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Raymond Burr regretted putting so much time into Perry Mason, and wished he'd raised a family
Even Burr second-guessed his path.
Perspective: It's one of the hardest things to attain in life. It evades many, and those with it can't usually share it. It is only one who has climbed the mountain that truly understands how high its pinnacle reaches. Yet we value so many characteristics more than we do perspective. It's a wisdom that is taken for granted when we see it in passing.
The one thing Raymond Burr had more of than perspective was probably orchids. The man is responsible for hybridizing and cultivating 1,500 new species of orchid and is credited with introducing each into the worldwide catalog. Following his successes in Perry Mason and Ironside, Burr established several nurseries throughout different parts of the world. He even purchased an island in 1965, retreating from the Hollywood hustle and bustle to a new home in Fiji. Maybe stepping outside of the L.A. enclave afforded Burr such perspective, as he was candid later in life regarding his career and the way fame affected his life.
In a 1993 obituary, the Birmingham Post-Herald reprinted some Burr quotes. He spoke about Perry Mason and what made the show special. But he also had a few words regarding his misspent time.
"I should have been helping raise a family," said Burr. The actor was married three times. "I did none of those things. I should have maintained closer friendships with some of my friends— I didn't do that. I should have maintained more contact with the world— I was not able to do that."
Even the winningest lawyer in television history wished he could've spent more time with family. Burr's only child, a son, died of leukemia in 1953.
It's important to note that while Burr did express some dismay, he did enjoy Perry Mason and understood why people connected with it. "It's the audience's dream," said Burr. "You have justice in the system."
Perspective is critical, and for some, it doesn't come until it's too late to use. We can't control the things we're dealt in life. But we can practice how we react, and we can strive toward a healthy attitude and point of view.
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