Barbara Hale

Barbara Hale

Acting
Born 1922-04-18 - Died 2017-01-26DeKalb, Illinois, USA

Biography

Barbara Hale (April 18, 1922 - January 26, 2017) was an American actress best known for her role as legal secretary Della Street on more than 250 episodes of the long-running Perry Mason television series and in 30 made-for-TV movies. Hale was born in DeKalb, Illinois, to Luther Ezra Hale, a landscape gardener, and his wife, Wilma Colvin. She is of Scots-Irish ancestry. Hale graduated from high school in Rockford, Illinois, then attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, planning to become an artist. Her performing career began in Chicago when she started modeling to pay for her education. She moved to Hollywood in 1943, and made her first screen appearances playing small parts (often uncredited). Hale was under contract to RKO Radio Pictures through the late 1940s. She appeared in Higher and Higher (1943) with Frank Sinatra; played leading lady to Robert Mitchum in West of the Pecos (1945); enjoyed top billing in both Lady Luck (1946) opposite Robert Young and The Window (1949) with Arthur Kennedy; and co-starred in Jolson Sings Again (1949), with Larry Parks playing Al Jolson and Hale as Jolson's wife, Ellen Clark. She played the top-billed title role in Lorna Doone (1951) and portrayed Julia Hancock in The Far Horizons (1955) with Fred MacMurray and Charlton Heston. Her flourishing movie career more or less ended when Hale accepted her best known role, Della Street, secretary to attorney Perry Mason, in the TV series with Raymond Burr. The show ran from 1957 to 1966, and she reprised the role in several television movies. Her last performance to date was in 2000 at age 78. In 1967 she guest starred on the ABC series Custer. Hale also had a featured role in the 1970 ensemble film Airport, playing the wife of a jetliner pilot (Dean Martin).

Movies (75)

Airport
6.5

Airport

1970Movie6.5
The Giant Spider Invasion
4.1

The Giant Spider Invasion

1975Movie4.1
Big Wednesday
6.9

Big Wednesday

1978Movie6.9
The Oklahoman
5.8

The Oklahoman

1957Movie5.8
Lorna Doone
4.7

Lorna Doone

1951Movie4.7
The Seventh Victim
6.4

The Seventh Victim

1943Movie6.4
The Far Horizons
6.3

The Far Horizons

1955Movie6.3
The Window
7.0

The Window

1949Movie7.0
The Boy with Green Hair
6.2

The Boy with Green Hair

1948Movie6.2
Meet the Governor
6.0

Meet the Governor

1955Movie6.0
7th Cavalry
6.1

7th Cavalry

1956Movie6.1
Government Girl
5.7

Government Girl

1943Movie5.7
Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception
6.8

Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception

1990Movie6.8
The Clay Pigeon
5.7

The Clay Pigeon

1949Movie5.7
Lady Luck
5.6

Lady Luck

1946Movie5.6
Perry Mason Returns
7.2

Perry Mason Returns

1985Movie7.2
Jolson Sings Again
6.4

Jolson Sings Again

1949Movie6.4
Unchained
7.0

Unchained

1955Movie7.0
Last of the Comanches
6.2

Last of the Comanches

1953Movie6.2
The Lone Hand
5.7

The Lone Hand

1953Movie5.7
Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal
7.2

Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal

1993Movie7.2
Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam
6.8

Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam

1987Movie6.8
Gildersleeve's Bad Day
6.6

Gildersleeve's Bad Day

1943Movie6.6
The Young Runaways
7.0

The Young Runaways

1978Movie7.0
Around the World
6.3

Around the World

1943Movie6.3
Seminole
5.6

Seminole

1953Movie5.6
The Red, White, and Black
10.0

The Red, White, and Black

1970Movie10.0
Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel
7.4

Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel

1987Movie7.4
Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride
7.8

Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride

1992Movie7.8
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion
7.3

Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion

1991Movie7.3
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake
6.9

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake

1988Movie6.9
Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin
7.3

Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin

1991Movie7.3
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder
6.5

Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder

1989Movie6.5
A Likely Story
4.8

A Likely Story

1947Movie4.8
The Iron Major
5.7

The Iron Major

1943Movie5.7
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing
6.9

Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing

1992Movie6.9
The Jackpot
7.0

The Jackpot

1950Movie7.0
West of the Pecos
4.6

West of the Pecos

1945Movie4.6
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson
7.0

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson

1989Movie7.0
Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter
6.5

Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter

1991Movie6.5
Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star
7.2

Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star

1986Movie7.2
Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter
7.1

Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter

1990Movie7.1
Buckskin
5.5

Buckskin

1968Movie5.5
Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun
7.1

Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun

1986Movie7.1
Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor
6.4

Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

1994Movie6.4
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
6.7

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

1991Movie6.7
Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin
6.6

Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin

1989Movie6.6
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle
7.5

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle

1994Movie7.5
Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit
7.6

Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit

1987Movie7.6
First Yank into Tokyo
6.0

First Yank into Tokyo

1945Movie6.0
Higher and Higher
6.3

Higher and Higher

1943Movie6.3
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
7.5

Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer

1990Movie7.5
The Falcon Out West
5.3

The Falcon Out West

1944Movie5.3
The First Time
7.5

The First Time

1952Movie7.5
Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen
7.1

Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen

1990Movie7.1
Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host
7.2

Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host

1993Movie7.2
A Lion Is in the Streets
5.4

A Lion Is in the Streets

1953Movie5.4
The Falcon in Hollywood
6.2

The Falcon in Hollywood

1944Movie6.2
Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo
7.2

Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo

1992Movie7.2
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love
7.5

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love

1987Movie7.5
Heavenly Days
8.0

Heavenly Days

1944Movie8.0
The Houston Story
6.0

The Houston Story

1956Movie6.0
Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace
7.1

Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace

1988Movie7.1
And Baby Makes Three
5.1

And Baby Makes Three

1949Movie5.1
Desert Hell
9.0

Desert Hell

1958Movie9.0
Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss
7.5

Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss

1993Movie7.5
Slim Carter
8.0

Slim Carter

1957Movie8.0
Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester
7.4

Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester

1995Movie7.4
Perry Mason: The Case of the Wicked Wives
6.9

Perry Mason: The Case of the Wicked Wives

1993Movie6.9
Prunes and Politics
7.5

Prunes and Politics

1944Movie7.5
Goin' to Town
9.0

Goin' to Town

1944Movie9.0
Emergency Wedding
6.0

Emergency Wedding

1950Movie6.0
The Country Husband

The Country Husband

1956Movie
The Flight of the Grey Wolf
7.5

The Flight of the Grey Wolf

1976Movie7.5
Chester, Yesterday’s Horse

Chester, Yesterday’s Horse

1973Movie

TV Shows (16)

Perry Mason
7.7

Perry Mason

1957Series7.7
Lassie
6.3

Lassie

1954Series6.3
Adam-12
7.1

Adam-12

1968Series7.1
Climax!
3.8

Climax!

1954Series3.8
Marcus Welby, M.D.
6.6

Marcus Welby, M.D.

1969Series6.6
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
The Millionaire
5.8

The Millionaire

1955Series5.8
The Doris Day Show
6.2

The Doris Day Show

1968Series6.2
Studio 57
7.5

Studio 57

1954Series7.5
The Ford Television Theatre
7.8

The Ford Television Theatre

1952Series7.8
Screen Director's Playhouse
7.0

Screen Director's Playhouse

1955Series7.0
The Wonderful World of Disney
7.9

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954Series7.9
Perry Mason Returns
7.5

Perry Mason Returns

1985Series7.5
Letter to Loretta
6.6

Letter to Loretta

1953Series6.6
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2