<P> William DeWolf Hopper Jr . ( January 26 , 1915 -- 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 in television , as private detective Paul Drake in the long - running CBS series , Perry Mason . </P>
<P> William DeWolf Hopper Jr . ( January 26 , 1915 -- 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 in television , as private detective Paul Drake in the long - running CBS series , Perry Mason . </P>
who played paul drake on perry mason show
who played paul drake on perry mason show
William DeWolf Hopper Jr .
William DeWolf Hopper Jr .