Perry Mason desired the facts but Raymond Burr felt pressured to hide his sexual orientation

Once upon a time in Hollywood, gay actors often hid their sexual preference from the world. This was out of the fear that if the truth were revealed, their careers would be ruined. Greedy studio executives who wanted the money to keep rolling in often arranged fake marriages for homosexual stars in order to fool the public. One popular male celebrity who had a questionable marriage and kept a 33-year relationship with another man secret from the masses was Raymond Burr. who was best known for his long-running television series, Perry Mason.

Burr portrayed the lead character, a criminal defense attorney on the show which aired on CBS from 1957-1966. From 1985-1995 the actor starred in 26 out of 30 made for television movies based on his beloved character until his death. Raymond Burr passed away in November of 1995 from cancer. Although his alter ego enjoyed seeking truth and uncovering the facts in a matter, Burr felt he had no choice but to keep quiet about his sexual orientation. In 1948 he married actress Isabelle Ward and they lived in a basement apartment of a home they shared with his parents and grandparents. The couple separated only a few months later and divorced in 1952.

There is no proof that this marriage was arranged but it’s likely that it was for appearance's sake. This was done on occasion in Tinseltown and such unions were referred to as "Lavender marriages". There is no mention of Burr dating any other women and in 1960 he met the man he would spend more than half his life with on the set of Perry Mason. There is also the possibility that Mason may have been bisexual, or perhaps initially truly tried to be heterosexual. There are many famous men who identify as gay, who previously were married to women and some even had children.

During the Golden Era of Hollywood, image was everything and studios practically owned the stars and controlled most of their lives. Some male celebrities did not worry about losing fans or employment and lived their lives openly as gay men. Those who remained married found their wives had different reactions. Some looked the other way while others quickly sought a divorce. By clicking on the following link you can find out more about Hollywood and how gay stars dealt with their situations.

When Raymond Burr first met Robert Benevides in 1960 he was a young actor and also a Korean war veteran. Benevides was a co-founder/creative consultant working with Raymond Burr, with the backing of Harbour-UTV Productions, which was Burr's production company. He is credited as the production consultant for 21 Perry Mason television movies and also worked with Burr on Ironside. Benevides also is credited for his work on The New Doctors, The Outer Limits, and The Bold Ones. A 1993 TV Guide article described Benevides as Burr’s "long-time companion." In an interview, however, Benevides said that he was often introduced as a business partner of the famous actor.

This was no doubt to keep people from speculating on the nature of the relationship. Although they never went public with their relationship the couple quietly lived together and jointly owned and operated an orchid business in Dry Creel Valley. They later acquired a vineyard in the same location. Raymond Burr left everything he owned to his companion and did not include any of his relatives in his will. After Burr’s death, his niece Minerva and her brother James questioned whether or not Benevides should have been given the bulk of Burr's estate. They tried to contest the will but were unsuccessful. At this present time, Robert Benevides continues to be the proprietor of the Raymond Burr Vineyards in Healdsburg, California.