Raymond Burr’s Shocking Lies: Hidden Gay Romance & Secret Life Revealed After 35 Years!

Raymond Burr was a legendary actor, but how many people really knew the man behind the fame? His life was full of secrets, mostly to hide a love he couldn’t publicly share.

Burr, whose full name was Raymond William Stacy Burr, was born on May 21, 1917, in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. He became a household name thanks to his long Hollywood career, which included many movies and hit TV shows. His most famous role was in the legal drama “Perry Mason.”

The show was tough on Burr. Each weekly episode was an hour long, requiring him to start early every morning. He often worked 15-hour days on set and slept in a small bungalow nearby.

Burr spent nine years starring in “Perry Mason.” Reflecting on this time, he said he regretted devoting so much of his life to the show. He admitted it left him little time for a family or friends:

“The only thing I regret in my life — I’m sorry I spent nine years of my life tying myself down. I couldn’t be married, have a family, even have friends.”

Even though Burr spoke of wanting a family, he claimed to have been married three times, with each marriage ending tragically. He said his first wife died in a plane crash in 1943, and they had a son, Michael, who later passed away from leukemia. Burr’s second marriage reportedly ended in divorce after a few months, and he said his third wife, Laura Andrina Morgan, died of cancer before they could go on their honeymoon. But after Burr’s death, most of these stories were revealed to be untrue.

For years, Burr avoided talking about his supposed wives and son. When asked, he would simply say, “I don’t discuss that.” This made people even more curious about his mysterious life.

Eventually, Burr’s second wife, Isabella Ward, spoke up. She insisted she was Burr’s first and only wife and knew nothing about his previous marriages or his son. Ward said, “I was Ray’s first wife. If there had been a wife before me, he would have told me.”

Burr claimed he remained unmarried because of his demanding work schedule. He said it was hard to find someone who could accept his 15-hour workdays. He often didn’t go home for days, spending most nights at the studio.

In 1993, Burr’s private life started to unravel when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. It became clear that many of his stories were fabricated. Burr had kept the truth about his life hidden because he was gay, a secret he felt he had to protect to maintain his career in Hollywood.

Burr spent 35 years with his partner, Robert Benevides, whom he met in 1959. Rumor had it they quietly married in 1963. Benevides took care of their home, and the two shared a loving relationship. A close friend of theirs once said, “Raymond always called Robert ‘my husband.'”

When Burr was diagnosed with cancer, he spent his final days hosting goodbye parties for friends at his home. After his death, Burr left everything to Benevides, including his vineyard. Benevides took over the vineyard and continued their shared dream.

Despite the lies about his personal life, Burr was remembered as a talented actor. His shows “Perry Mason” and “Ironside” remained iconic, and he was celebrated for his roles in Hitchcock films.

Burr also had a passion for helping underprivileged children. Over the years, he supported children from many countries, including Italy, Korea, and the Philippines. In some cases, he provided money to help them become independent, such as giving a Korean boy $132.41 to start a poultry business.

Burr adopted 27 children in total, often covering their education costs and keeping in touch with them through letters. He would visit them when traveling and even brought some to his home in California to help them succeed.

He was inspired to help after witnessing poverty during his travels. A friend introduced him to the Foster Parents Plan, where he could sponsor children for $10 a month. This sparked his love of charity work, and he became deeply involved in the lives of the children he supported.

After Burr passed away, Benevides took over their vineyard and stayed out of the public eye. He spent his days traveling and enjoying life on the properties Burr left him. Benevides admitted he loved the vineyard and had no plans to sell it, saying, “Why would I go somewhere else?”

Although Burr left his entire estate to Benevides, his family tried to contest the will. The court sided with Benevides, making him the sole beneficiary.

In later years, Benevides confirmed his relationship with Burr, saying they had shared a life together for decades. He vouched for the honesty of Scotty Bowers, who had introduced the pair, and confirmed many details about their life together.

Benevides spent his retirement traveling and running the vineyard. He kept Burr’s memory alive through their shared passions and the life they built together.