Raymond Burr (May 21, 1917 – September 12, 1993)

For me as well as a huge legion of fans he will forever be remembered as Perry Mason, the tough talking super intelligent defense attorney on the 1950’s/1960’s crime drama of the same name. But before he entered one of television’s first courtrooms he was well endowed on stage, radio and film… Between the 1940’s and the end of the 1950’s he appeared in over 60 films. Some of his film credits include Bride of Vengeance, Black Magic, Red Light, A Place in the Sun, The Blue Gardenia, Rear Window, Please Murder Me, Godzilla, Airplane II: The Sequel and Gojira… On radio he lent his voice to such programs as “Pat Novak for Hire”, “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”, “Fort Laramie” and “Suspense.” In 1957 he stepped into the shoes of Perry Mason and didn’t take them off until nine seasons and 260 plus episodes later…he was absolutely brilliant as the sleuthing defense attorney. Ready to help him was his trusted secretary Della Street (Barbara Hale) and his good friend Paul Drake (William Hopper) a private investigator… A year after “Perry Mason” ended he began playing the role of Robert Ironside, a police chief who is seriously wounded in a shoot out and ends up confined to a wheelchair. The series, called “Ironside”, remained on the air until 1975. He attempted other television runs with “Kingston: Confidential” in 1977 and “Centennial” which ran from 1978 to 1979. His other television credits include: (this list is incomplete) “Toast of the Town” “The Jack Benny Program” (as Perry Mason) “Pantomime Quiz” “House Party” “The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show” “The Kraft Music Hall” “The Dean Martin Show” “The Flip Wilson Show” “Dinah!” “Dragnet” “Mr. & Mrs. North” “Schlitz Playhouse of Stars” “The Ford Television Theatre” “Lux Video Theatre” “Climax!” “Playhouse 90” “The Red Skelton Show” “The Bold Ones: The New Doctors” (as Ironside) “The Love Boat” In 1985 he returned to his most famous role in the television movie “Perry Mason Returns.” He would go onto to appear in several more Mason television movies until 1993. He also brought back Ironside in 1993 in a television movie entitled “The Return of Ironside.” The final “Perry Mason” two hour TV movie that featured the actor aired on November 29, 1993 two months after the actor’s passing. He was a marvelous actor and it would’ve been an honor to shake his hand… In Memoriam Remembers: Raymond Burr

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