His career
 His kind of woman (1951)  Gorilla at large (1954)  Desire in the dust (1960) |
After
the theatre and the radio, Raymond Burr plays of the small roles in
films and decides, at 23
years, to leave to the conquest New York and Broadway. Ray
presents himself at many castings but does not obtain any engagement.
He finds a work regular more odd
jobs as a relector. Twice per week, he makes the radio operator actor
in Massachusetts. In 1940, Ray becomes professor of theatre during one
six-month period in Columbia
University. The same year, in Boston, he takes place the
first
of a part entitled Crazy
with the heat:
it is a flop and it entirely will be rewritten for its release in
Broadway
one year later but with different actors. Ray leaves New York for
California and tests many castings again, always without success.
Disappointed, he continues to play for the radio. At 25 years, a producer of Pasadena Playhouse needs somebody to replace his principal actor and Ray passes hearing successfully. Then he goes to England for the theatre and makes a round in Spain before regaining the U.S.A. At 26 years, Ray goes back to Pasadena Playhouse to play in several plays. In New York, he is retained for Duke in Darkness, which opens on January 4, 1944 in Broadway: even if the part is not a success, his service is noticed. Ray signs a contract with RKO and plays in several parts. At 29 years, Ray measures 6' 11/2" for 185 pounds. He takes down a role of naive gangster who will mark the beginning of his career with the cinema. Thereafter, he will play the part several times of malicious but, frustrated by the little of roles which he obtains, Ray starts with too much eating and reaches the weight of 229 pounds. He breaks his contract with RKO, which does not have a role to entrust to an actor in overweight. Ray records radio operator shows for the armed forces, plays of the dramas and the comedies and continues his activity within Pasadena Playhouse. He helps his nephew, Norman Burr, who wants to become him also actor: the two men play together. In the year which will follow, Ray finds roles of malicious again: in Pitfall, which is a success, or in Raw Deal, where he play the part a sadistic head of gang. It will be, with 1951, his most prolific year (8 films). At 31 years, Ray weighs 308 pounds and play the part from now on "malicious" the type. He gains approximately 100 000 $ per year. Thereafter, he plays in several B films like Red Light or Abandoned. At 32 years, Ray will be two successes in radio operator shows: Pat Novak for hire, where he plays lieutenant Hellman, a brutal police officer, and Dragnet, where he play the part Ed Backstrand, a chief of the detectives. In 1950, Ray is 33 years old and decides to make a severe mode until returning to his weight of form, 185 pounds, that is to say a loss of 123 pounds. He plays the malicious ones again, amongst other things in Borderline. At 34 years, he takes down a role in A places in the sun, film accomodated particularly well by criticisms. He will have then only poor roles up to 1954. In the theatre, Ray play the part Henri VIII and George Washington in two excellent parts which will be a success. He appears in some shows TV. At 37 years, Ray turned in 39 films and takes down the role of Lars Thorvald in excellent Rear Window of Alfred Hitchcock where, however, he does not have almost any dialogue to say. With this occasion, he will play with a stuffing to appear larger. The same year, Ray is wounded severely with the leg during the turning of Passion and takes down new roles of malicious. Between 1955 and 1956, Ray takes much weight again. At 38 years, he plays in A cry in the night with Natalie Wood, then 17 years old. The two actors have a affair but the studios will put the pressure to them so that they separate. They will remain friendly until the tragic death of the actress. Raymond Burr has from now on the row of star. The same year, he loses weight again and plays in Please murder me with Angela Lansbury, a polar with the original scenario, where Ray will be excellent. He continues to record shows TV. At 39 years, Ray plays in radio operator shows of which several will have much success: Success of the mind with William Conrad, Silent Witness and Fort Laramie. In April 1956, Ray is had a presentiment of for the role ofH amilton Burger in the adaptation TV of the novels of Erle Stanley Gardner. He also wishes to pass hearing for the role of Perry Mason but does not obtain the downstream of the producing one. Ray decides to make a new mode to go down again to 209 pounds. He turns in a film of horror, Godzilla, considered later as a film worship. In 1957, Ray belongs to the fifty finalists for the role of Hamilton Burger. When he enters the room to pass his hearing, Erle Stanley Gardner rises and declares: "He is Perry Mason". The other candidates with the role do not manage to equalize him. Ray is 40 years old. The same year, he signs a contract with Universal Studios for three films. He move in Malibu to be close to his work. He play the part again a chief detectives in Crime of Passion with Barbara Stanwyck: a rumour of lovesong between the two actors is launched in order to make advertizing with film. Then Ray plays in Affair in Havana the role of a cruel man in a wheel chair. From this year, the films will be spaced, Ray becoming "an actor TV". September 21, 1957, Perry Mason passes for the first time on CBS. These are an enormous success which will bring back two Emmy Awards to Ray in 1959 and 1961. The series will count 271 episodes. Ray works 7 days a week, sleeps 5 hours per night and has a bad hygiene of life: he smokes and eats anything. He turns even when he is sick. In spite of that, Ray continuous to record shows TV when Perry Mason is in pause. This role will bring back a million dollars per year to him. In 1960, Ray is 43 years old and has some enough of the schedules that one imposes to him. He threatens of not renouveller his contract and, Perry Mason not being nothing without him, CBS yield to an exchange: Ray renews his contract against a loan to start his own house of production, Harbour Production. The same year, he plays of the parts for Northland Playhouse and begins three projects for Harbour Production which will be successes, making it possible CBS to quickly return in his funds. Raymond Burr, with his great distress, is often called Perry Mason, so much people tend to confuse the actor with his character. At 49 years, Ray signs a 7 year old contract with Universal Studios for films TV and theatre, he also signs with NBC. Perry Mason finish this year, in 1966, and Ray records a show TV entitled Why Vietnam? March 28, 1967, the first of the new series TV of Ray passes on NBC, Ironside, produced by Harbour Production. It will be his second large success TV. Ray works eight month of the year on Ironside and devotes the remainder of his time to shows TV: the televiewers, marked by his role of cop in wheel chair, note with surprise that the actor is not paraplegic. As for Perry Mason, the character takes the step on the man in the spirit of much of people… Ray is nominated five times at Emmy Awards for Ironside of 1968 to 1972 and twice at Golden Globes in 1969 and 1972. In Spain, he will receive Foreign Actor's Award. Ray carries out a promotional turn for the series in 10 countries of 14 days. The same year, he will appear in Don Adams Show. He becomes friendly with Don Galloway and Don Mitchell, his partners of Ironside. From now on, he pays attention not to take the wheel after having drunk one or two glasses, as opposed to what it made during the years Perry Mason. At 51 years, Ray joins again with the cinema for the film New faces in hell, renamed by Universal Studio P.J for not offend the public opinion, Ray again plays malicious at the sides of George Peppard. He takes much weight. In same time, Ray takes part in new shows but, this time, in comedies; proving thus that he can evolve in any repertory. Even if his row of star obliges there, he hates to appear in interviews TV. At 53 years, Ray receives a doctorate in dramatic art of Pasadena Playhouse. In Madrid, he receives Golden Quixote Award for Ironside. We are in 1970 and Ray learns with sadness closing earlier from Pasadena Playhouse, sifted debts and weakened by a theatre ransacked a few times. The same year, he takes part in a series of emissions entitled You and the Law, where expert lawyers discuss the civil rights: the hour of diffusion will be too late. Ray also takes part in Dean Martin Show with Harpo Marx. At 54 years, he play the part the king of the Tonga Islands in documentary and will take part, thereafter, with many others: Polynesia, Tahiti, the Island of Easter, Hawaii, Peru and Mexico. Often, he acts simply as a narrator. November 15, 1971, Ray takes part in an emission with president Gerald Ford and his wife. The same year, he turns a show TV KopyKat with Rich Little and lends his voice to the other documentary ones. At 56 years, during a pause of Ironside, Ray a project turns which is due to him particularly in heart: a film on Pape Jean XXIII. Don Galloway is at his sides, play the part Monseigneur Thomas Ryan. During turning, the F.B.I discovers a hiding place of drug on a ship used by the team of film. Nobody is implied but the popularity of Raymond Burr brings this business to the one of the newspapers. The same year, Ray takes part in a musical on ecology, Keep America beautiful. Dissentions with Barry Shear, the director of Ironside, appear and this last will leave the team. At 58 years, Ray stops Ironside, not finding sufficient interesting scripts and his health not being excellent. After the oddment, he will continue to work for the handicapped people so that they are inserted better. He signs a new contract with Universal Studios to make series and films TV, which gives the opportunity to him to direct, develop his ideas and to write scripts. The same year, he goes to London with James Burke for the show The inventing of America, a series of documentary explaining how an invention in pleasing another: turning will take place in Italy, in Nouvelle Zealand like in the laboratory of Thomas A. Edison, New Jersey. Criticisms will be excellent. In October, Ray returns to the studios for the turning of Mallory, with Robert Loggia, where he play the part a lawyer dishonest person: the audience is weak and criticisms bad. In December, Ray turns again of documentary and the shows. At 59 years, Perry Mason is designated like series favorite TV of the Fifties to 76. Ray starts a new series, Kingston Confidential, where he play the part R.B Kingston, a press baron which inquires into various businesses for his pleasure. The series will last only 13 episodes, the audience not being with go. As of the 4th episode, Ray knew that it would not last, scripts being too poor. The same year, he makes a film of formation for McGeorge School of Law where he ensures the narration. In July, Ray plays theatre The good doctor with Don Galloway. He is obliged to stop the round following a problem of teeth. At 60 years, Ray turns Centennial, a 26 hours show, based on the book of James Michener. Ray learns reopening from Pasadena Playhouse, thanks to many gifts, in which he took part. The same year, Ray flies away for Montreal where he signs a contract with March Films Ltd for two films of theatre, over two years. In the first, Tomorrow never comes, Ray incarne a bad police chief : criticisms are bad. The following year, in 1978, Ray plays in a film TV, 79 Park Avenue, where he play the part a godfather of a mob syndicate. The spectators are shocked to see at which point it took weight: Ray weighs 300 pounds. The same year, he plays in an episode Love Boat, Alas, Poor Dwyer, where he play the part an alcoholic English professor. For the first time, the spectators have the occasion to intend him to sing. In Vancouver, Ray takes part in an interview TV, Alan Hamel Show, to speak about his film The Jordon chance which receives good criticisms. At 62 years, Ray makes a new film TV, Love's savage fury, a drama on the Civil War. Then he ensures the narration of the film The trial of Xavier Solorzana before incarner a police chief in the Eischeid series. Once again, Ray is made to narrator for film A life one paper based on the life of William Faulkner. Then, he play the part a psychologist (Doctor Brean) in Out of Blue before turning in an episode of The misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (the pilot) where he play the part again a godfather of a mob syndicate. Then Ray flies away for Egypt in order to make the film The curse of King Tut's tomb, which will be the theatre of several odd accidents, allotted to a curse: Ray is one of the victims, he makes a bad fall and knocks the head, he will remain two days unconscious at the hospital. At 63 years, Ray makes several films TV: Presto Chango, it's magic; Psychic phenomena; The alien's return where he play the part the role of the father of Cybill Sheperd; Disaster one the coast train where he play the part the president of a railroad company and The night the city screamed. The same year, he makes discover with the American public an israëlienne artist met in the Fiji, Triska Blumenfeld. Then, Ray makes the film The acts of Peter and Paul where he play the part king Herod Agrippa. At 65 years, Ray returns to teaching while becoming professor of theatre to Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park. He is as well installed in the businesses and engages for Block Brothers Realty Company for spots TV. The same year, Ray becomes the spokesman of Independent Insurance Agents with which he will work during 10 years. They oblige him to follow a mode and Ray will lose 100 pounds in 2 years. At 66 years, Ray goes to England for the theatre and makes a round for a part called Underground. He is victim of a bad fall and tears off the cartilage of the knee. At 68 years, Ray turns a new version of Godzilla, entitled Godzilla 85, where he takes again his role of deferring Steve Martin. This film will be a financial pit. The same year, Ray signs a contract with Viacom, under the impulse of Fred Silverman, for The return of Perry Mason where he finds the role which made him famous. Barbara Hale is the only other actress still in life of old the casting. She takes again her role of Della Street and her son, William Katt, responsability that of Paul Drake Jr, the son of the private detective. Turning takes place in Canada and Barbara Hale will play as often as possible sitted, because she recovers from a fracture of the hip. In this first episode, Perry Mason became judge and will give up his load to come to assistance of his former secretary, shown murder. The audience is excellent, Perry Mason beating Bill Cosby Show. Other episodes are put in building site. At 70 years, Ray is victim of an accident on the turning of Perry Mason: he tears the ligaments of the right knee. The operation which results from this is included in the 6th episode, The case of the murderer madam, in order to explain that he moves using a cane. Thereafter, Ray complains about the poverty of scripts. With the general surprise, episode 9, The case of the lady of the lake, gains an enormous success. Ray stopped again smoking and, because of that, took weight: he weighs 320 pounds. NBC wants to continue Perry Mason but Ray, wants to stop to him. He will change opinion in front of the excellent audience of the series. The same year, Ray sees his post of professor of theatre extended to California Polytechnic State University. He opens two schools of theatre, one in Denver and the other in Cincinnati. At 74 years, while making his treatment by radiotherapy to fight against his cancer, Ray continues the turning of Perry Mason. His contract with Independent Insurance Agents is broken because of his health. At 76 years, Ray turns his 25th Perry Mason. He lost weight and appears in better form. In same time, he begins the turning of Return of Ironside and NBC orders six new episodes of Perry Mason. Other Ironside are envisaged, the audience being excellent. The same year, Ray is named Doctor of Human Letters by University of Colorado, in Denver. At July, he arrives on the turning of 26th Perry Mason, The case of a killer kiss, in a wheel chair. It is there that everyone realizes of the gravity of his state. Script is rewritten so that Ray can pass the maximum of sitted time. It will be his last turning, he will die two months later. Maybe on the whole:
Raymond Burr has his star on Hollywood Walk of Fame to the 6656 Hollywood Boulevard. |
Sources
The majority of information available on this page are drawn from the American biography:
Raymond Burr,
has film, radio and television biography
by Ona L Hill
with the McFarland editions
by Ona L Hill
with the McFarland editions
Some of the photographs of films of Raymond Burr come from the site Brian' S Drive-In Theater.
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