The role of investigator Paul Drake, played by the deceased William Hopper, was reworked as Paul Drake, Jr., and Hale's real-life son, William Katt, took the part. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. [2] In 2010 during season 6, Katt guest starred as C.J. Katt starred in the 1989 TV series Top of the Hill and made a guest appearance on the first episode of the short-lived 1991 series Good Sports. Perry Mason Old Movie Stars Classic Movie Stars Vintage Tv Vintage Hollywood Mystery Theater Jackie Gleason Raymond Burr Blue Eyed Men Barbara Hale/Della Street with son William Katt, "Perry Mason Returns" Barbara Hale with son William Katt … William Katt was born in Los Angeles, California, USA as William Theodore Katt. Katt explained in a 1979 interview with critic Roger Ebert that he was holding out only for parts that were personally interesting to him. Raymond Burr starred as Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason, a character created by American author and attorney Erle Stanley Gardner. Katt briefly appeared in Heroes season 3 in "The Butterfly Effect" as a nosy reporter investigating Ali Larter's character. William Theodore Katt (born February 16, 1951) is an American film and television actor, best known as the star of The Greatest American Hero. Katt attended Orange Coast College before pursuing a career as a musician. After the 1988 Movie, “The Lady in the Lake,” William Katt departed the cast and Paul Drake, Jr. was replaced by lawyer Ken Malansky, played by William Moses. Katt also worked on the scripts of several of these latter-day Masons. Apr 20, 2014 - Barbara Hale/Della Street with son William Katt, "Perry Mason Returns" Ken Malansky: The change from Drake to Malansky seemed to recapture some of the old Perry Mason Magic. [2] Because of lower production costs, many of the later TV movies were filmed and set in Denver, Colorado rather than Mason's traditional locale of Los Angeles. He won his best remembered role that year, however, as Ralph Hinkley, a mild-mannered schoolteacher given a superpowered suit by aliens on the popular television series The Greatest American Hero, a role he played until the show was canceled in 1983. Katt starred in the 1989 TV series Top of the Hill and made a guest appearance on the first episode of the short-lived 1991 series Good Sports. In the first telefilm, Perry Mason Returns, Mason is an appellate court judge who resigns his position to successfully defend his secretary Della on murder charges. Perry Mason is one of the most popular and enduring television series of all time, and one of the most influential on the format of most every legal-based show that followed. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), along with associates Della Street (Barbara Hale), Paul Drake, Jr. (William Katt) and Ken Malansky (William R. Moses), investigates all manner of mysteries to clear the names of the innocent and bring justice to the guilty. His mother is Barbara Hale, who played Della Street for 10 years on the Perry Mason series. He played the part of Nick Calder in five episodes. Beginning in 1987, Katt played the recurring role of detective Paul Drake Jr. in the periodic Perry Mason TV movies, co-starring with his mother Barbara Hale, who resumed her "Della Street" characterization from the original 1961-66 Mason run. Katt also worked on the scripts of several of these latter-day Masons. William Theodore Katt (born February 16, ... Katt co-starred with his mother Barbara Hale, who reprised her role of Della Street from the Perry Mason television series. Sep 13, 2013 - Barbara Hale/Della Street with son William Katt, "Perry Mason Returns" Malansky's character is introduced in The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989), as a law student who is defended by Mason on a murder charge.[1]:40151. After Burr died in 1993, Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook starred in the final four telefilms from 1993 to 1995. In 2014, he appeared in The Unwanted. Tonight, NBC airs the last Perry Mason movie Raymond Burr ever made, The Case of the Killer Kiss. He is also known for playing Tommy Ross, the ill-fated prom date of Carrie White in the film version of Carrie and Paul Drake Jr. in the Perry Mason TV movies. In 1982, due to the success of the first season of The Greatest American Hero, Katt signed to MCA and released a soft rock album, Secret Smiles under the name Billy Katt. Perry Mason Returns (1985) When his former secretary Della Street is accused of murder, Perry Mason gives up a judgeship to defend her. - William Katt William Theodore Katt was born on February 16, 1951 in Los Angeles, California, the son of prominent actors. For his father William Herman Katt, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "San Diego Comic-Con 2010: Exclusive Trailer Debut – Mirrors 2", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Katt&oldid=993319556, BLP articles lacking sources from March 2013, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 December 2020, at 00:30. In 1978, he appeared as Barlow, a young surfer, in the John Milius drama film Big Wednesday opposite Jan-Michael Vincent and Gary Busey. Directed by Ron Satlof. TV classics: Perry Mason TV movies USA 1985-95, 30 episodes, 90 minutes each, NBC. To save her, Mason must deal with an uncooperative wife, cynical family members, and a scheming family lawyer. [6], All 30 Perry Mason television films are available on Region 1 DVD. Payne's musician birth-father in the episode "Who's Your Daddy Now?" He first became known for playing Tommy Ross, the ill-fated prom date of Carrie White in the original film version of Carrie (1976) and subsequently starred in films such as First Love (1977), Big Wednesday (1978) and Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979). Following Burr's death in 1993, Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook starred in the remaining four television films that aired from 1993 to 1995, playing lawyers Anthony Caruso and "Wild Bill" McKenzie respectively. In 2013, Katt played himself in the spoof film Paranormal Movie directed by Kevin Farley. He is an actor and director, known for Big Wednesday (1978), The Greatest American Hero (1981), Carrie (1976) and The Man from Earth (2007). He appeared in an episode of House in 2006. Between 1985 and 1988, he starred in nine Perry Mason television films alongside his mother Barbara Hale, who reprised her role as Della Street from the television series Perry Mason. [1] He graduated from Army & Navy Academy, Carlsbad, California. Hargrove had the inspiration to cast Hale’s real-life son, William Katt (best known for The Greatest American Hero) as Paul Drake Jr., carrying on his dad’s role as Mason’s right-hand man. Inspired by his father, he then started an acting career, appearing in summer stock theatre and in small television roles. When Gardner created his fictional attorney, he borrowed the name of the company which published his favorite childhood magazine.Gardner provided more information about Mason's character in the earlier novels; knowledge … To defend her, Perry Mason resigns from his position as an appellate judge and becomes a defense attorney again. Katt married Deborah Kahane in 1979 and they have two sons, Clayton and Emerson. Beginning in 1987, Katt played the recurring role of detective Paul Drake Jr. in the periodic Perry Mason TV movies, co-starring with his mother Barbara Hale, who resumed her "Della Street" characterization from the original 1961-66 Mason run. He is the son of actress Barbara Hale and actor Bill Williams. First appearance of William Katt as Paul Drake, Jr. Perry Mason Returns, the first television film in the series, was the second-highest-rated TV movie in American television during the 1985–86 season. Of course William was very gracious and said the other actor was just as good. Hale said that continuing the series was suggested by Burr. With the help of private investigator Paul Drake Jr. (William Katt), the son of another Mason colleague, Perry closes in on the real killer. Between 1985 and 1988, Katt starred in nine Perry Mason television films, playing the role of private detective Paul Drake Jr., son of Paul Drake, a fictional private detective in the Perry Mason television series and the Perry Mason series of detective stories written by Erle Stanley Gardner; Katt co-starred with his mother Barbara Hale, who reprised her role of Della Street from the Perry Mason television series. Q Why wasn't William Katt on the last Perry Mason TV movie? When his former secretary Della Street is accused of murder, Perry Mason … The following year he took the role of Sundance Kid in the 1979 film Butch and Sundance: The Early Days. [4], He married Danielle Hirsch in 1993 and has a daughter with her, Dakota, as well as a stepson, Andrew. In 1981, Katt was cast as the title role in a filmed version of the Broadway musical comedy Pippin, which received mixed reviews. But the caller did point out that it seemed like Katt's Paul Drake Jr. character got knocked around a lot more, lol. Della Street, who is now the secretary of a wealthy businessman, is framed for her boss' murder. Although located in Colorado, a courtroom wall shown at the end of the opening title sequence bears a Seal of Los Angeles County, California plaque. In recent years, he has returned to genre work, with appearances in Andromeda and Justice League and roles in the award-winning film Gamers (2006), The Man from Earth (2007), and Alien vs Hunter (2007). William Katt, Hale's own son, was cast as private investigator Paul Drake, Jr., the son of … William Katt , Hale's son, was cast as Paul Drake, Jr. William Hopper , who played private investigator Paul Drake in the original TV series, had died years earlier; Hopper's photograph appears on Paul Drake Jr.'s desk. They divorced in 1992. His mother in that film was his real-life mother, Barbara Hale. I do think it's a sweet memorial."[4]. The Ken Malansky era was the one I grew up watching, but Malansky wasn’t all these other films had to offer. Burr, a hefty man of legendary constitution, probably should not … Perry Mason, the judge, steps down from the bench to take his dearest friend Della Street's case when she is accused of murdering her boss. William Hopper, who played Drake, died in 1970; his photograph appears on Paul Drake Jr.'s desk. Among the few actors to appear in major recurring roles were David Ogden Stiers as District Attorney Michael Reston (1986–1988), James McEachin as police Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Ed Brock (1986-1995), and Alexandra Paul as Ken Malansky's girlfriend Amy Hastings (1989). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Perry Mason Returns DVD Region 2 Raymond Burr Barbara Hale William Katt Regreso at the best … Both Barbara Hale and William R. Moses reprised their roles for all four films, although in the final film in 1995, Hale contributed only a small cameo with Holland Taylor substituting for her. William Katt, who acts under his father’s original last name, is the son of actor Bill Williams and actress Barbara Hale. Katt also has written a Greatest American Hero comic book and contributed to that series' Facebook page.[3]. Their characters are introduced as both lawyers and close friends of Mason, who is ostensibly out of town. After The Greatest American Hero, Katt starred in Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985), about explorers searching for apatosaurs in Africa, and the cult horror/comedy film House (1986); he later reprised his role for the third sequel, House IV, in 1992. In 2020, he appeared in The 2nd. The original Perry Mason television series was broadcast on CBS television from 1957 to 1966. They were released in five six-film sets that were initially available exclusively through Amazon.com. William Theodore Katt (born February 16, 1951) is an American film and television actor, voice artist and musician best known as the star of the television series The Greatest American Hero. A total of 30 movies were made between 1985 and 1995, with Burr starring in 26. It's the show that will keep going, but not the character. Television producer Dean Hargrove resurrected the Perry Mason character in a series of television films for NBC beginning in 1985. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley and began acting as a teenager, sometimes appearing with his parents. "Raymond was so concerned that the crew keep working—we'd been with same crew for six years. William Katt as Paul Drake Jr., Barbara Hale as Della Street, Raymond Burr as Perry Mason -- Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. And I won’t deny there’s some Hollywood nepotism involved in his career; while his character on the Perry Mason Movies was the son of William Hopper’s Paul Drake, it’s quite clear he got the job because he was actually the son of Barbara Hale. With Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Katt, Holland Taylor. Katt was born in Los Angeles to actors Bill Williams (birth name Herman August Wilhelm Katt) and Barbara Hale. He has been replaced by William R. Moses as Ken Malansky, Perry Mason's … Fred Steiner's theme music was re-recorded by composer Dick DeBenedictis; Steiner himself arranged the theme at DeBenedictis's request.[3]. These four films were presented as A Perry Mason Mystery, with Sorvino starring as Anthony Caruso in the first film and Holbrook starring as Bill "Wild Bill" McKenzie in the remaining three. Hale appeared in "Perry Mason" on CBS from 1957 to 1966, winning an Emmy as best actress in 1959. In December 1975, Katt auditioned for the part of Luke Skywalker in 1977's science fiction blockbuster Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and footage of his audition has been featured in many Star Wars documentaries. In the first telefilm, Perry Mason Returns, Mason resigns his position as an appellate court judge to defend Street on a murder charge. The name "Perry Mason" dates to creator Gardner's childhood. Also starring veteran actor Robert Culp, the show retains a cult fanbase. Reruns air every day in the United States and around the world, keeping the series front and center over fifty years after it ended in 1966. PERRY MASON -- Perry Mason Returns -- Pictured: (l-r) William Katt as Paul Drake Jr., Barbara Hale as Della Street -- (Photo by: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) Its theme song, "Believe It or Not", penned by Mike Post, also became a hit in the music charts. After a hiatus of nearly 20 years, Raymond Burr reprised his role as Los Angeles defense attorney Mason in 26 of the television films. William Katt, Hale's own son, was cast as private investigator Paul Drake, Jr., the son of original series’ private investigator Paul Drake. Katt appeared in the first nine movies. He portrayed Jack Matheson in the thriller film, Mirrors 2. On June 7, 2016, the first four movie collections were given general retail release. And his father is Bill Williams (real name also William Katt) who was a star of the 1940s, went into real estate, and still turns up regularly on Police Woman. In the later TV movies, Mason utilizes the services of Ken Malansky (William R. Moses), an attorney who works with him as a private investigator. in the Tyler Perry comedy House of Payne. [5], This article is about William Theodore Katt, born 1951. The role in Big Wednesday made him so well known in the surfing community that in 2004 he presented one of the Association of Surfing Professionals awards at their annual World Championship Tour ceremony to wild applause from the crowd of professional surfers. In 1985 she and Burr were reunited for a television movie, Perry Mason Returns, which won such high ratings that it led to 29 more TV movies starring the same characters. He has been married to Danielle Hirsch since April 10, 1993. Katt continues to appear on television and in supporting film roles, and does voice acting as well. In 1991, Willaim Katt had a recurring role in the short-lived comedy, Good Sports, starring Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal as sports anchors. As a child, Gardner was a reader of the magazine Youth's Companion. He felt we must keep going as long as the audience was as kind to us as they are. [8], "Perry Mason (1985–1993), The Perry Mason Mystery (1993–1995)", "Raymond Burr, Actor, 76, Dies; Played Perry Mason and Ironside", "Perry Mason – Wide Releases for Movie Collections 1–4, and for Double Features 13–15", "Perry Mason – Movie Collection Volume 1", "Perry Mason – Movie Collection Volume 2", "Perry Mason – Movie Collection Volume 3", "Perry Mason – Movie Collection Volume 4", "Perry Mason – Movie Collection Volume 5", "Perry Mason: The Complete Movie Collection", Perry Mason: The Case of the Mandarin Murder, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perry_Mason_(TV_film_series)&oldid=999759500, Television articles using incorrect infobox, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Intermedia Entertainment Company (1985–86), This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 20:39. By the time Perry Mason returned … Budgeted at $3 million, Perry Mason Returns was filmed in Toronto, standing in for Los Angeles to save production costs. A series of 30 Perry Mason television films aired on NBC from 1985 to 1995 as sequels to the CBS TV series Perry Mason. A Katt has left to pursue a movie career. Buy Perry Mason Returns - El Regreso De Perry Mason (6 DVD) from Amazon's Movies Store. An earring, torn fabric from a muddy dress, a wig, $500,000, and more make an almost perfect frame. These new Mason movies also starred William Katt, who played Paul Drake, Jr., the son of the character made famous by William Hopper on the original series. His father, ... the first of which was Perry Mason Returns (1985). His earliest film credits include the role of a jock, Tommy Ross in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film adaptation Carrie, which allowed Katt to make a name for himself. He was seriously considered for the role, which went to Mark Hamill, and Katt instead starred that year in First Love, playing a college student who experiences his first romantic relationship. Rating: TVPG Stars: Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Katt Back to the Perry Mason TV Movie Library Sep 11, 2013 - Barbara Hale/Della Street with son William Katt "Perry Mason Returns" This collection contains all 30 Perry Mason movies in one set. Was just listening to a podcast interview with William Katt on iTunes and someone called in saying they had really enjoyed him on Perry Mason, much more than the guy who replaced him, hehe. The magazine was published in Boston, Massachusetts, by the Perry Mason Company (renamed "Perry Mason & Co." after the founder died). Dean Hargrove was able to bring back the two then-surviving major stars, Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale, reprising their roles as Mason and his private secretary Della Street. Burr and Hale made 26 TV movies between 1985 and 1993; Katt stuck around for nine, and was replaced by new character Ken Malansky, played by William R. Moses. Was Perry Mason television series was suggested by Burr in supporting film roles, does... 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