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IMDbPro

William Hopper(1915-1970)

  • Actor
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
William Hopper
Perry Mason
Play trailer1:00
Perry Mason (1957–1966)
9 Videos
37 Photos
William Hopper was born on 26 January 1915 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Perry Mason (1957), 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) and Rebel Without a Cause (1955). He was previously married to Jeanette Juanita Ward and Jane Gilbert. He died on 6 March 1970 in Palm Springs, California, USA.
BornJanuary 26, 1915
DiedMarch 6, 1970(55)
BornJanuary 26, 1915
DiedMarch 6, 1970(55)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 1 nomination total

Photos37

William Hopper and Nancy Kelly in The Bad Seed (1956)
John Garfield, William Hopper, and Priscilla Lane in Dust Be My Destiny (1939)
Raymond Burr and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr, William Hopper, and Robert Strauss in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr, Adam West, Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Josephine Hutchinson, and Enid Jaynes in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)
Robert H. Harris and William Hopper in Perry Mason (1957)

Known for:

Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)
Perry Mason
8.3
TV Series
  • Paul Drake
William Hopper and Joan Taylor in 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
20 Million Miles to Earth
6.3
  • Col. Robert Calder
  • 1957
James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Corey Allen in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Rebel Without a Cause
7.6
  • Judy's Father
  • 1955
Henry Jones, Nancy Kelly, and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
The Bad Seed
7.4
  • Col. Kenneth Penmark
  • 1956

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Myra Breckinridge (1970)
    Myra Breckinridge
    • Judge Frederic D. Cannon (uncredited)
    • 1970
  • Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)
    Perry Mason
    • Paul Drake
    • TV Series
    • 1957–1966
  • Valentine's Day (1964)
    Valentine's Day
    • Judge
    • TV Series
    • 1964
  • John Payne in The Restless Gun (1957)
    The Restless Gun
    • Dan Mailer
    • TV Series
    • 1957
  • Julie Adams, Tim Hovey, Jock Mahoney, and Joanna Moore in Slim Carter (1957)
    Slim Carter
    • Joe Brewster
    • 1957
  • Studio 57 (1954)
    Studio 57
    • Kip
    • Smith
    • TV Series
    • 1956–1957
  • William Hopper and Joan Taylor in 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
    20 Million Miles to Earth
    • Col. Robert Calder
    • 1957
  • Florenz Ames, Craig Stevens, William Hopper, Donald Randolph, and Alix Talton in The Deadly Mantis (1957)
    The Deadly Mantis
    • Dr. Nedrick Jackson
    • 1957
  • On Trial (1955)
    On Trial
    • Arnold Bait
    • TV Series
    • 1957
  • Hal Baylor, Hans Conried, and Chuck Hicks in Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
    • Dan Mailer
    • TV Series
    • 1957
  • Matinee Theater (1955)
    Matinee Theater
    • TV Series
    • 1956
  • Lux Video Theatre (1950)
    Lux Video Theatre
    • George
    • Jim Johanson
    • Brad Scott
    • TV Series
    • 1955–1956
  • Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre (1955)
    Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre
    • Rick Gordon
    • TV Series
    • 1956
  • Henry Jones, Nancy Kelly, and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    The Bad Seed
    • Col. Kenneth Penmark
    • 1956
  • James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Dennis Weaver in Gunsmoke (1955)
    Gunsmoke
    • Tasker
    • John Henry Jordan
    • TV Series
    • 1956

Soundtrack

  • The Cowboy Quarterback (1939)
    The Cowboy Quarterback
    • performer: "Underneath a Western Sky" (1936) (uncredited)
    • 1939

Videos9

Trailer
Trailer 2:01
Trailer
The Bad Seed
Trailer 3:21
The Bad Seed
The Deadly Mantis
Trailer 2:00
The Deadly Mantis
20 Million Miles to Earth
Trailer 1:55
20 Million Miles to Earth
20 Million Miles to Earth
Trailer 2:00
20 Million Miles to Earth
Perry Mason
Trailer 1:00
Perry Mason
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition (Clip 2)
Trailer 1:07
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition (Clip 2)
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition (Clip 1)
Trailer 0:45
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition (Clip 1)
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition (Clip 3)
Trailer 1:15
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition (Clip 3)

Personal details

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  • Alternative names
    • DeWolf Hopper Jr.
  • Height
    • 6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
  • Born
    • January 26, 1915
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • March 6, 1970
    • Palm Springs, California, USA(pneumonia following a stroke)
  • Spouses
      Jeanette Juanita Ward1959 - March 6, 1970 (his death)
  • Parents
      DeWolf Hopper Sr.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Pushed into acting by his mother, Hopper began in summer stock and on the New York stage. He was signed as a small-part contract player at Paramount, 1935-37. Subsequently received leads at Warner Brothers in second features. Career faltered due to his lack of ambition and ambiguity towards the acting profession in general, and he returned again to bit parts. Stressful wartime military service in the Navy led to a drinking problem. After being demobilized, worked for nine years as a car salesman. Resumed acting in 1954, eventually finding his niche as investigator Paul Drake, right hand man to Raymond Burr's 'Perry Mason', the role for which he is chiefly remembered.
  • Quotes
    I didn't dislike movie people, but they were nothing special to me. I'd been around them all my life. My mother's [Hedda Hopper] the kind who could say "Howdeedo" to the king of England and feel perfectly at home. But I couldn't.
  • Nickname
    • Bill

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