William Hopper
Biography
William Hopper was an American actor whose work spanned stage, film, and television. Born in New York City to actor DeWolf Hopper and actress Hedda Hopper, he first appeared on screen as an infant in Sunshine Dad and began acting as a teenager. He appeared on Broadway in Order Please (1934) and Romeo and Juliet, won a Paramount Pictures contract in 1936, and worked in over 80 feature films during the 1930s and 1940s, among them Stagecoach (1939) and The Maltese Falcon (1941). After Navy service in World War II and a break from acting, he returned for William Wellman's The High and the Mighty (1954), followed by Track of the Cat (1954), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), The Bad Seed (1956), 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), and The Deadly Mantis (1957). He was best known as Paul Drake on Perry Mason from 1957 to 1966 and was nominated for a 1959 Primetime Emmy Award. He died in 1970.
55years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Palm Springs
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Also credited as William DeWolf Hopper Jr.
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 18 years1939 to 1957
Did you know?!
About the name
In 1936, Hopper won a contract at Paramount Pictures. For his movie credits, he used the names Wolfe Hopper and DeWolf Hopper.
Big break
In 1953, director William Wellman convinced Hopper to return to movie acting. Hopper appeared opposite Jan Sterling in Wellman's 1954 film, The High and the Mighty.
A role that slipped away
Hopper tested for the title role on the CBS courtroom series Perry Mason, while Raymond Burr read for district attorney Hamilton Burger, Mason's courtroom adversary.
William Hopper movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- 20 Million Miles to Earth1957 Adventure, Family, Fantasyas Col. Robert Calder
IMDb rating 6.39.0K votes
Most often with
Nathan Juran directed two of these films, William Keighley two. Twelve actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Bette Davis's page
James Cagney's page
John Litel's page
Jerome Cowan's page
Jack Carson's page
Virginia Brissac's page
Nathan JuranDirector, 2 films, 1957
All films by Nathan Juran
William KeighleyDirector, 2 films, 1940 to 1941
All films by William Keighley
Also two films together6 more actors
- John HamiltonSitting Bull (1954) and The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- George BrentThe Fighting 69th (1940) and The Old Maid (1939)
- William LundiganThe Fighting 69th (1940) and The Old Maid (1939)
- Thomas Browne Henry20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) and Sitting Bull (1954)
- Faye EmersonLady Gangster (1942) and Blues in the Night (1941)
- Frank MayoLady Gangster (1942) and Blues in the Night (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Bronze Star Medal | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.