Barbara Hale: One of the Most Iconic TV Series Figures

Barbara Hale, born April 18, 1922, in DeKalb, Illinois, was an American actress with a career spanning over six decades, mainly known for her role as Della Street in the television series Perry Mason. Her film and television career left a significant mark in the history of American entertainment.

Early Film Career and Key Movies

After studying art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, Barbara Hale moved to Hollywood in 1943, signing a contract with RKO Radio Pictures. In her debut year, she appeared in minor roles but soon obtained more prominent parts, such as in the musical Higher and Higher (1943), where she sang alongside Frank Sinatra. Among the most notable films of the 1940s are West of the Pecos (1945) with Robert Mitchum and Lady Luck (1946) with Robert Young, which marked her first leading role.

In 1949, she moved to Columbia Pictures, where she starred in Jolson Sings Again, a musical biography that solidified her reputation, and in The Window, a psychological thriller that showcased her versatility.

The 1950s saw her starring in various genres, from westerns to dramas. Notable titles include The Jackpot (1951) with James Stewart, A Lion Is in the Streets (1953) with James Cagney, and the westerns Seminole and The Oklahoman(1957), the latter with Joel McCrea, which was her last leading film role.

Television Role and Awards

In 1957, Barbara Hale accepted the role of Della Street in the series Perry Mason, initially planned for eighteen episodes but extended to nine seasons and 271 episodes. The character of Della Street, a legal secretary, became a model of an independent professional woman on American television. In 1959, Hale won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and received a second nomination in 1961.

Her collaboration with Raymond Burr, who played Perry Mason, was fundamental to the series’ success. After the show ended in 1966, Hale appeared in the series Ironside and reprised the role of Della Street in thirty television movies produced between 1985 and 1995.

Trivia and Personal Life

In the Perry Mason TV movies, the character Paul Drake Jr. was played by William Katt, Barbara Hale’s son born in 1951 from her marriage to actor Bill Williams. This coincidence created a generational link in the productions.

After Perry Mason, Hale significantly reduced her film appearances. In 1970, she appeared in the film Airport and in 1978 in Big Wednesday, playing the mother of the character portrayed by her son.

In 2001, she received the Golden Boot Award for her contribution to western cinema. In 1960, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category.

Barbara Hale passed away on January 26, 2017, in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 94. Her legacy continues through reruns of Perry Mason and the television movies, with the character of Della Street remaining a reference point in the portrayal of working women on television.