William Hopper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Hopper
Hopper in 1934
Born	William DeWolf Hopper Jr. (1915-01-26)January 26, 1915 New York City, U.S.
Died	March 6, 1970(1970-03-06) (aged 55) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Resting place	Rose Hills Memorial Park
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1916; 1934–1970
Spouse(s)	Jane Gilbert ​ ​ (m. 1940, divorced)​ Jan Hopper
Children	1
Parent(s)	DeWolf Hopper Hedda Hopper

William DeWolf Hopper Jr. (born January 26, 1915 – died March 6, 1970) was an American actor. He performed on stage, in movies, and on television. William was the only child of two famous actors: DeWolf Hopper and Hedda Hopper. His mother later became a well-known Hollywood writer.

William Hopper appeared in over 80 movies during the 1930s and 1940s. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he took a break from acting. However, director William Wellman convinced him to return to films in the 1950s. William Hopper is most famous for playing the private detective Paul Drake in the TV show Perry Mason.

William Hopper's Early Life

William DeWolf Hopper Jr. was born on January 26, 1915, in New York City. His father, DeWolf Hopper, was an actor, singer, comedian, and theater producer. His mother, Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry), was also an actress. William was their only child together. He had an older half-brother from his father's earlier marriage.

William first appeared in a movie as a baby! This was in his father's silent film Sunshine Dad in 1916. His parents divorced in 1922. After that, his mother took William to live in Hollywood. Hedda Hopper later became a very influential writer for newspapers, sharing news and gossip about Hollywood stars. She had almost 30 million readers across the U.S.

William Hopper and Gail Patrick in a 1936 fashion photo. Years later, Hopper played Paul Drake and Patrick was an executive producer for Perry Mason.

William Hopper and Raymond Burr in a 1959 Perry Mason episode.

Guest star Bette Davis with William Hopper in Perry Mason (1963).

Becoming an Actor

William Hopper started his acting journey as a teenager. His first stage role was at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. He also worked in summer plays in Ogunquit, Maine. He appeared on Broadway in a play called Order Please (1934). He was also part of the cast in Katharine Cornell's production of Romeo and Juliet (1934–35).

In 1936, Hopper signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. In his early movies, he was sometimes called Wolfe Hopper or DeWolf Hopper. He appeared in films like The King Steps Out (1936) and Public Wedding (1937). Other movies included Over the Goal (1937) and Mystery House (1938).

Some of Hopper's well-known early film roles were in Stagecoach (1939), The Return of Dr. X (1939), Knute Rockne, All American (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), and Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942).

William Hopper once said he became an actor because his mother wanted him to. He mentioned feeling very nervous when he worked at Warner Bros., saying he "stuttered all the time."

Serving His Country

During World War II, William Hopper joined the United States Navy. He volunteered for the Office of Strategic Services and became part of the new Underwater Demolition Team. These teams were special forces who prepared beaches for invasions. He earned a Bronze Star and other medals for his bravery in the Pacific Ocean.

After the war, William took an eight-year break from acting. He went into business, selling cars in Hollywood. However, with the rise of television, new acting chances came up. A friend, director Bill Wellman, asked him to be in a movie called The High and the Mighty. This led William back to acting.

His Big Break: Perry Mason

In 1953, director William Wellman convinced Hopper to return to movies. His first film back was The High and the Mighty (1954). William was nervous at first. He even asked Wellman if he knew whose son he was, thinking his famous mother might have arranged the role. But Wellman was serious about his acting talent.

Hopper later appeared in two more of Wellman's films: Track of the Cat (1954) and Good-bye, My Lady (1956). He also acted in a live TV show called "No Sad Songs for Me" in 1955. He was so scared he almost canceled, but then he decided to go for it. He felt a change on set, as if his nerves disappeared.

After this, William Hopper felt much more comfortable acting. He played the strict father of Natalie Wood in the classic film Rebel Without a Cause (1955). He also played a father in The Bad Seed (1956). He starred in science-fiction movies like 20 Million Miles to Earth and The Deadly Mantis, both released in 1957.

In 1956, Hopper appeared as a guest star on the Western TV series Gunsmoke. He played an outlaw in an episode called "Robin Hood." He also appeared in other TV shows like The Joseph Cotten Show and The Millionaire.

Playing Paul Drake

William Hopper is most famous for his main role as Paul Drake. Paul Drake was the private investigator on the CBS courtroom TV series Perry Mason. This show ran from 1957 to 1966.

Interestingly, Hopper first tried out for the main role of Perry Mason. Raymond Burr, who became Perry Mason, originally read for the part of the district attorney. But the producers saw something special in both actors.

Executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson remembered that when Hopper came to read for Paul Drake, he said, "You hate my mother." He was talking about Hedda Hopper. Gail Patrick Jackson explained that while she didn't like some of Hedda's views, she didn't "hate" her. She added that William was "perfect as Drake."

As Paul Drake, William Hopper had to be very flexible in his acting. He played a careful investigator, a tough guy, and sometimes even provided funny moments for the show. He played all these different parts very well and made them believable. His performances often made good episodes even better.

In a 1959 episode called "The Case of Paul Drake's Dilemma," Hopper's character, Paul Drake, was actually on trial for murder!

Even while working on Perry Mason, Hopper continued to act in summer plays and make movie appearances. After Perry Mason ended in 1966, he turned down other TV offers. His very last film role was in Myra Breckinridge (1970). This movie came out three months after he passed away.

Awards and Recognition

In 1959, William Hopper was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was for Best Supporting Actor in a TV drama. He was recognized for his great performance as Paul Drake in Perry Mason.

Personal Life

In 1940, William Hopper married actress Jane Gilbert. They had worked together on the 1939 film Invisible Stripes. William and Jane had one daughter named Joan.

In 1962, a magazine reported that Hopper and Gilbert had separated. They later divorced. William then married Jeanette Juanita Ward. They stayed together until he died.

His Final Years

William Hopper went to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs, California, on February 14, 1970. He had suffered a stroke. He passed away three weeks later, on March 6, at the age of 55. He was buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Broadway Shows

• 1934: Order Please, Playhouse Theatre (as Victor Neilson)
• 1934–35: Romeo and Juliet, Martin Beck Theatre (Ensemble)

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows