William DeWolf Hopper Jr. (January 26, 1915 â€" March 6, 1970) was an
American stage, film, and television actor. The only child of actor
DeWolf Hopper and actress and Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper, he
appeared in predominantly minor roles in more than 80 feature films in
the 1930s and '40s. After serving in the United States Navy during
World War II, he left acting, but in the mid-1950s, he was persuaded
by director William Wellman to resume his film career. He became best
known for his work as private detective Paul Drake in the CBS
television series Perry Mason.William DeWolf Hopper Jr., was born
January 26, 1915, in New York City. He was the only child of actor,
singer, comedian, and theatrical producer DeWolf Hopper and his fifth
wife, actress Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry). He had one older
half-brother, John A. Hopper, from his father's second marriage in the
1880s. Hopper made his film debut as a baby in his father's 1916
silent movie Sunshine Dad. His mother divorced his father in 1922 and
moved to Hollywood with their son. Hedda Hopper became one of
America's best-known gossip columnists, with nearly 30 million readers
in newspapers in the U.S.Hopper began his acting career as a teenager.
He made his first stage appearance at the Pasadena Community
Playhouse, in She Loves Me Not. He worked in summer stock in Ogunquit,
Maine.:58 He appeared on Broadway in the short-lived comedy Order
Please (1934) and as a member of the ensemble in Katharine Cornell's
production of Romeo and Juliet (1934â€"35).
American stage, film, and television actor. The only child of actor
DeWolf Hopper and actress and Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper, he
appeared in predominantly minor roles in more than 80 feature films in
the 1930s and '40s. After serving in the United States Navy during
World War II, he left acting, but in the mid-1950s, he was persuaded
by director William Wellman to resume his film career. He became best
known for his work as private detective Paul Drake in the CBS
television series Perry Mason.William DeWolf Hopper Jr., was born
January 26, 1915, in New York City. He was the only child of actor,
singer, comedian, and theatrical producer DeWolf Hopper and his fifth
wife, actress Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry). He had one older
half-brother, John A. Hopper, from his father's second marriage in the
1880s. Hopper made his film debut as a baby in his father's 1916
silent movie Sunshine Dad. His mother divorced his father in 1922 and
moved to Hollywood with their son. Hedda Hopper became one of
America's best-known gossip columnists, with nearly 30 million readers
in newspapers in the U.S.Hopper began his acting career as a teenager.
He made his first stage appearance at the Pasadena Community
Playhouse, in She Loves Me Not. He worked in summer stock in Ogunquit,
Maine.:58 He appeared on Broadway in the short-lived comedy Order
Please (1934) and as a member of the ensemble in Katharine Cornell's
production of Romeo and Juliet (1934â€"35).
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