CBS via Getty Legal shows often focus on police and prosecutors, but there was one seminal TV pioneer that put the defense team in the spotlight:Perry Mason. Perry Masonwas one of Hollywood's first weekly, one-hour series filmed for television. It also set the template for what would become one of TV's most tried-and-true formats — a courtroom drama. The original series ran from 1957 to 1966, and during those nine seasons, it became one of the most popular shows of its time. Raymond Burr starred as the titular lawyer, who almost always helped exonerate his clients. At his side was legal secretary Della Street, played by Barbara Hale. William Hopper's Paul Drake assisted as Mason's go-to private detective with a knack for finding the evidence Mason and his clients needed. The show was an adaptation of a series of novels written by Erle Stanley Gardner, beginning with 1933'sThe Case of the Velvet Claws. The show also made wise use of guest stars, includingRobert Redford,Bette Davis, Angie Dickinson andBurt Reynolds. Almost two decades after the series ended, Perry Mason and Della Street returned in a TV movie. The film was so successful that, ultimately, 30 movies were made. Those movies also had a bevy of famous guest stars, includingDebbie Reynolds, Jerry Orbach, Robert Guillaume,David Hasselhoffand Paul Anka. Burr died in 1993, not long after making his 26thPerry Masonfilm.Paul Sorvinostarred in one film, as lawyer Anthony Caruso, and Hal Holbrook starred in the other as Bill "Wild Bill" McKenzie. Ahead, revisit the cast of thePerry MasonTV show and the major players who brought the television movies to life. CBS via Getty; Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Burr was so dedicated to his role as Perry Mason that he lived in a bungalow on the studio lot. He would rise on shooting days at 3:30 a.m. to practice his famed courtroom monologues. Despite winning two Emmys for the role,he told PEOPLE in 1986that doing the series was "the only thing I regret in my life — I'm sorry I spent nine years of my life tying myself down. I couldn't be married, have a family, even have friends." After the original series ended, Burr starred in the TV seriesIronsidefrom 1967 to 1975. His character was paralyzed in a shooting, later becoming the first TV detective to use a wheelchair. He received six Emmy nominations for the part, but never won. "I'm not very actorish," he once said. "I don't play actor 24 hours a day. When the job is done, I go on to be myself, whoever that is." Burr struggled to find a steady role afterIronsideand appeared in short-lived series likeKingston: Confidentialas well as the miniseries79 Park Avenue. In the first 1985 TV movie, Mason had become an appellate judge, but he stepped down to defend Della, who was erroneously accused of murdering her boss. Mason, of course, got her acquitted. The film was such a massive success that more followed. While Burr got to the bottom of crimes onPerry Mason,his personal life off screen was shrouded in mystery. During his career, he claimed to have been married three times and had a son who died of cancer, but he refused to address these relationships at length. After his death, no proof of two of the marriages — or his son — could be found. He was, however, briefly married to actress Isabella Ward. Instead, Burr lived with actor Robert Benevides. For years, the pair resided in Fiji and owned and operated a vineyard in California. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Burr ultimately starred in 26Perry MasonTV films. While making his last TV movie, Burr was treated for cancer. However, the well-known philanthropist delayed treatment in order to keep filming because he had "earmarked his earnings" for "various charities," his doctor told PEOPLE in 1993. Burr died in 1993 at age 76. His lastPerry Masonmovie,Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss, aired two months after his death. CBS via Getty; Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Hale won an Emmy in 1959 for her role as Della Street, and Mason's trusty legal secretary was the biggest presence on the show besides Burr. She, too, was plagued by the show's long working hours, telling PEOPLE in 1986, "I'd put a terry cloth robe over my pajamas and drive in to work." Pre-Perry Mason, Hale had worked primarily in movies, and she'd been considering retirement. After the series, she made appearances as a TV guest star (including in an episode ofIronside) and appeared in a handful of films, including 1970'sAirport. She also became the spokeswoman for Amana's Radarange microwave ovens. Hale said of filming the first reunion movie, "On the opening day of shooting, we were in the courtroom. I was late getting on the set, and Ray was already there, busy with the script. He said, 'Morning,' walked to the front of the room, turned around, stopped, and we grinned at each other. We hadn't seen each other in this situation in 20 years. He said, 'I have never known so many years to evaporate before.' " Hale's son William Katt also joined the cast for some of the reunion films. After Burr's death, she continued to appear in thePerry Masonfilms. Her last role was in 1995'sThe Case of the Jealous Jokester. Hale married actor Bill Williams (whose birth name was Herman Katt) in 1946. In addition to son William, they had daughters Jodi and Juanita. Hale died in 2017 at age 94. CBS via Getty William Hopper played Paul Drake, the head of Paul Drake Detective Agency, which was conveniently located in the same building as Mason's office. Drake's team usually scrounged up the clues that later exonerated Mason's clients. Hopper received one Emmy nomination for the role. The actor was the only child of famed gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. William frequently appeared in movies in the '30s and '40s, but temporarily left Hollywood after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1955, he played Natalie Wood's father inRebel Without a Cause. But hisPerry Masonrole was ultimately his best known, and he stopped taking other parts after the series ended, except for one final movie, 1970'sMyra Breckinridge. William shared one child, Joan, with his first wife, Jane Gilbert. They separated in 1962. He then married Jeanette Juanita Ward, and they were together until his death in 1970. William was 55. CBS via Getty; Talman played Hamilton Burger, the Los Angeles District Attorney who went head-to-head with Mason — and constantly lost. His side triumphed in just three cases during the show's run. Talman was away from the show for parts of seasons three and four after CBS accused him of violating their morals clause. In 1960, a party Talman was attending was raided by police, who said the celebrity attendees were found in various states of undress. They were arrested on marijuana and lewd vagrancy charges. The first charge was dropped, and the latter dismissed by a judge, but still, CBS would not let him return. Burr, series executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson andPerry Masoncreator Erle Stanley Gardner pressured CBS, along with fans, and he was ultimately reinstated. Talman was married to Lynne Carter from 1942 to 1952. They shared daughter Lynda. Talman married actress Barbara Read in 1953. They shared daughter Barbie and son William III. They divorced in 1960. In 1963, he wed Margaret Flannigan. They welcomed son Timothy and daughter Susan. Flannigan also had two children from a previous relationship. AfterPerry Masonended, Talman appeared onThe Wild, Wild WestandThe Invaders. He died of lung cancer in 1968, at age 53. Before he died, he filmed two anti-smoking PSAs that aired widely after his death. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Collins' Lieutenant Tragg was a police homicide detective on the beloved series. He appeared in most episodes in seasons one, two and three, but in later seasons appeared in fewer episodes as he dealt with an illness that affected both his physical health and his memory. His last episode was season seven's "The Case of the Capering Camera." BeforePerry Mason, Collins had worked widely, beginning with radio dramas and eventually moving the film and television. His first movie was 1941'sCitizen Kane, in which he played Kane's political rival. Collins died in 1965 from emphysema. He was 75. CBS via Getty Lau's Lieutenant Anderson began making regular appearances in season five as Collins took a step back from the series. After the series ended, he continued to appear widely on TV, in episodes of shows likeBonanza,Mod Squad,Mission: Impossible,andThe Six Million Dollar Man. He also reunited with Burr in an episode ofIronside. In 1960, Lau married Marie Louise Metcalf. They shared two children. Lau died in 1984 at age 63. NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Bobby Bank/Getty Due to Hopper's death in 1970, the studio needed someone to fill his shoes in the reunion films. Hale's son, William Katt, stepped in as Paul Drake, Jr., the son of Hopper's character. He appeared in nine of the TV movies. Katt's later TV work has focused primarily on voice acting, with roles in shows likeAnimaniacsandBatman: The Animated Series. He's also worked widely in film, most recently, in 2022'sPursuit. Katt was married to Deborah Kahane from 1979 to 1992. They share sons Clayton and Emerson. In 1993, he married Danielle Hirsch. They share daughter Dakota. Katt is also the stepfather to her son, Andrew. Gene Trindl/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Paul Archuleta/Getty Moses played Ken Malansky, who first appeared in 1989'sThe Case of the Lethal Lessonas a law student who was accused of murder. Mason, of course, gets him an exoneration. In later TV movies, viewers see him as a lawyer who works as a private detective for Mason. Malansky — who starred onFalcon Crestin the '80s — also had a recurring role onMelrose Placeand appeared on episodes ofTouched by an Angel,Ally McBeal,Crossing Jordan,The Secret Life of the American Teenager,Grey's Anatomy,Chicago MedandHow to Get Away with Murder. In 2022, he joinedGeneral Hospitalregularly as Jeff Webber. Moses was married to actress Tracy Nelson from 1987 to 1997. They share daughter Remington Moses. In 2000, he married Sarah Moses. They share daughters Elizabeth and Grace. Read the original article onPeople
