Unsolved Mysteries is an American mystery documentary television series, created by John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer. Documenting cold cases and paranormal phenomena, it began as a series of seven specials, presented by Raymond Burr, Karl Malden, and Robert Stack, beginning on NBC on January 20, 1987, becoming a full-fledged series on October 5, 1988, hosted by Stack. After nine seasons on NBC, the series moved to CBS for its 10th season on November 13, 1997. After adding Virginia Madsen as a co-host during season 11 failed to boost slipping ratings, CBS canceled the series after only a two-season, 12-episode run on June 11, 1999. The series was revived by Lifetime in 2000, with season 12 beginning on July 2, 2001. Unsolved Mysteries aired 103 episodes on Lifetime, before ending on September 20, 2002, an end that coincided with Stack's illness and eventual death.
Host Robert Stack (left, waving) defined the tone of Unsolved Mysteries.
Raymond William Stacy Burr was a Canadian actor known for his lengthy Hollywood film career and his title roles in television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside.
Burr in 1968
Lars Thorwald realizes that he is being watched across the courtyard by telephoto lens in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), which offered Burr his most notable film role.
Raymond Burr and (front row, from left) William Talman, Ray Collins and Barbara Hale on the set of Perry Mason, from the front cover of Look magazine (October 10, 1961)
Burr and Victoria Shaw in Ironside (1969)
