Raymond Burr was the face of justice for a generation. As Perry Mason, he never lost a case. As Robert T. Ironside, he proved that a wheelchair couldn't stop a brilliant mind. But off-screen? The man was living a script far more complex than anything written for television. For over thirty years, the most important person in his life was a man named Robert Benevides, yet the public—and even many of his close colleagues—were fed a completely different narrative.
Honestly, the "official" biography of Raymond Burr was basically a work of fiction. If you look at old press clippings or his 1993 obituaries, you’ll see mentions of a tragic first wife who died in a 1943 plane crash. You’ll see stories about a second wife and a ten-year-old son, Michael, who supposedly died of leukemia. Here’s the kicker: none of those people actually existed. They were ghosts created to protect a career in an era where being gay was a professional death sentence.
Why Raymond Burr and Robert Benevides Had to Hide
You've gotta understand the climate of the 1950s and 60s. Hollywood was a place where "morality clauses" were standard. If a leading man like Burr—who embodied authority, strength, and traditional values—was outed, the show was over. Literally.
He met Robert Benevides on the set of Perry Mason in the mid-1950s. Robert was a young actor and a Korean War veteran. They clicked. By 1960, they were a couple. But instead of walking red carpets together, they built a life that was hidden in plain sight. Robert eventually gave up acting to become a production consultant, working behind the scenes on Burr’s projects. This allowed them to be together constantly without raising too many eyebrows. People just saw them as "business partners" or "longtime friends."
The Fake Wives and the "Dead Son"
Burr was so committed to his cover story that he even reportedly felt resentful when the studio linked Natalie Wood to Tab Hunter instead of him. He needed the world to see him as the grieving widower. The story about his wife, "Annette Sutherland," dying in the same plane crash as Leslie Howard was a masterstroke of PR. It was a tragedy so specific and so public that nobody dared to question it. Who asks a man for a marriage certificate when he’s mourning a wife lost to the Nazis?
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Life Beyond the Soundstage: Orchids and Islands
When they weren't filming, Raymond Burr and Robert Benevides weren't just sitting around Hollywood. They were legit horticultural experts. Like, world-class. They started Sea God Nurseries and actually registered more than 1,500 new orchid hybrids.
They even bought an island. In 1965, they purchased Naitauba in Fiji. They didn't just use it as a getaway; they raised cattle, grew coconuts, and were genuinely involved in the community. Burr once helped nurse islanders through a brutal influenza outbreak. It sounds like something out of a movie, but for them, it was the only place they could truly be themselves. Later, they moved their operations to the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County, California, where they founded Raymond Burr Vineyards.
The Legacy of the Vineyard
The vineyard wasn't just a celebrity vanity project. Robert Benevides was deeply involved in the environmental side of things. Even years after Raymond passed away, Robert continued to run the estate, eventually installing a massive solar electric system to power the whole operation. He wanted the business to "live lightly on the land."
The wines—Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and some specialized Ports—were often described as being like Burr himself: big, complex, and full of gusto. Raymond only got to taste the first vintage from the barrel before he died in 1993.
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The Legal Battle and the Public Reveal
When Raymond Burr died of cancer in September 1993, he left everything to Robert. His entire estate. His will didn't mention his nieces or nephews, and that didn't go over well. A legal battle erupted. His family challenged the will, essentially trying to invalidate the life he had built with Robert for 33 years.
They lost.
The court recognized the validity of Burr’s wishes, and in doing so, the "open secret" of his life finally became public record. It was a messy, ugly end to a life spent trying to avoid exactly that kind of scrutiny. Journalists started digging and realized that the "first wife" wasn't on that 1943 flight. They found no records of the second wife or the son. The mask finally slipped, but by then, the man was gone.
What We Can Learn From Their Story
The relationship between Raymond Burr and Robert Benevides is a reminder of the "lavender marriages" and secret lives that defined old Hollywood. It’s sorta heartbreaking that a man who spent his life defending the truth on TV had to live a lie to keep his job. But it’s also a story of incredible loyalty. Robert stayed by his side for over three decades, through the height of fame and the final battle with illness.
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If you’re interested in the history of Hollywood or the evolution of LGBTQ+ rights in media, here are a few ways to dive deeper:
- Visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant: If you ever find yourself in Fiji, this is the orchid garden Burr founded. It's still open and holds thousands of varieties.
- Check out the Raymond Burr-Robert Benevides Collection: They donated over 450 artworks and objects to Cal Poly Pomona. It’s an eclectic mix that shows their travels and shared tastes.
- Watch the late-era Perry Mason movies: Robert Benevides is credited as a production consultant on many of these. Knowing their history makes these later films feel a lot more personal.
Today, the vineyard in Sonoma stands as a quiet monument to a partnership that survived the harshest spotlights in the world. It’s a bit ironic—the "World's Greatest Defense Attorney" finally had his own life's evidence presented, and the verdict was clear: his longest-running success wasn't a court case, but a 33-year-long love story.
Actionable Insight: To truly appreciate the nuance of Burr's career, re-watch Rear Window or early episodes of Perry Mason. Look for the subtle ways he used his natural intensity to mask his private world. If you're a wine enthusiast, look for Dry Creek Valley labels that carry the spirit of the Burr-Benevides era of viticulture.