Indeed, Raymond Burr’s life was full of secrets and lies, especially regarding his personal relationships and marriage.
Actor Raymond Burr was famous. However, how many individuals could claim to have met a person who went by such a famous name? After all, he hid his deep and forbidden love all his life by inventing a web of lies.
On May 21, 1917, Raymond William Stacy Burr, a well-known actor, was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. His long and impressive Hollywood career, which included several films and several successful television programs, helped him become a household name. He is most famous for his role in the drama “Perry Mason.”
Burr was heavily influenced by the show. Burr often had to arrive on location early in the morning, as each weekly program was an incredibly long hour. The actor put in the continuous effort, sometimes taking 15 hours to complete the next episode while staying in a small shack on site.
The actor played the main boy in the movie “Perry Mason” for nine years of his life. The actor admitted that looking back on the years he devoted to the successful TV drama, he wasted a significant part of his life that he could have used in other ways. Among other things, his life was missing his family. He said: “I’m sorry I wasted nine years of my life getting married. That’s the only thing I regret in my life. I wouldn’t have been able to get married, start a family, or even have friends.
That’s not to say Burr wasn’t trying to start a family. Throughout his life, the actor claimed to have been married three times, with each marriage ending tragically. Burr said his first wife died in a plane crash in 1943. Burr said in passing that she and Michael Burr had a son together, but the child died of leukemia.
Within months, his second marriage ended, leading to a divorce. Like his previous wife, his third wife was shrouded in mystery. Burr said his third wife, Laura Andrina Morgan, died of cancer before the couple’s honeymoon. All but his alleged second marriage proved to be lies after his death.
Dead in Burr’s Closet
The media quickly stopped hounding the actor about his personal life after years of confusion about his previous relationships and Burr’s persistent silence on the subject of his child. Burr often deflected questions about his previous marriages and tried to keep his private life out of the public eye.
In addition to his reputation as an accomplished actor and the countless roles he appeared in, Burr was passionate about helping young, disadvantaged people get back on their feet.
Although he was reluctant to talk about his history, the story of his late wife and son captivated viewers. Burr answered reporters’ questions about them just as succinctly: “I don’t discuss that.” In a way, his reticence to bring up the subject caused it to quickly catch on and become part of his mysterious legend.
After a while, many began to believe the story, believing the tragedy was too upsetting for Burr to continue. The public was inclined to accept this narrative, but when Burr’s second wife, Isabella Ward, briefly protested that she was unaware of the marriage that preceded theirs, cracks began to appear.
Ward insisted that she was Burr’s first wife and that he never mentioned a previous husband. She said she had never met him before his son’s alleged leukemia-related death. Burr’s family also acknowledged that they had never met the young man or the bride. No, I never met him, Ward said. due to the son’s absence. However, I don’t want to discuss it because I have nothing to do with it. Ray’s first wife was me. He would let me know if there was a wife ahead of me.
Burr insisted that his hectic schedule led to his decision to remain single. He noted that it was challenging to find a woman who was okay with his 15-hour workday. Although he often returned home after a late start, he spent most evenings in the studio, sometimes going days without returning.
Burr’s personal life began to unravel in 1993. After learning that he had advanced kidney cancer, the actor accepted the fact that his days were numbered. The stories he made up about his origins began to fall apart one by one, and people realized that most of what he told about his life was false.
The actress realized that marriage was not for her despite the long marriage between the actor and Ward. Meanwhile, Burr hid his homos*xuality by using a bond. To avoid rejection by the rest of Hollywood and to maintain his profession, Burr kept his s*xual orientation a secret.
Burr hosted a series of lavish parties at his California home, where he lived with his longtime lover, Robert Benevides, in his final days to say goodbye to his closest friends. After meeting each other through the notorious Scotty Bowers, Burr, and Benevides dated for 35 years. In addition, they collaborated on “Perry Mason.”
Benevides acknowledged that Bowers arranged for him and Burr to meet in 1959; they remained together throughout Burr’s life. Rumor has it the couple secretly married in 1963 and Benevides took care of the home while making Burr sweaters before the fire. A close acquaintance of the couple has spoken openly about their connection, saying:
If you visited their home, Raymond would be ironing and wearing a beautiful pink apron. He made a fuss about everything like the housewife. Robert was the man Raymond always referred to as “my husband” and knitted him sweaters in front of the fire.
After Burr’s death, all of his secrets were finally released from various sources. The actor left everything he had, including the vineyard, to his friend Benevides. Benevides took over the vineyard after his death and continued the work started by his companion. He also spoke openly about their connection in the following years.
Burr was still regarded as a prodigious genius after his death, despite the public’s disappointment at learning that he had greatly embellished much of his background. He was praised for his performance in several of the Hitchcock films in which he appeared, and his two popular television programs “Perry Mason” and “Ironside” were still considered great entertainment.
Burr felt compelled to improve the lives of children after noticing how few people lived in the countries he traveled to.
In addition to his reputation as an accomplished actor and the countless roles he appeared in, Burr was passionate about helping young, disadvantaged people get back on their feet. The actor has taken in many unfortunate youngsters over the years, including those from Italy, Greece, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Fiji, and Hindustan.
money needed to start building their independence. He gave $132.41 to a Korean youth whose father lost both legs in one incident so the boy could start his own chicken company. Duk Hwa Lee, a young boy, became successful and kept in touch with Burr.
Burr believed that every child he helped deserved his resources—time and money. He often wrote to them to inquire about their progress and they always responded. They emailed the actor their report cards to brag about their academic achievements and kept him updated on how their lives were going.
The actor adopted a total of 27 children and often traveled to their nations to see them and their families. Burr took the six children from the neighborhood back to his residence in California after acquiring his house in Fiji. The actor then paid their college fees and also the entrance exams.
Burr felt compelled to improve the lives of children after noticing how few people lived in the countries he traveled to. As he watched homeless people freeze on the streets and beg for scraps to get them through the night, he realized he had the ability to make a big difference in the lives of many others.
Burr began to raise questions about initiatives that helped the less fortunate. He was introduced to the Foster Care Plan by a friend who noticed his enthusiasm for charitable activities. The modest sum of $10 per month requested by the project was sent to a youth in need. In addition, the sponsor can send them translated and delivered letters.
Burr became increasingly invested in the lives of the children he sponsored as his passion for philanthropy grew over time. When he visited their nation, he often took young people and their families shopping. To give his children a head start in life, the actor wanted to do everything in his power.
Over the years, Burr also provided assistance to his nieces and nephews. He founded a private program that has benefited more than 30 children worldwide. Burr spent his dying days with Benevides, in addition to using his popularity to help young people in need. Yet they lived separately in the same house.
Burr’s hidden life was well known by then, and Benevides believed it was time to come clean. Burr and Benevides often traveled together, visiting the places they both adored and seeing the sights of the world. In the interview, Benevides spoke candidly about his international excursions, revealing that Burr preferred Portugal. They shared their passion for wine by trying different bottles wherever they traveled.
In the same interview, Benevides discussed his ambitions for his vineyard following the death of his partner. The producer acknowledged that many people doubted whether he would sell the house, but also said he was unsure of his next move. Benevides shared:
“I’m happy here, so there’s no reason why I’d sell and move somewhere else. Why would I travel anywhere else? Because I have a little cabin in Praia do Almocharife, I go to Faial every year. It’s a bit old, I think it’s been around for a very long time.
Benevides said that in addition to having a special place in his heart for the vineyard, it also provides him with a source of support. Benevides looked after the property in his advanced age, managing the farm efficiently and producing wine for sale. He said it took constant work to maintain the vineyard, but it was worth it.
Fortunately, Burr and Benevides were able to spend their last moments together at a property in Sonoma County, California. Both looked after the property until Burr died of cancer. After he left, Benevides took over and preserved the things he valued to honor his memory.
After Burr’s death, Benevides remained out of the limelight, preferring the seclusion of the estate and vineyard. Benevides was unaware that Bowers was releasing details about many gay celebrities in Hollywood until he was approached by a journalist in an attempt to confirm Bowers’ allegations.
Burr’s hidden life was well known by then, and Benevides believed it was time to come clean. He admitted that he and Burr were romantically involved. He said that while he could not testify to every single detail in the book Bowers published, he could attest to Bowers’ integrity and moral character.
In addition to working in the vineyard, Benevides uses his pension. He spoke candidly about his life and revealed that he travels most of the time. In his own words, “I promised myself that I would travel every month.” He resides on either of the two estates Burr left him. Benevides was the only winner.
Even his sister and the rest of his family remained outside of Burr’s will. Although Burr’s family attempted to challenge the will to claim a portion of his estate, the courts ruled in Benevides’ favor, appointing him the sole executor of Burr’s estate.
Benevides’ devotion to the vineyard mirrored Burr’s devotion to philanthropy. Burr sought to make a difference in the lives of young and impoverished individuals, and Benevides continued that spirit by tending the vineyard and honoring Burr’s memory.
Indeed, Raymond Burr’s life was full of secrets and lies, especially regarding his personal relationships and marriage. However, after his death, the truth came out, revealing his long-term relationship with Robert Benevides and their life together in the vineyard. Benevides continues to tend the vineyard, keeping alive the memories of his partner and the love they shared. Raymond Burr’s acting talent, iconic roles, and commitment to philanthropy remain an important part of his legacy.