Raymond Burr Biography

Fast Facts

• Once sponsored 26 foster children through the charities Foster Parents' Plan and Save The Children
• Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Colorado for his acting career
• As a teenager, he began acting in a stock company in Vancouver
• Quote: "(On working on "Perry Mason") "Let's just say that the part isn't conducive to leisurely living the way I once knew it․ I only hope that I can regain my own identity․""
• Frequently portrayed characters who are cowardly or evil in nature
• Widely recognized for his commanding voice and heavyset stature
• Did not undergo surgery for the cancer in his kidney so that he would be able to star in "The Return of Ironside" and "Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss․"
• Only the fourth Canadian star to be commemorated with a Canadian postage stamp when he was given the honor in 2008
• Was in contention for the role of Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke․"
• Threw numerous parties in order to say goodbye to his friends before succumbing to cancer