Barbara Hale

Acting

Barbara Hale

Born April 18, 1922 · DeKalb, Illinois, USA

Died January 26, 2017 · aged 94

Barbara Hale (April 18, 1922 - January 26, 2017) was 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 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 s…

Known For

AirportAirport · 1970
Airport
6.51970
MovieDramaThriller
An airport manager tries to keep his terminals open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight.
The OklahomanThe Oklahoman · 1957
The Oklahoman
5.81957
MovieWestern
After his wife dies in childbirth, a doctor settles down in the small Oklahoma town of Cherokee Wells to raise his newborn daughter. Unfortunately, not all the citizens there are hospitable, especially when the doctor hires a pretty Indian teenager as his child's nanny.
Lorna DooneLorna Doone · 1951
Lorna Doone
4.71951
MovieDramaRomance
An English farmer leads a village uprising against their corrupt landlords.
Big WednesdayBig Wednesday · 1978
Big Wednesday
6.91978
MovieDramaComedy
Three 1960s California surfers fool around, drift apart and reunite years later to ride epic waves.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show HostPerry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host · 1993
Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host
7.21993
MovieDramaTV Movie
Dr Sheila Carlin is good friends with Della who calls Perry in when she is being pestered by someone. On the theory that it could be somebody that she works with at a radio stations she arranges Perry to be interviewed by Winslow Keene who is also the station's owner. Winslow enrages the rest of the talk show hosts on the station by informing them of changes that he is making to their time slots. That night, Winslow is shot by a hit man hired by someone at the station and Sheila is set up for the murder. She calls in Perry and as usual Perry, Della and Ken swing into action to find out who really did it.
Last of the ComanchesLast of the Comanches · 1953
Last of the Comanches
6.21953
MovieWestern
It's 1876 and all the Indians are at peace except the Comanches lead by Black Cloud. When Black Cloud wipes out a town, only six soldiers are left and they head for the nearest fort. In the desert they are reinforced by members of a stagecoach and find some water at a deserted mission. Pinned down by Black Cloud they send an Indian boy who was Black Cloud's prisoner on to the fort while they try to bargain with Black Cloud whom they learn is without water.
Perry Mason ReturnsPerry Mason Returns · 1985
Perry Mason Returns
7.21985
MovieCrimeDrama
When his former secretary is accused of a murder, Perry Mason gives up a judgeship to defend her.
The Young RunawaysThe Young Runaways · 1978
The Young Runaways
7.01978
MovieAdventureDrama
Heartless parents C.L. Doyle and his wife take two of their older children, Rosebud & Joseph T. Doyle, on a family vacation to Alaska, but dump their younger ones, Freddy & Margaret Jean, in a Los Angeles foster home. Infuriated by this, Rosebud talks Joseph T. into running away with her so that they can break their younger siblings out of the system, which sparks a manhunt, and an outburst of sympathy among kids everywhere. [Wonderful World of Disney (1954), Season 24, Episode 17]

Movies

AirportAirport · 1970
Airport
6.51970
MovieDramaThriller
An airport manager tries to keep his terminals open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight.
The OklahomanThe Oklahoman · 1957
The Oklahoman
5.81957
MovieWestern
After his wife dies in childbirth, a doctor settles down in the small Oklahoma town of Cherokee Wells to raise his newborn daughter. Unfortunately, not all the citizens there are hospitable, especially when the doctor hires a pretty Indian teenager as his child's nanny.
Lorna DooneLorna Doone · 1951
Lorna Doone
4.71951
MovieDramaRomance
An English farmer leads a village uprising against their corrupt landlords.
Big WednesdayBig Wednesday · 1978
Big Wednesday
6.91978
MovieDramaComedy
Three 1960s California surfers fool around, drift apart and reunite years later to ride epic waves.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show HostPerry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host · 1993
Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host
7.21993
MovieDramaTV Movie
Dr Sheila Carlin is good friends with Della who calls Perry in when she is being pestered by someone. On the theory that it could be somebody that she works with at a radio stations she arranges Perry to be interviewed by Winslow Keene who is also the station's owner. Winslow enrages the rest of the talk show hosts on the station by informing them of changes that he is making to their time slots. That night, Winslow is shot by a hit man hired by someone at the station and Sheila is set up for the murder. She calls in Perry and as usual Perry, Della and Ken swing into action to find out who really did it.
Last of the ComanchesLast of the Comanches · 1953
Last of the Comanches
6.21953
MovieWestern
It's 1876 and all the Indians are at peace except the Comanches lead by Black Cloud. When Black Cloud wipes out a town, only six soldiers are left and they head for the nearest fort. In the desert they are reinforced by members of a stagecoach and find some water at a deserted mission. Pinned down by Black Cloud they send an Indian boy who was Black Cloud's prisoner on to the fort while they try to bargain with Black Cloud whom they learn is without water.
Perry Mason ReturnsPerry Mason Returns · 1985
Perry Mason Returns
7.21985
MovieCrimeDrama
When his former secretary is accused of a murder, Perry Mason gives up a judgeship to defend her.
The Young RunawaysThe Young Runaways · 1978
The Young Runaways
7.01978
MovieAdventureDrama
Heartless parents C.L. Doyle and his wife take two of their older children, Rosebud & Joseph T. Doyle, on a family vacation to Alaska, but dump their younger ones, Freddy & Margaret Jean, in a Los Angeles foster home. Infuriated by this, Rosebud talks Joseph T. into running away with her so that they can break their younger siblings out of the system, which sparks a manhunt, and an outburst of sympathy among kids everywhere. [Wonderful World of Disney (1954), Season 24, Episode 17]
BuckskinBuckskin · 1968
Buckskin
5.51968
MovieWestern
A Montana marshal fights a land baron out to parch homesteaders with a spite dam.
Lady LuckLady Luck · 1946
Lady Luck
5.61946
MovieComedy
A woman marries a gambler with the hopes of reforming him, but things don't quite work out the way she planned.
The Seventh VictimThe Seventh Victim · 1943
The Seventh Victim
6.51943
MovieHorrorMystery
After young Mary Gibson discovers that her older sister Jacqueline has disappeared, she leaves her boarding school and heads to New York City to track down her sibling. But Mary gets drawn deeper into the mystery.
West of the PecosWest of the Pecos · 1945
West of the Pecos
4.41945
MovieActionWestern
Heading west for his health, Colonel Lambeth takes his daughter Rill along. Lost on the desert they are saved by Pecos and Chito. The Colonel hires the two and the Lambeths soon find themselves mixed up in Pecos' trouble. Pecos has killed Sawtelle's brother and Sawtelle as head of the vigilantes is after him.
Government GirlGovernment Girl · 1943
Government Girl
5.71943
MovieComedyRomance
An aviation engineer and a government secretary are thrown together by the war effort.
The Far HorizonsThe Far Horizons · 1955
The Far Horizons
6.31955
MovieDramaHistory
Virginia, 1803. After the United States of America acquires the inmense Louisiana territory from France, a great expedition, led by William Lewis and Meriwether Clark, is sent to survey the new lands and go where no white man has gone before.
The Giant Spider InvasionThe Giant Spider Invasion · 1975
The Giant Spider Invasion
4.11975
MovieHorrorScience Fiction
A black hole hits North Wisconsin and opens a door to other dimensions. Giant 15 meter spiders emerge from it, who have an appetite for human flesh! Two NASA scientists try to save the world.
The Iron MajorThe Iron Major · 1943
The Iron Major
5.71943
MovieDrama
William 'Frank' Cavanaugh is a top football coach who gave up his career to enter WWI where he became a hero. After the war he went back to coaching where he ended up having one of the best winning percentages in football history.
Prunes and PoliticsPrunes and Politics · 1944
Prunes and Politics
7.51944
MovieComedy
Edgar is running for county supervisor against his mother-in-law. Edgar, whose campaign is going nowhere, decides to try some dirty-tricks style tactics but, as usual, everything backfires on him.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned MobsterPerry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster · 1991
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
6.71991
MovieCrimeThriller
A gangster who has commited all kinds of crimes is accused to have killed his wife. As he was not the murderer in this case Perry Mason intents to find the killer...
The Boy with Green HairThe Boy with Green Hair · 1948
The Boy with Green Hair
6.21948
MovieDramaComedy
Peter, an orphaned boy, is adopted by Gramp Frye after his parents are killed in Europe while doing war relief work. The boy feels safe with his new caretaker, but when he is taunted for being an orphan, he gets demoralized. The next day Peter wakes up with green hair. Embarrassed and further ridiculed, Peter seeks solace in a nearby forest. To his surprise, he finds other orphans in the woods, who encourage him to spread news of the injustices of war.
The JackpotThe Jackpot · 1950
The Jackpot
7.01950
MovieComedy
Bill Lawrence wins a bevy of prizes from a radio program, but ends up having to sell them in order to pay the taxes incurred.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant DaughterPerry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter · 1990
Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter
7.11990
MovieMysteryDrama
A young woman from Las Vegas wants Perry Mason to defend her father.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal LessonPerry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson · 1989
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson
7.01989
MovieMysteryDrama
Ken Malansky, a law student of Perry Mason's, is accused of murdering a fellow student. Perry is reluctant to take on his case as the victim was the son of a close friend.
7th Cavalry7th Cavalry · 1956
7th Cavalry
6.11956
MovieWestern
An officer accused of cowardice volunteers to bring back General Custers's body after Little Big Horn.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep ScandalPerry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal · 1993
Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal
7.21993
MovieDramaMystery
The owner of a cosmetics company is unveiling a new cream which she claims she's been using. She's been keeping her age a secret and now reveals that she's 60 and owes her appearance to the cream. She's later killed and the formula missing. Her husband is arrested and Perry defends him.

TV Shows

Perry MasonPerry Mason · 1957
Perry Mason
7.71957
SeriesMysteryDrama
The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most difficult of cases in the aid of the innocent.
LassieLassie · 1954
Lassie
6.31954
SeriesDrama
Lassie is the pet of Jeff Miller, an 11-year-old farm boy. The two become best friends and enjoy family adventures in the American countryside, teaching each other about love, nature and commitment.
Climax!Climax! · 1954
Climax!
3.81954
SeriesDramaMystery
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
Adam-12Adam-12 · 1968
Adam-12
7.11968
SeriesCrimeDrama
Adam-12 is a television police drama that followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12.
The MillionaireThe Millionaire · 1955
The Millionaire
5.81955
SeriesDrama
An anthology series that explored the ways sudden and unexpected wealth changed life for better or for worse. It told the stories of people who were given one million dollars from a benefactor who insisted they never know him, with one exception.
Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D. · 1969
Marcus Welby, M.D.
6.61969
SeriesDrama
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner and James Brolin as the younger doctor he often worked with, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell. The pilot, A Matter of Humanities, had aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on March 26, 1969.
Dinah!Dinah! · 1974
Dinah!
7.01974
Series
Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah. and went on until 1981. This show was also known as "Dinah and Friends" during the summer of 1976.
The Ford Television TheatreThe Ford Television Theatre · 1952
The Ford Television Theatre
7.81952
SeriesDrama
This show started in New York City, with Broadway actors and actresses. It then moved to Hollywood, California, where Hollywood actors and actresses headed the cast.
The Wonderful World of DisneyThe Wonderful World of Disney · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
7.91954
SeriesAnimation
Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different titles since 1954. The original version of the series premiered on ABC, Wednesday night, October 27, 1954. The show, which was hosted by Walt Disney until his death and then from 1996 to 2002 by then-CEO Michael Eisner (with one-off hosts or no hosts during other periods) has since aired continually as either a weekly program or an irregular series of specials on several networks and streaming services, most recently on ABC and Disney+. The show is the second longest showing prime-time program on American television, behind its rival, Hallmark Hall of Fame. However, Hallmark Hall of Fame was a weekly program only during its first five seasons, while Disney remained a weekly program for more than forty years.
Studio 57Studio 57 · 1954
Studio 57
7.51954
SeriesDramaFamily
Studio 57 is an American anthology series that was broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network from September 1954 to September 1955, and in syndication from 1955 to 1956.
The Doris Day ShowThe Doris Day Show · 1968
The Doris Day Show
6.21968
SeriesComedyWestern
The Doris Day Show is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 1968 until March 1973, remaining on the air for five seasons and 128 episodes. In addition to showcasing Doris Day, the show is remembered for its many abrupt format changes over the course of its five-year run. It is also remembered for Day's statement, in her autobiography Doris Day: Her Own Story, that her husband Martin Melcher had signed her to do the TV series without her knowledge, a fact she only discovered when Melcher died of heart disease on April 20, 1968. The TV show premiered on Tuesday, September 24, 1968.
Screen Director's PlayhouseScreen Director's Playhouse · 1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
7.01955
SeriesComedyDrama
Presented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed directors and featuring well-known performers. The stories ranged from musicals to comedies and dramas.
Letter to LorettaLetter to Loretta · 1953
Letter to Loretta
6.61953
SeriesDrama
Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to June 1961 for a total of 165 episodes. The filmed show was hosted by Loretta Young who also played the lead in various episodes. Letter to Loretta was sponsored by Procter & Gamble from 1953 through 1960. The final season's sponsor was Warner-Lambert's Listerine.
Perry Mason ReturnsPerry Mason Returns · 1985
Perry Mason Returns
7.51985
SeriesCrime
Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSchlitz Playhouse of Stars · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.21951
SeriesDramaComedy
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.
General Electric TheaterGeneral Electric Theater · 1953
General Electric Theater
6.81953
SeriesComedyDrama
General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.