A happy birthday to legendary actor Raymond Burr , born this day in 1917. Radio fans know that he did a lot as an actor besides playing the famed role of Perry Mason . He was also Captain Lee Quince on the "adult Western" series Fort Laramie . Aided by excellent writers, Burr was able to get deep into the psychology of the cavalry leader. And let's not forget Dragnet . Burr played the Chief of Detective on Jack Webb 's legendary series, making him an A-list radio star. He also appeared in Pat Novak For Hire . Improbably, the actor who played so many masculine, no-nonsense characters would go on to become a great wine maker and owner of Raymond Burr vineyards.