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William DeWolf Hopper Jr. 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 as private detective Paul Drake in the CBS television series Perry Mason.
Birth Name
William DeWolf Hopper Jr.
Born
Tuesday, 26 January 1915
Died
Friday, 06 March 1970
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Cheap Thrills - Those Drive-in Horror Flicks | Col. Robert Calder | 2022 |
| Brother Can You Spare a Dime | (archive footage) (as DeWolf Hopper Jr.) / Self (archive footage) | 1975 |
| Myra Breckinridge | Judge Frederic D. Cannon | 1970 |
| Valentine's Day | Judge | 1964 |
| Slim Carter | Joe Brewster | 1957 |
| Perry Mason | Paul Drake | 1957 |
| The Deadly Mantis | Dr. Nedrick Jackson / Dr. Nedrick 'Ned' Jackson | 1957 |
| 20 Million Miles to Earth | Col. Robert Calder / Colonel Robert Calder | 1957 |
| The Bad Seed | Col. Kenneth Penmark | 1956 |
| The First Texan | William Barrett Travis | 1956 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Cheap Thrills - Those Drive-in Horror Flicks | Col. Robert Calder | 2022 |
| Brother Can You Spare a Dime | (archive footage) (as DeWolf Hopper Jr.) / Self (archive footage) | 1975 |
| Myra Breckinridge | Judge Frederic D. Cannon | 1970 |
| Valentine's Day | Judge | 1964 |
| Slim Carter | Joe Brewster | 1957 |
| Perry Mason | Paul Drake | 1957 |
| The Deadly Mantis | Dr. Nedrick Jackson / Dr. Nedrick 'Ned' Jackson | 1957 |
| 20 Million Miles to Earth | Col. Robert Calder / Colonel Robert Calder | 1957 |
| The Bad Seed | Col. Kenneth Penmark | 1956 |
| The First Texan | William Barrett Travis | 1956 |
| Good-bye, My Lady | Walden Grover | 1956 |
| Rebel Without a Cause | Judy's Father | 1955 |
| Fury | Sam Wilson | 1955 |
| The 20th Century-Fox Hour | Philip Harland | 1955 |
| Casablanca | William Randall | 1955 |
| The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial | Arnold Bait | 1955 |
| Warner Brothers Presents | Wilson | 1955 |
| Gunsmoke | John Henry Jordan / Tasker | 1955 |
| One Desire | 'Mac' MacBain | 1955 |
| Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre | Rick Gordon | 1955 |
| Robbers' Roost | Robert Bell / Smokey | 1955 |
| Conquest of Space | Dr. George Fenton | 1955 |
| The Millionaire | Capt. Carroll | 1955 |
| Track of the Cat | Arthur Bridges | 1954 |
| This Is My Love | District Attorney | 1954 |
| Sitting Bull | Charles Wentworth | 1954 |
| Studio 57 | Smith / Kip | 1954 |
| The High and the Mighty | Roy | 1954 |
| Mayor of the Town | Girard | 1954 |
| The Ford Television Theatre | Joe Cramer | 1952 |
| Schlitz Playhouse | Dan Mailer | 1951 |
| Lux Video Theatre | Self - Host / Self - Announcer / Jim Johanson / George / Brad Scott | 1950 |
| The Last Ride | Swank - Mechanic / Henchman | 1944 |
| Murder on the Waterfront | Sentry / First Sentry | 1943 |
| Action in the North Atlantic | Canadian Soldier | 1943 |
| Air Force | Sergeant | 1943 |
| Truck Busters | Trucker / Truck Driver | 1943 |
| The Hard Way | Hotel Desk Clerk / Hotel Desk Clerk (Uncredited) | 1943 |
| Gentleman Jim | Undetermined Role | 1942 |
| Beyond the Line of Duty | University of Texas Classmate | 1942 |
| You Can't Escape Forever | Soldier | 1942 |
| Desperate Journey | Radio Operator | 1942 |
| Busses Roar | Dark-Haired Sailor at Bar | 1942 |
| Secret Enemies | Agent | 1942 |
| Across the Pacific | Orderly | 1942 |
| Escape from Crime | Hastings | 1942 |
| Spy Ship | Reporter | 1942 |
| Juke Girl | Atlanta Postal Clerk | 1942 |
| Yankee Doodle Dandy | Reporter | 1942 |
| Larceny, Inc | Traffic Policeman | 1942 |
| Murder in the Big House | Reporter | 1942 |
| Lady Gangster | John | 1942 |
| The Male Animal | Reporter on Porch | 1942 |
| Bullet Scars | Citizens Bank Teller / Murdered Bank Teller | 1942 |
| All Through the Night | Reporter | 1942 |
| You're in the Army Now | Supply Man - Gas Masks | 1941 |
| The Body Disappears | Terrence Abbott | 1941 |
| Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 | Self - Party Guest | 1941 |
| They Died with Their Boots On | Lt. Frazier | 1941 |
| Blues in the Night | Billiard Player / Billiards player | 1941 |
| The Maltese Falcon | Reporter | 1941 |
| Navy Blues | Ensign Walters | 1941 |
| Passage from Hong Kong | Watson | 1941 |
| Dive Bomber | Pilot Telling Joe 'Tim Landed RAF Plane' | 1941 |
| International Squadron | Radio Operator | 1941 |
| Manpower | Power Company Telephone Operator | 1941 |
| Highway West | Frank Carson - Murdered Cashier | 1941 |
| Bullets for O'Hara | Richard Palmer | 1941 |
| The Bride Came C.O.D. | Keenan's Pilot / Pilot | 1941 |
| Affectionately Yours | Airline Attendant | 1941 |
| Strange Alibi | Desk Clerk at National Apartments / Apartment House Clerk | 1941 |
| A Shot in the Dark | Reporter | 1941 |
| Knockout | First Reporter | 1941 |
| Here Comes Happiness | Skyler / Best Man | 1941 |
| Footsteps in the Dark | Police Secretary | 1941 |
| Flight from Destiny | Travin | 1941 |
| The Case of the Black Parrot | Ship's officer reporting false alarm | 1941 |
| Lady with Red Hair | Lyceum Theater Attendant | 1940 |
| Always a Bride | Man at Campaign Meeting Carrying Michael | 1940 |
| The Flag of Humanity | Bill - Union Sentry | 1940 |
| Knute Rockne All American | New York Reporter Covering Knute's Illness | 1940 |
| No Time for Comedy | First-Nighter | 1940 |
| Money and the Woman | J.L. Burns, Bank Depositor | 1940 |
| Ladies Must Live | Joe Barton | 1940 |
| Pony Express Days | St. Joseph Telegrapher | 1940 |
| The Man Who Talked Too Much | Reporter #2 | 1940 |
| Gambling on the High Seas | Police Boat Radio Operator | 1940 |
| Brother Orchid | 2nd Reporter on Return Ship | 1940 |
| Flight Angels | Lefty | 1940 |
| Tear Gas Squad | George | 1940 |
| 'Til We Meet Again | Man | 1940 |
| Virginia City | Lieutenant Reporting Murrell's Attack | 1940 |
| Castle on the Hudson | Reporter | 1940 |
| Calling Philo Vance | Clerk at Hotel Nino in Chicago | 1940 |
| The Fighting 69th | Pvt. Turner / Private Turner | 1940 |
| A Child Is Born | Intern Going to See Operation | 1940 |
| Invisible Stripes | Society Gent in Top Hat | 1939 |
| The Return of Doctor X | Intern / Interne | 1939 |
| On Dress Parade | Soldier Getting Radio Report from H4 | 1939 |
| Pride of the Blue Grass | Joe | 1939 |
| On Your Toes | Ronald - Peggy's Escort | 1939 |
| Espionage Agent | Student | 1939 |
| Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase | Reporter | 1939 |
| Angels Wash Their Faces | Photographer | 1939 |
| The Bill of Rights | Courier | 1939 |
| The Old Maid | John | 1939 |
| Dust Be My Destiny | Reporter | 1939 |
| The Cowboy Quarterback | Handsome Sam Saxon | 1939 |
| Daughters Courageous | Striped-Shirted Man at Beach | 1939 |
| Midnight | Flammarions' Party Guest | 1939 |
| Stagecoach | Sergeant | 1939 |
| Mystery House | Lal Killian | 1938 |
| Love, Honor and Behave | Yale Tennis Player | 1938 |
| The Daredevil Drivers | Neeley Bus Driver | 1938 |
| The Adventurous Blonde | Matt / Matt, a Reporter | 1937 |
| Over the Goal | Ken Thomas | 1937 |
| The Footloose Heiress | Jack Pierson | 1937 |
| Love Is on the Air | Eddie Gould | 1937 |
| Back in Circulation | Pete Eddington - a Reporter | 1937 |
| Mr. Dodd Takes the Air | Second Production Manager | 1937 |
| Public Wedding | Anthony (Tony) Burke / Tony Burke | 1937 |
| Dick Tracy | Dirigible Pilot | 1937 |
| Join the Marines | Marine | 1937 |
| Breakdowns of 1937 | Himself / Self | 1937 |
| Larceny on the Air | Announcer | 1937 |
| Beware of Ladies | Reporter | 1936 |
| The Accusing Finger | Reporter | 1936 |
| Easy to Take | Radio Monitor Room Man | 1936 |
| The Big Broadcast of 1937 | Ship's Officer | 1936 |
| Murder with Pictures | Photographer | 1936 |
| The King Steps Out | Soldier | 1936 |
| Sunshine Dad | Infant in Carriage / Infant in carriage (as DeWolf Hopper Jr.) | 1916 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1959 | Emmy | Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series | Nominated |
