From the 1950s to '70s, Raymond Burr was pretty much inescapable on television.

Burr (1917-1993) was the leading man in two long-running series: "Perry Mason," about a crack defensive lawyer who never lost a case, and "Ironside," about a wheelchair-bound San Francisco detective who didn't let his physical limitations keep him from solving crimes. He also appeared in a few classic films, most notably Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window."

As ubiquitous as the Canadian-born actor was in mid-to-late 20th century pop culture, he was a virtual unknown in terms of his personal life, as a compelling new unauthorized biography reveals.

For one thing, author Michael Seth Starr outs Burr and his 35-year life partnership with actor Robert Benevides. Burr took great pains to conceal their personal relationship, even from close colleagues, although he made no secret of his business dealings with Benevides.

Starr also details the unreal lengths Burr went to to keep his private life private -- including a tangle of lies involving two wives and a child he never had. It's one thing for someone who made a living projecting the image of a strong leading man not wanting to lose his job. It's another matter for an actor who played a lawyer and detective crusading on behalf of the truth to be so consistently untruthful for so long.

What I found most gratifying about the book was how Starr, the longtime television critic for the New York Post, used his analytical skills to balance the strengths and weaknesses of Burr's career, investments and many philanthropic activities.

Ultimately, the reader comes away with an appreciation for the hardworking actor's uncanny ability to sustain a career, especially on TV, even as a hefty man who often tipped the scales at 300 pounds. For most of his life, he didn't conform to anyone's stereotype of the Hollywood pretty boy, and he prospered anyway.