Barbara Hale

Born: 1922-04-18

Barbara Hale is 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 later reprising the role 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).


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The Window

as Mary Woodry
Released: 1949-05-10

An imaginative boy who frequently makes things up witnesses a murder, but can't get his parents...

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as Mrs. Barlow
Released: 1978-05-26

Three 1960s California surfers fool around, drift apart and reunite years later to ride epic waves.

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Don't See

Airport

as Sarah Demerest
Released: 1970-03-25

Melodrama about a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various...

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The Seventh Victim

as Subway Passenger (Uncredited)
Released: 1943-08-21

A woman in search of her missing sister uncovers a Satanic cult in New York's Greenwich Village...

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Last of the Comanches

as Julia Lanning
Released: 1953-02-01

It's 1876 and all the Indians are at peace except the Comanches lead by Black Cloud. When Black...

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7th Cavalry

as Martha Kellogg
Released: 1956-12-01

An officer accused of cowardice volunteers to bring back General Custers's body after Little Big...

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The Giant Spider Invasion

as Dr. Jenny Langer
Released: 1975-10-01

A black hole hits North Wisconsin and opens a door to other dimensions. Giant 15 meter spiders...

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The Lone Hand

as Sarah Jane Skaggs
Released: 1953-05-20

Zachary Hallock and his son Joshua are farmers who live in a frontier town that suffers the...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride

as Della Street
Released: 1992-10-30

Perry Mason is invited to the marriage of the daughter of an old friend of his. But after the...

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The Boy with Green Hair

as Miss Brand
Released: 1948-11-26

Peter, an orphaned boy, is adopted by Gramp Frye after his parents are killed in Europe while...

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Around the World

as Barbara Hale
Released: 1943-11-27

Bandleader Kay Kyser takes his troupe of nutty musicians, goofball comics and pretty girl...

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The Far Horizons

as Julia Hancock
Released: 1955-07-04

Virginia, 1803. After the United States of America acquires the inmense Louisiana territory from...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter

as Della Street
Released: 1990-09-30

A young woman from Las Vegas wants Perry Mason to defend her father.

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Higher and Higher

as Katherine
Released: 1943-12-31

A valet to a bankrupt millionaire plans to rebuild his boss's fortune by passing a scullery maid...

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And Baby Makes Three

as Jacqueline 'Jackie' Walsh
Released: 1949-12-02

A recently divorced couple see things differently after learning they are going to be parents.

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Seminole

as Revere
Released: 1953-03-20

Lance Caldwell, a cavalry lieutenant, recounts his efforts to make peace with the Seminole...

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Perry Mason Returns

as Della Street
Released: 1985-12-01

When his former secretary is accused of a murder, Perry Mason gives up a judgeship to defend her.

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin

as Della Street
Released: 1991-05-14

David Katz is a world famous magician and he comes to Denver with his group to perform for a...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake

as Della Street
Released: 1988-05-15

A woman suddenly disappears after an early morning walk, and her husband is accused of murder.

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal

as Della Street
Released: 1993-02-19

The owner of a cosmetics company is unveiling a new cream which she claims she's been using....

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing

as Della Street
Released: 1992-03-01

A painter, believed to be dead, returns to make allegations that a gallery owner is selling...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit

as Della Street
Released: 1987-05-24

Jordan White, a publisher friend of Perry, is called to a hotel where a guest, famous horror...

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Prunes and Politics

as Miss Barlow
Released: 1944-01-07

Edgar is running for county supervisor against his mother-in-law. Edgar, whose campaign is going...

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Slim Carter

as Allie Hanneman
Released: 1957-11-01

Hughie Mack, a not so nice western singer, is discovered by Clover Doyle as the next movie...

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Buckskin

as Sarah Cody
Released: 1968-05-01

A Montana marshal fights a land baron out to parch homesteaders with a spite dam.

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Government Girl

as Girl in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Released: 1943-11-05

An aviation engineer and a government secretary are thrown together by the war effort.

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First Yank into Tokyo

as Abby Drake
Released: 1945-09-05

A U.S. pilot undergoes plastic surgery and drops into Japan to get a captive scientist's (Marc...

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The Oklahoman

as Anne
Released: 1957-05-19

After his wife dies in childbirth, a doctor settles down in the small Oklahoma town of Cherokee...

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The Iron Major

as Sarah Cavanaugh
Released: 1943-10-31

William 'Frank' Cavanaugh is a top football coach who gave up his career to enter WWI where he...

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The Falcon in Hollywood

as Peggy Callahan
Released: 1944-12-08

Suave amateur detective Tom Lawrence--aka Michael Arlen's literary hero The Falcon--arrives in...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace

as Della Street
Released: 1988-02-28

Mason defends a man he had sentenced to prison when he was an appellate-court judge. Now, 18...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss

as Della Street
Released: 1993-11-29

On the set of a popular daytime soap opera 'Mile High', actress Kris Buckner is being forced off...

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A Lion Is in the Streets

as Verity Wade
Released: 1953-09-23

A charismatic peddler from the Bayous finds his true calling in politics. Is he a demagogue in...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle

as Della Street
Released: 1994-05-10

A former associate of Perry Mason returns to handle the defense of a world-class chess player...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

as Della Street
Released: 1991-02-11

A gangster who has commited all kinds of crimes is accused to have killed his wife. As he was...

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Lorna Doone

as Lorna Doone
Released: 1951-05-31

An English farmer leads a village uprising against their corrupt landlords.

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester

as Della Street
Released: 1995-04-10

Attorney Bill McKenzie takes the case when his niece is framed for the murder of a popular and...

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Unchained

as Mary Davitt
Released: 1955-08-25

This fact-based prison drama tells the tale of a band of prisoners living in the innovative...

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The First Time

as Betsey Bennett
Released: 1952-01-31

A married couple welcomes their first child.

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen

as Della Street
Released: 1990-01-21

The chief suspects in the murder of an author are the numerous colleagues whom he continuously...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception

as Della Street
Released: 1990-03-11

Perry Mason ventures to Paris to defend a U.S. Marine Corps Captain accused of murdering a man...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson

as Della Street
Released: 1989-02-12

Ken Malansky, a law student of Perry Mason's, is accused of murdering a fellow student. Perry is...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun

as Della Street
Released: 1986-05-29

A priest is murdered and the main suspect is a nun.

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Jolson Sings Again

as Ellen Clark
Released: 1949-08-17

In this sequel to The Jolson Story, we pick up the singer's career just as he has returned to...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder

as Della Street
Released: 1989-04-09

A young theatre director is accused of killing a more famous Broadway director. Perry takes his...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love

as Della Street
Released: 1987-02-23

Perry must defend the husband of an old flame from a murder charge.

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Wicked Wives

as Della Street
Released: 1993-12-17

Anthony Caruso, an old friend of Perry Mason, comes to Denver on the request of Dee Morrison....

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The Jackpot

as Amy Lawrence
Released: 1950-11-01

Bill Lawrence wins a bevy or prizes from a radio program, but ends up having to sell them all in...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam

as Della Street
Released: 1987-10-04

Perry investigates the murder of a former madam and uncovers a multimillion dollar banking fraud...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host

as Della Street
Released: 1993-05-21

Dr Sheila Carlin is good friends with Della who calls Perry in when she is being pestered by...

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Gildersleeve's Bad Day

as Girl seeking donations from Gildersleeve
Released: 1943-05-10

Gildersleeve has jury duty.

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Lady Luck

as Mary Audrey
Released: 1946-10-30

A woman marries a gambler with the hopes of reforming him, but things don't quite work out the...

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West of the Pecos

as Rill Lambeth
Released: 1945-08-10

Heading west for his health, Colonel Lambeth takes his daughter Rill along. Lost on the desert...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter

as Della Street
Released: 1991-01-06

Perry is at TV station "KGGY" to be interviewed but thanks to the interference of main...

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The Young Runaways

as Mrs. Ogle
Released: 1978-05-28

Heartless parents C.L. Doyle and his wife take two of their older children, Rosebud & Joseph T....

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Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin

as Della Street
Released: 1989-11-09

A hockey player of friend of Ken Malansky's is accused of murdering a team owner. Perry takes...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer

as Della Street
Released: 1990-05-20

Perry Mason defends the husband of a famous rock singer who was found being killed after having...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor

as Della Street
Released: 1994-11-09

The alleged suicide of a gubernatorial candidate triggers a series of mysterious deaths leading...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion

as Della Street
Released: 1991-09-24

Della's friend is accused of murdering a rival fashion magazine editor.

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The Clay Pigeon

as Martha Gregory
Released: 1949-03-03

Jim Fletcher, waking up from a coma, finds he is to be given a court martial for treason and...

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The Falcon Out West

as Marion Colby
Released: 1944-03-17

When a Texas playboy is murdered in a New York City nightclub the Falcon investigates. When he...

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The Houston Story

as Zoe Crane
Released: 1956-02-01

A Texas oil driller schemes to steal millions of dollars in oil.

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Emergency Wedding

as Dr. Helen Hunt
Released: 1950-11-15

Dr. Helen Hunt is a physician married to millionaire Peter Judson Kirk Jr., who is jealous his...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star

as Della Street
Released: 1986-11-08

An actor rigs a fake shooting on TV with the connivance of his friend, the show's host, but the...

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo

as Della Street
Released: 1992-05-05

Sleazy talk show host Ted Mayne writes a tell-all book, which enrages and embarrasses several...

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Heavenly Days

as Angie
Released: 1944-10-20

Fibber McGee and Molly innocently get mixed up with the federal government.

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel

as Della Street
Released: 1987-11-15

Perry is suing a gutter trash newspaper that is running a story about a love affair between him...

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Goin' to Town

as Patty
Released: 1944-09-01

General store owners, through a series of contrivances, end up on the better side of a practical...

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A Likely Story

as Vicki
Released: 1947-04-18

A shell-shocked young GI mistakenly believes he is dying, and a young artist takes it upon...

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The Red, White, and Black

as Mrs. Alice Grierson
Released: 1970-12-16

Told by a U.S. Army colonel and his wife, this vintage Western set in post-Civil War Texas...

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Desert Hell

as Celie Edwards
Released: 1958-06-25

This melodrama tells the tale of a great battle between the French Foreign Legion and the...

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Chester, Yesterday’s Horse

as Mrs. Belle Kincaid
Released: 1973-03-04

It's about the faith of a fourteen-year-old boy in the family Belgian draft horse named Chester...

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The Flight of the Grey Wolf

as Mrs Hanson
Released: 1976-03-14

A youth (Russ Hanson) attempts to re-introduce a domesticated wolf to the wild.

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Perry Mason

as Della Street
First aired: 1957-09-21

The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most...

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Lassie

as uncredited
First aired: 1954-09-12

Lassie is the pet of Jeff Miller, an 11-year-old farm boy. The two become best friends and enjoy...

TV Show page

Adam-12

as Bonnie Jessup
First aired: 1968-09-21

Adam-12 is a television police drama that followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police...

TV Show page

Climax!

as Mamie Eunson
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

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Marcus Welby, M.D.

as Marjorie Brandon
First aired: 1969-09-23

Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from...

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The Millionaire

as Kathy Munson / Marian Munson
First aired: 1955-01-19

An anthology series that explored the ways sudden and unexpected wealth changed life for better...

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Studio 57

as Ruth
First aired: 1954-09-21

Studio 57 is an American anthology series that was broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont...

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The Doris Day Show

as Thelma King
First aired: 1968-09-24

The Doris Day Show is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from...

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Dinah!

as Self
First aired: 1974-10-21

Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started...

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The Ford Television Theatre

as Marta Linden
First aired: 1952-10-02

This show started in New York City, with Broadway actors and actresses. It then moved to...

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The Ford Television Theatre

as Katherine Charles
First aired: 1952-10-02

This show started in New York City, with Broadway actors and actresses. It then moved to...

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The Wonderful World of Disney

as Mrs. Ogle
First aired: 1954-10-27

Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...

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Screen Director's Playhouse

as June Waters
First aired: 1955-10-05

Presented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed...

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Letter to Loretta

as Mrs. Strawn
First aired: 1953-09-20

Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to...

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General Electric Theater

as Ellen Newman
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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General Electric Theater

as Lorraine
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Ginny Morgan
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as uncredited
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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