University.