Tessa Quinn
In the Perry Mason TV series, Perry Mason, portrayed by Raymond Burr, was in the hospital for surgery. The reason for his hospitalisation was initially reported as minor surgery or minor corrective surgery. However, some sources indicate that Burr underwent major surgery to remove potentially cancerous intestinal polyps, which turned out to be benign. During his absence, guest stars filled in for him, including Bette Davis, Michael Rennie, Hugh O'Brian, and Walter Pidgeon.
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What You'll Learn
- Raymond Burr, the actor who played Perry Mason, underwent dental surgery
- The surgery was said to be minor, but Burr was hospitalised for a month
- Intestinal polyps were removed, which were potentially cancerous
- Perry Mason was also written into the hospital for these episodes
- Bette Davis filled in for Mason as a defending attorney
Raymond Burr, the actor who played Perry Mason, underwent dental surgery
Raymond Burr, the Canadian-born actor who played Perry Mason, underwent surgery in 1963, forcing him to miss four episodes of the show. While some sources state that the surgery was minor, others indicate that it was major surgery to remove intestinal polyps that may have been cancerous.
Burr's character, Perry Mason, was also written into the plot as being in the hospital, with brief scenes of him filmed in a hospital room. During Burr's absence, guest stars, including Bette Davis, Michael Rennie, Hugh O'Brian, and Walter Pidgeon, filled in for him, winning cases in his stead.
Bette Davis, a huge fan of the series, was the first special guest star to fill Mason's role as the defending attorney in the episode "The Case of Constant Doyle." In the episode, Mason appears briefly, telephoning from his hospital room.
While the reason for Burr's absence was initially reported as dental surgery, later sources revealed that he had undergone a more serious procedure. According to a spokesperson, Burr was in a Los Angeles hospital in December 1962 for "minor corrective surgery." However, a biography of Burr published in 1994 claimed that he had been diagnosed with potentially cancerous intestinal polyps and had undergone major surgery to remove them. The polyps turned out to be benign, and Burr reportedly denied cancer rumors in later years.
In addition to his absence in 1963, Burr also missed four episodes in the 1964-1965 season due to infected teeth and an unspecified illness.
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The surgery was said to be minor, but Burr was hospitalised for a month
The actor Raymond Burr, who portrayed Perry Mason, was absent from four episodes of the show due to surgery. The surgery was described as minor by some sources, with one stating it was "minor corrective surgery". However, other sources indicate that Burr's surgery may have been more serious. According to a biography of Burr, he underwent major surgery to remove potentially cancerous intestinal polyps, which turned out to be benign. A section of his intestines was removed, and a Dacron tube was inserted.
Burr's hospitalisation lasted for a month, and he was notably absent from the show for several months, from approximately November 1962 through January 1963. He was in a Los Angeles hospital in December and then recovered at home. During his absence from the show, four guest stars, including Bette Davis, filled in for him, with Perry Mason also written to be in the hospital.
The differing accounts of the severity of Burr's surgery may be due to a combination of factors, including the privacy of his health matters and the potential for cancer, which was later denied by Burr. The writers of the show likely chose to have Perry Mason also in the hospital to explain Burr's absence and to maintain the continuity of the show.
While the surgery was said to be minor, Burr's extended hospitalisation and recovery period may have been due to the actual complexity of the procedure or other health factors. It is important to note that medical procedures, even those considered minor, can sometimes result in unexpected complications or extended recovery periods. Additionally, the physical and mental demands of Burr's career may have contributed to his need for an extended recovery period.
In conclusion, while the surgery was initially reported as minor, Burr's month-long hospitalisation and extended absence from the show suggest that there may have been more complex factors at play regarding his health and recovery. The privacy and sensitivity surrounding medical issues should also be considered when evaluating the discrepancies in the reports of Burr's surgery.
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Intestinal polyps were removed, which were potentially cancerous
Intestinal polyps were removed from Perry Mason actor Raymond Burr during his hospitalisation. The polyps were potentially cancerous, and while they were later found to be benign, the surgery was still considered major. A portion of Burr's intestines was removed, and a Dacron tube was inserted.
Burr's hospitalisation and surgery took place in December 1962, and he was recovering at home the following month. The actor was notably absent for several months, from November 1962 through January 1963. During this time, he missed four episodes of the Perry Mason TV series, with the first of these episodes being "The Case of Constant Doyle".
Burr's absence was written into the show, with his character, Perry Mason, also in the hospital. Brief scenes were filmed, showing Mason in a hospital room, and he appeared momentarily in each of the four episodes via phone conversations.
There was some uncertainty regarding the reason for Burr's absence, with some sources initially citing minor surgery or dental surgery. However, it was later revealed that the surgery was more serious and potentially cancerous.
In total, Burr missed six out of 271 cases over nine seasons of the original Perry Mason series due to his hospitalisation and other illnesses.
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Perry Mason was also written into the hospital for these episodes
During the 1962-63 season of Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, who portrayed the titular character, was absent for four consecutive episodes. The reason for his absence was "minor surgery", with some sources stating that the surgery was to remove potentially cancerous intestinal polyps. According to a studio spokesperson, Burr was in a Los Angeles hospital in December 1962 and then recovering at home.
To accommodate Burr's absence, the writers of the show wrote Perry Mason as being in the hospital as well. Brief scenes were filmed with Mason in a hospital room, appearing momentarily in each episode. In these episodes, "special guest stars" filled Mason's role as the defending attorney, including Bette Davis, Michael Rennie, Hugh O'Brian, and Walter Pidgeon.
In the first of these episodes, "The Case of Constant Doyle", Bette Davis plays Constant Doyle, a recently widowed attorney who defends a teenager, Cal Leonard, accused of trespassing and assaulting a security guard. Despite Cal's initial hostility and mistrust, Constant arranges his bail. It is discovered that Cal's late father had invented a device that made the Otis Instrument Company millions but was only paid $2000 for it.
In the following episodes, "The Case of the Libelous Locket", "The Case of the Thermal Thief", and one other, the guest stars continued to take on the role of the defending attorney in Mason's absence. These episodes allowed for a unique twist on the traditional Perry Mason formula, with the guest stars stepping in to win the cases in his place.
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Bette Davis filled in for Mason as a defending attorney
In 1963, Raymond Burr, the actor who played Perry Mason, was hospitalised due to dental surgery and was absent for four episodes of the show's 1962-63 season. During this time, four stars, including Bette Davis, filled in for him.
Bette Davis, a huge fan of the series, played the role of Constant (not Constance) Doyle, a recently widowed attorney, in "The Case of Constant Doyle". In the episode, her character defends a young man accused of breaking into a factory and assaulting a night watchman.
The three episodes that followed also had guest stars filling in as defenders: "The Case of the Libelous Locket," guest-starring Michael Rennie, "The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout," guest-starring Hugh O'Brian, and "The Case of the Surplus Suitor," guest-starring Walter Pidgeon.
While Mason was said to be in the hospital, Raymond Burr did appear in brief scenes filmed in a hospital room.
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Frequently asked questions
Perry Mason, portrayed by Raymond Burr, was in the hospital for surgery. Some sources claim it was for "minor surgery" due to dental issues, while others state it was major surgery to remove potentially cancerous intestinal polyps.
Yes, during Mason's absence, special guest stars filled in as defending attorneys, including Bette Davis, Michael Rennie, Hugh O'Brian, and Walter Pidgeon. Mason still appeared briefly in each episode, with scenes filmed in a hospital room or at home recovering.
Yes, interestingly, Mason's character lost a case during this period, which served as a plot device.
