The reluctant actor who became television's most versatile private investigator

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: William Hopper was born into Hollywood royalty, yet he spent years running from the profession his mother demanded he pursue. After surviving the Pacific theater in World War II and a stint selling cars, he finally found his footing, becoming the beloved, wisecracking Paul Drake on the iconic Perry Mason.

Born in 1915 to theatrical producer DeWolf Hopper and the influential gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, William Hopper’s path into acting was less a choice than an expectation. Despite early stage work and a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1936, he struggled with debilitating stage fright, famously admitting that he stuttered constantly during his time at Warner Bros. His career was interrupted by military service during World War II, where he volunteered for the Office of Strategic Services and served in an Underwater Demolition Team, earning a Bronze Star for his actions in the Pacific.

Following the war, Hopper stepped away from the screen for eight years to sell automobiles. His return to acting was orchestrated by director William Wellman, who cast him in the 1954 film The High and the Mighty. Hopper remained deeply insecure about his abilities, even suspecting that his mother had manipulated the job offer. It was not until a 1955 live television performance that he experienced a breakthrough, describing the sudden sensation that his nerves had been surgically removed. This newfound comfort allowed him to deliver memorable performances in films like Rebel Without a Cause and The Bad Seed.

Hopper is best remembered for his role as Paul Drake on the long-running CBS series Perry Mason, which aired from 1957 to 1966. Executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson hired him despite his mother’s controversial reputation, noting that Hopper was simply perfect for the part. As Drake, he provided essential comic relief and displayed remarkable versatility, portraying everything from a tough investigator to a hipster. His work on the show earned him an Emmy nomination in 1959. After the series concluded, Hopper largely retired from the screen, passing away in 1970 at the age of 55.

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