Mr. Burr's Birthday

One of television's finest actors, Raymond Burr, was born 100 years ago today. Although he'd enjoyed a successful film career in the 1940s and early 1950s, he reached his pinnacle of fame during his nine-year run as Erle Stanley Gardner's lawyer hero Perry Mason in the popular CBS series (1957-66). No one-hit wonder, he came back in 1967 to star in NBC's Ironside, which kept him busy for another eight years. Until shortly before his death in 1993, Burr continued to reprise his most famous character in highly rated TV-movies, the proceeds from which often went to fund one of his many charitable interests.

Burr deserved a better biography than the one he got in 2008, whose author wasted quite a bit of space and energy making disparaging remarks about the actor's weight, and treating his sexual orientation with minimal respect. But Burr still has plenty of fans who respect both the man and his work. Which is as it should be.

The Case of the Birthday Boy

Ninety-seven years ago today, the fine actor who embodied Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason for a generation of TV viewers was born. Prior to his television stardom, Burr enjoyed a successful career as a movie character actor, featured in classics such as Rear Window. Burr won two Emmys for his work on Perry Mason, and by the end of its historic run was TV's highest-paid dramatic actor. 

After his long run in that show, from 1957 to 1966, he had another television hit from 1967 to 1975, as Ironside. He reprised both of his classic roles in TV-movies in later years, and also starred in a short-lived third series, Kingston: Confidential.

Happy birthday, Mr. Burr.