<Tr> <Th> Parent (s) </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Hedda Hopper </Li> <Li> DeWolf Hopper </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> Hedda Hopper </Li> <Li> DeWolf 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 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 show