America's Favorite Attorney

Raymond Burr had a reputation as one of the kindest and most respected actors in Hollywood. Known best for his role as Perry Mason, it was said that he totally immersed himself in the character during working hours. Even so, his penchant for practical jokes on the set was legendary. These gags were typically directed at his close friend and co-worker, Barbara Hale. Raymond Burr quietly supported a number of charitable and humanitarian causes, including tours of army bases in Korea and Viet Nam, which he financed himself. He also sponsored more than two dozen foster children, as well as residents of the small Fiji island of Naitauba, which he partly owned. Raymond Burr enjoyed a long and successful career, until 1992 when it was discovered he had kidney cancer. Neverthless, he kept up a hectic pace in order to finish production of his final Perry Mason TV movie. Intensely private to the end, he died quietly soon after filming was complete.