Raymond Burr 1952, and neither remarried. In 1960, Burr met Robert Benevides (born February 9, 1930, Visalia, California) a young actor and Korean War veteran, on the set of "Perry Mason". According to Benevides, they soon became a couple. Benevides gave up acting in 1963, and later became a production consultant for 21 of the "Perry Mason" TV movies. Together they owned and operated an orchid business and then a vineyard, in California's Dry Creek Valley. They were partners until Burr's death in 1993. Burr bequeathed to Benevides his entire estate, including "all my jewelry, clothing, books, works of art … and
Raymond Burr with a Vancouver stock company. Growing up during the Great Depression, Burr hoped to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, a renowned community theater and school in Pasadena, California, but he was unable to afford the tuition. In 1934, he joined a repertory theatre group in Toronto that toured throughout Canada, then joined another company that toured India, Australia and England. He briefly attended Long Beach Junior College and taught for a semester at San Jose Junior College, working nights as a radio actor and singer. He began his association with the Pasadena Playhouse in 1937. Burr moved to New