<Tr> <Th> Parent (s) </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> DeWolf Hopper </Li> <Li> Hedda Hopper </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> DeWolf Hopper </Li> <Li> Hedda Hopper </Li> </Ul> <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., was born January 26, 1915 in New York City . He was the only child of actor, singer, comedian, and theatrical producer DeWolf Hopper (March 30, 1858--September 23, 1935) and his fifth wife, actress Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry; May 2, 1885--February 1, 1966). He had one older half - brother, John A. Hopper, from his father's second marriage in the 1880s . Hopper made his film debut as a baby in his father's 1916 silent movie Sunshine Dad . His mother divorced his father in 1922 and moved to Hollywood with their son . Hedda Hopper became one of America's best - known gossip columnists, with nearly 30 million readers in newspapers in the U.S. </P>

Who played paul drake on the perry mason tv show