Barbara Hale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Hale
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Hale in 1953
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| Born | April 18, 1922 DeKalb, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | January 26, 2017 (aged 94) Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1943–2000 |
| Known for | Perry Mason |
| Spouse(s) |
Bill Williams
(m. 1946; died 1992) |
| Children | 3; including William Katt |
Barbara Hale (born April 18, 1922 – died January 26, 2017) was an American actress. She was best known for playing the smart legal secretary Della Street. This was in the TV show Perry Mason from 1957 to 1966. For this role, she won an Emmy Award in 1959. She played Della Street again in 30 Perry Mason TV movies between 1985 and 1995.
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Growing Up
Barbara Hale was born in DeKalb, Illinois. Her parents were Wilma and Luther Ezra Hale. Her father was a landscape gardener. Barbara had one sister named Juanita.
In 1940, Barbara finished high school in Rockford, Illinois. She then went to the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. She wanted to become an artist. To pay for her art school, she started modeling in Chicago. This is how her acting career began.
Acting Career
Movies
In 1943, Barbara Hale moved to Hollywood. She signed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures. Her first movie appearance was in Gildersleeve's Bad Day. At first, her roles were small.
Her first role where she was named in the credits was with Frank Sinatra. This was in the movie Higher and Higher (1943). She even sang with him in that film!
Barbara Hale played leading roles in many movies. These included West of the Pecos (1945) with Robert Mitchum. She also starred in Lady Luck (1946). She got great reviews for her role in Jolson Sings Again (1949).
In the 1950s, she continued to make successful movies. Some of these were the adventure film Lorna Doone (1951) and the comedy The Jackpot (1951) with James Stewart. She also appeared in the drama A Lion Is in the Streets (1953) with James Cagney. Her last main role in a movie was in the Western The Oklahoman (1957).
After that, she acted in movies less often. She was in the big movie Airport (1970). Her last movie role was in the 1978 drama Big Wednesday. In this film, she played the mother of a character played by her real-life son, William Katt.
Television Shows
Barbara Hale was thinking about stopping acting. But then she got her most famous role. She became Della Street, the legal secretary, in the TV series Perry Mason. Raymond Burr starred as Perry Mason. The show ran for nine years, from 1957 to 1966. There were 271 episodes! This role helped her win an Emmy Award.
In 1985, Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr returned to their roles. They made a TV movie called Perry Mason Returns. People loved it so much that they made 29 more movies until 1995. Barbara Hale was the only actor to be in all 30 of these TV movies.
Her son, William Katt, also acted with her. He played detective Paul Drake, Jr. in nine of the Perry Mason TV movies. Barbara Hale also appeared on her son's show, The Greatest American Hero. She played his mother in an episode in 1982. She also played his mother in the 1978 movie Big Wednesday.
Barbara Hale also guest-starred in an episode of Ironside in 1971. This was Raymond Burr's next TV series after Perry Mason. Her last time on screen was in a TV show about Raymond Burr in 2000.
Radio Work
Barbara Hale did some radio work. She appeared in shows like Voice of the Army and Lux Radio Theatre. She also did five episodes of Family Theater.
Spokesperson
Barbara Hale was a spokesperson for Amana. They made Radarange microwave ovens. She was known for saying, "If it doesn't say Amana, it's not a Radarange."
Personal Life
In 1945, Barbara Hale met actor Bill Williams while filming a movie. They got married on June 22, 1946. They had two daughters, Jodi and Juanita, and a son, William Katt, who became an actor.
Barbara Hale was a follower of the Baháʼí Faith.
She passed away at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, on January 26, 2017. She was 94 years old.
Awards and Honors
Barbara Hale has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She received it on February 8, 1960. She won an Emmy Award in 1959 for her role in Perry Mason. She was also nominated for another Emmy in 1961.
In 2001, she received a Golden Boot Award. This award honors people who have contributed to Western movies.
Images for kids
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Barbara Hale in 1953
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Hale in Jolson Sings Again (1949)
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Hale and Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1958)
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Hale with William Hopper (left) and Frank Sully in Perry Mason (1958)
