Few actors are so closely linked to a character than Raymond Burr as Perry Mason. This long-running TV series (1957-1966) was built upon Eric Standley Gardner’s novels about a brilliant defense lawyer and his Tripple-A staff, that solved far to many crimes with off-the-wall witnesses and razor-sharp cross-examinations.
It was the first mystery series to feature chalk outlines to mark the spots where bodies were found. Filmed almost exclusively in the Los Angeles area, Raymond Burr had Gardner’s seal of approval in the role.
Perry’s cases were usually Alamo slam-dunk wins by way of pivotal witness confessions, solicited by his surgeon-like cross-examination or with last-minute, key evidence brought into the courtroom by private investigator Paul Drake (William Hopper).
Della Street (Barbara Hale), Perry’s faithful main-squeeze secretary, was always at his side in the courtroom where hapless Hamilton Burger (William Tallman) was the Los Angeles District Attorney who never seemed to win anything.
As for the myth that Perry Mason never lost, well, there were two episodes where it did happen … but you’ll have to watch the reruns to find out. The show was revived in 1973-74, with other actors in the familiar roles (Monte Markham as Mason), and then again with the some of the original cast, in a string of feature length TV films from 1985 until Raymond Burr’s death in 1993.
Officially, Raymond Burr died of liver cancer. But many suspect it may have been really caused by his wearing to many over-sized grey suits and gulping down dozens of delicious onion-mustard topped hot dogs at a sitting!
Hot Peppers!?
Well that was Della Street’s job!
Now The Mysterious Blabberer? 
This is very good and funny to boot!
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Like the premise of the ahow!
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I loved that tv series when I was a kid. Thanks for the memories.
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One of my favorites also!
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This program was a Saturday night TV staple when I was many years younger. My mother watches the reruns every day.
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👍👍👍eating hot dogs I’m sure…
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interesting read… remember it being on tv when I was a kid, my mom probably watched it or kept it on in the background!
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As in my house!
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I love Perry Mason!
I watch re-runs all the time.
Did you know that Raymond Burr was a Canadian?
He lived on the BC Island, not sure exactly.
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His portrayal of the suspected murderer in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller Rear Window (1954) is his best-known film role, although he is also remembered for his role in the 1956 film Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, which he reprised in the 1984 film Godzilla 1985. He won Emmy Awards for acting in 1959 and 1961 for the role of Perry Mason, which he played for nine seasons (1957–66) and reprised in a series of 26 Perry Mason TV movies (1985–93). His second TV series Ironside earned him six Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations.
Raymond William Stacy Burr
Born or Spawned May 21, 1917
New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Canadian eh!? Is that why is loved hotdogs?
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The best defense attorney ever, killed by hot dogs. That should be on his tombstone. A tombstone that makes you laugh just makes life better.
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Yes! Death by hotdogs is a delicious way to go!
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It was definitely a classic.
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He won maybe all of his cases because Los Angeles District Attorney Hamilton Burger in the television series was a
real meathead!
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Before my time, but being slept by hot dogs seems like the american way to go.
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Even The Godfather:
Marlon Brando’s eating binges are legendary. … large hat \ before driving to a food stand in the wee hours to gorge himself on several hot dogs.
The hot dog vendor made him an offer he couldn’t refuse!
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Those damn hot dog vendors giving people offers into six foot deep holes, goddamn
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