Raymond Burr: Short Biography, Net Worth & Career Highlights

Canadian-born actor Raymond Burr was born on 21 May 1917, in New Westminster, British Columbia, of German, Scottish, Irish, and English descent. Raymond was best known for being part of the long-running and successful TV series “Ironside” and “Perry Mason”, and was also part of Alfred Hitchcock’s film “Rear Window”, but all of his efforts helped put his net worth to where it was, prior to his passing in September 1993.
So just how rich was Raymond Burr? As of 2016, celebrity dot money estimates a net worth that was at 15 million dollars, mostly earned through a successful career on television. Aside from that, Burr also had various roles in film, and on radio and stage, and he was part of the “Perry Mason” franchise from 1957 to 1993, all ensuring the position of his wealth.
Raymond William Stacy Burr was educated in California to where his mother moved after her divorce, and attended San Rafael Military Academy, later matriculating from Berkeley High School. He made his stage debut at 12 years of age, and found consistent acting work while still in his teens.
Burr had hoped to study at the Pasadena Playhouse, but since tuition was expensive he joined a theatre group in Toronto that toured around Canada. He then joined a group which would travel to several countries, including England, India, and Australia. Afterwards, he attended Long Beach Junior College, and started working as a radio actor before making his way back to Pasadena Playhouse. In 1940 he moved to New York, and made his Broadway debut in “Crazy With the Heat”. Two years later, he became a part of the production “Quiet Wedding” as a replacement, and would go on to act in around 30 plays, including “The Duke in Darkness”, and “French Wars of Religion”. These provided a solid boost to his net worth.
Starting from 1946, Burr began appearing in many more films, becoming well known for his villainous roles; some included “Red Light”, “M”, “Raw Deal”, and “Crime of Passion”. His performances drew mixed reviews, but he became an icon of the noir genre. He would then go on to make more notable films, including “Rear Window”, “Affair in Havana”, and “FBI Girl”. In between these, Raymond tried his hand at other roles, but he was playing significantly older roles because of his weight.
Raymond had a very good voice for radio, and often played either villains or romantic leads in radio productions. He earned a significant amount of income from radio, with some of his projects including “Pat Novak for Hire”, “Suspense”, “Family Theatre”, and “Dragnet”. He was also part of “Fort Laramie” in which he portrayed the character Lee Quince who was a captain of cavalry during the post-Civil War period. Over time he would develop a significant following, receiving considerable fan mail, and improving his net worth.
The peak of Burr’s career would come in the 1950s, when he established himself as a television actor. In 1956, he auditioned for the show “Perry Mason” as District Attorney Hamilton Burger, however, the producers thought that he would be great in the title role, and he would then go on a diet to fit the role. The series would run from 1957 to 1966, being shown in several English-speaking countries, and gaining multiple nominations.
After “Perry Mason”, Burr would become part of the drama series “Ironside”, portraying a police officer with a disability, and earning more nominations this time around as the series ran from 1967 until 1975. Ten years later, after a string of other series, Raymond returned to reprise his role of “Perry Mason” in numerous television movies, with many original cast members returning in their respective roles too, and he would go on and make a total of 26 films before his health started to fail him.
For his personal life, it is known that Raymond Burr married actress Isabella Ward in 1948 but they divorced in 1952; neither of them married again – his homosexuality was an acknowledged secret. Raymond Burr died from liver cancer in September 1993.

[catherinestgermain]

Raymond Burr is my favorite actor of all time! He was great as Perry Mason and in the movie Rear Window!

[deneepowell]

I just absolutely adore that man and I watch the reruns every chance I get

[ethelburris]

I always admired Raymond Burr. He was a good actor, and very handsome. My husband and I watch his "Perry Mason" series everyday. He comes on twice a day here and we are right there, watching his show, every morning and evening.

[jackieelmore]

When I was a little girl my mother watch the Perry Mason Faithfully every day and when I became an adult which is now I watch Perry Mason every morning on Me-TV and then the Perry Mason movie also comes on fetv. So some days I turn from me TV when it goes off and then try to catch the other half of the Perry Mason movie on fetv. LOL I also loved it when Barbara Hale's son had a part on the Perry Mason movie and I was so very surprised to find out he was the guy on Greatest American Hero. I will always be a Perry Mason fan.

[kaysanders]

When he was on the screen I couldn't take my eyes off him. I never miss a chance to catch him on his TV roles or movies. Handsome from young to older.

[JOYOUSONEX]

I'm fortunate enough to watch the Perry Mason reruns every evening. I say reruns because I watched them as a teenager when they were first runs !! LOL
As I watch them I realize how naive we were about courtroom procedure back then. And the hats that women wore were just hilarious. And just about everybody, including Perry Mason smoked ! Also the inter action between Burr and the other cast members was priceless, especially between Burr and Ray Collins, Lt. Tragg. Lastly the faces of so many characters that I remember from my past. Nameless to me but their faces I'll never forget.
If you get a chance to watch Perry Mason reruns do it, especially if you're old, like me.

[randallhutchcraft]

Great show, I watch every morning, this is 10/20/20, he's very good still today.

[ceceilabrolly]

Watch him all the time he was great
Loved him

[usmale]

Thank you, but you did not mention his role in the English version of: "GODZILLA" (1956)! I still watch "Perry Mason" on MeTV, Monday through Friday; it's still one of the best TV programs!

[lindaacosta]

I loved him growing up! My Uncle became a lawyer due to watching him on t.v. Needless to say he learned very quickly that Criminal law never concluded in an hour..lol

[karenharris]

Thank you for this segment. I had no idea Raymond did so much on the radio! Fantastic! He was a gem! ❤❤❤❤

[markusniepmann]

Raymond ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Loving Mason + Ironside 👍👍👍

[marcellamcduffie]

We love to catch the reruns that still comes on.😊😊😊.

[arleneg]

I miss him he had the eyes that would look into u no one can replace him he was made for Perry masion m ironside

[idaclaire]

He was so handsome. I don’t think he ever received the recognition that he deserved.

[laurelchesson]

He was gorgeous! I wish you would show all of the Ironside shows.

[chd]

Damn, I didn’t know the Ray-man drove on the left side of the road. Who cares, great actor.

[catherinestgermain]

Raymond Burr is my all time favorite actor! I love rear window because he was in it and was great as the villain! So what if he was gay! You couldn't tell! He will be missed!!

[lindalambson]

I wish someone would put the Perry Mason movies in the late 80's and early 90's on the air!

[janicemurphy]

One of the best actors to be on a television screen is Perry Mason was just the greatest in the beginning of each show which was about a minute he did more acting with his eyes and his mannerism that most of these actors the day you can do in their whole rules whatever they're playing he certainly has misseddash out on some of the awards that he should have received