Burr and Hale made 26 TV movies between 1985 and 1993; Katt stuck around for nine, and was replaced by new character Ken Malansky, played by William R. Moses. After a hiatus of nearly 20 years, Raymond Burr reprised his role as Los Angeles defense attorney Mason in 26 of the television films. Katt also has written a Greatest American Hero comic book and contributed to that series' Facebook page.[3]. In 2014, he appeared in The Unwanted. Their characters are introduced as both lawyers and close friends of Mason, who is ostensibly out of town. And his father is Bill Williams (real name also William Katt) who was a star of the 1940s, went into real estate, and still turns up regularly on Police Woman. A series of 30 Perry Mason television films aired on NBC from 1985 to 1995 as sequels to the CBS TV series Perry Mason. Directed by Ron Satlof. This collection contains all 30 Perry Mason movies in one set. For his father William Herman Katt, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "San Diego Comic-Con 2010: Exclusive Trailer Debut – Mirrors 2", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Katt&oldid=993319556, BLP articles lacking sources from March 2013, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 December 2020, at 00:30. Following Burr's death in 1993, Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook starred in the remaining four television films that aired from 1993 to 1995, playing lawyers Anthony Caruso and "Wild Bill" McKenzie respectively. In 1978, he appeared as Barlow, a young surfer, in the John Milius drama film Big Wednesday opposite Jan-Michael Vincent and Gary Busey. To defend her, Perry Mason resigns from his position as an appellate judge and becomes a defense attorney again. I do think it's a sweet memorial."[4]. Della Street, who is now the secretary of a wealthy businessman, is framed for her boss' murder. In the first telefilm, Perry Mason Returns, Mason resigns his position as an appellate court judge to defend Street on a murder charge. Katt was born in Los Angeles to actors Bill Williams (birth name Herman August Wilhelm Katt) and Barbara Hale. And I won’t deny there’s some Hollywood nepotism involved in his career; while his character on the Perry Mason Movies was the son of William Hopper’s Paul Drake, it’s quite clear he got the job because he was actually the son of Barbara Hale. Q Why wasn't William Katt on the last Perry Mason TV movie? Apr 20, 2014 - Barbara Hale/Della Street with son William Katt, "Perry Mason Returns" These new Mason movies also starred William Katt, who played Paul Drake, Jr., the son of the character made famous by William Hopper on the original series. He is an actor and director, known for Big Wednesday (1978), The Greatest American Hero (1981), Carrie (1976) and The Man from Earth (2007). The magazine was published in Boston, Massachusetts, by the Perry Mason Company (renamed "Perry Mason & Co." after the founder died). in the Tyler Perry comedy House of Payne. [2] In 2010 during season 6, Katt guest starred as C.J. Dean Hargrove was able to bring back the two then-surviving major stars, Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale, reprising their roles as Mason and his private secretary Della Street. Katt briefly appeared in Heroes season 3 in "The Butterfly Effect" as a nosy reporter investigating Ali Larter's character. Perry Mason Returns (1985) When his former secretary Della Street is accused of murder, Perry Mason gives up a judgeship to defend her. The following year he took the role of Sundance Kid in the 1979 film Butch and Sundance: The Early Days. In the later TV movies, Mason utilizes the services of Ken Malansky (William R. Moses), an attorney who works with him as a private investigator. Burr, a hefty man of legendary constitution, probably should not … William Katt was born in Los Angeles, California, USA as William Theodore Katt. His mother is Barbara Hale, who played Della Street for 10 years on the Perry Mason series. Buy Perry Mason Returns - El Regreso De Perry Mason (6 DVD) from Amazon's Movies Store. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Katt starred in the 1989 TV series Top of the Hill and made a guest appearance on the first episode of the short-lived 1991 series Good Sports. Payne's musician birth-father in the episode "Who's Your Daddy Now?" [2] Because of lower production costs, many of the later TV movies were filmed and set in Denver, Colorado rather than Mason's traditional locale of Los Angeles. Katt also worked on the scripts of several of these latter-day Masons. With the help of private investigator Paul Drake Jr. (William Katt), the son of another Mason colleague, Perry closes in on the real killer. Ken Malansky: The change from Drake to Malansky seemed to recapture some of the old Perry Mason Magic. To save her, Mason must deal with an uncooperative wife, cynical family members, and a scheming family lawyer. Perry Mason is one of the most popular and enduring television series of all time, and one of the most influential on the format of most every legal-based show that followed. William Katt, Hale's own son, was cast as private investigator Paul Drake, Jr., the son of … Reruns air every day in the United States and around the world, keeping the series front and center over fifty years after it ended in 1966. Tonight, NBC airs the last Perry Mason movie Raymond Burr ever made, The Case of the Killer Kiss. Hale appeared in "Perry Mason" on CBS from 1957 to 1966, winning an Emmy as best actress in 1959. Television producer Dean Hargrove resurrected the Perry Mason character in a series of television films for NBC beginning in 1985. Perry Mason Old Movie Stars Classic Movie Stars Vintage Tv Vintage Hollywood Mystery Theater Jackie Gleason Raymond Burr Blue Eyed Men Barbara Hale/Della Street with son William Katt, "Perry Mason Returns" Barbara Hale with son William Katt … In 2020, he appeared in The 2nd. Also starring veteran actor Robert Culp, the show retains a cult fanbase. They divorced in 1992. His father, ... the first of which was Perry Mason Returns (1985). Between 1985 and 1988, he starred in nine Perry Mason television films alongside his mother Barbara Hale, who reprised her role as Della Street from the television series Perry Mason. He played the part of Nick Calder in five episodes. After the 1988 Movie, “The Lady in the Lake,” William Katt departed the cast and Paul Drake, Jr. was replaced by lawyer Ken Malansky, played by William Moses. Among the few actors to appear in major recurring roles were David Ogden Stiers as District Attorney Michael Reston (1986–1988), James McEachin as police Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Ed Brock (1986-1995), and Alexandra Paul as Ken Malansky's girlfriend Amy Hastings (1989). An earring, torn fabric from a muddy dress, a wig, $500,000, and more make an almost perfect frame. Hale said that continuing the series was suggested by Burr. TV classics: Perry Mason TV movies USA 1985-95, 30 episodes, 90 minutes each, NBC. Although located in Colorado, a courtroom wall shown at the end of the opening title sequence bears a Seal of Los Angeles County, California plaque. In 1981, Katt was cast as the title role in a filmed version of the Broadway musical comedy Pippin, which received mixed reviews. Malansky's character is introduced in The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989), as a law student who is defended by Mason on a murder charge.[1]:40151. In 1985 she and Burr were reunited for a television movie, Perry Mason Returns, which won such high ratings that it led to 29 more TV movies starring the same characters. Raymond Burr starred as Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason, a character created by American author and attorney Erle Stanley Gardner. When Gardner created his fictional attorney, he borrowed the name of the company which published his favorite childhood magazine.Gardner provided more information about Mason's character in the earlier novels; knowledge … With Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Katt, Holland Taylor. In 1991, Willaim Katt had a recurring role in the short-lived comedy, Good Sports, starring Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal as sports anchors. After Burr died in 1993, Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook starred in the final four telefilms from 1993 to 1995. Katt married Deborah Kahane in 1979 and they have two sons, Clayton and Emerson. As a child, Gardner was a reader of the magazine Youth's Companion. William Theodore Katt (born February 16, ... Katt co-starred with his mother Barbara Hale, who reprised her role of Della Street from the Perry Mason television series. The name "Perry Mason" dates to creator Gardner's childhood. William Katt, Hale's own son, was cast as private investigator Paul Drake, Jr., the son of original series’ private investigator Paul Drake. He first became known for playing Tommy Ross, the ill-fated prom date of Carrie White in the original film version of Carrie (1976) and subsequently starred in films such as First Love (1977), Big Wednesday (1978) and Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Perry Mason Returns DVD Region 2 Raymond Burr Barbara Hale William Katt Regreso at the best … Stars: Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Katt Back to the Perry Mason TV Movie Library Hargrove had the inspiration to cast Hale’s real-life son, William Katt (best known for The Greatest American Hero) as Paul Drake Jr., carrying on his dad’s role as Mason’s right-hand man. [5], This article is about William Theodore Katt, born 1951. The original Perry Mason television series was broadcast on CBS television from 1957 to 1966. PERRY MASON -- Perry Mason Returns -- Pictured: (l-r) William Katt as Paul Drake Jr., Barbara Hale as Della Street -- (Photo by: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) Fred Steiner's theme music was re-recorded by composer Dick DeBenedictis; Steiner himself arranged the theme at DeBenedictis's request.[3]. Katt continues to appear on television and in supporting film roles, and does voice acting as well. In recent years, he has returned to genre work, with appearances in Andromeda and Justice League and roles in the award-winning film Gamers (2006), The Man from Earth (2007), and Alien vs Hunter (2007). He portrayed Jack Matheson in the thriller film, Mirrors 2. William Katt, who acts under his father’s original last name, is the son of actor Bill Williams and actress Barbara Hale. [1] He graduated from Army & Navy Academy, Carlsbad, California. A Katt has left to pursue a movie career. Of course William was very gracious and said the other actor was just as good. Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), along with associates Della Street (Barbara Hale), Paul Drake, Jr. (William Katt) and Ken Malansky (William R. Moses), investigates all manner of mysteries to clear the names of the innocent and bring justice to the guilty. "Raymond was so concerned that the crew keep working—we'd been with same crew for six years. The role of investigator Paul Drake, played by the deceased William Hopper, was reworked as Paul Drake, Jr., and Hale's real-life son, William Katt, took the part. Katt starred in the 1989 TV series Top of the Hill and made a guest appearance on the first episode of the short-lived 1991 series Good Sports. In December 1975, Katt auditioned for the part of Luke Skywalker in 1977's science fiction blockbuster Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and footage of his audition has been featured in many Star Wars documentaries. 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