Filmography links courtesy of the Internet Movie Database

Copyright © 1996-2007
D. M. Brockman
25 December 2007

Famous Perry People

Here are some "famous" people that have appeared in a Perry Mason episode. Of course, famous is somewhat subjective. Here, fame means recognizable to me (even if I can't remember the name) or an appearance in some select category of famousity. Fame is also subject to aging. Younger people may not have heard of some of these folks.

Alumni Links
Many of the actors appearing in Perry Mason episodes are like old friends and I want to know more about them and see how they're getting along. Well, it turns out that some have web sites of their own or fan pages, some official, devoted to them. Click here for links to a few.

A surprising number of Perry Mason actors have appeared in horror and sci-fi films. You'll find them at Spooky Tom's website.

The List
Each name is followed by the episode number and air date of their first (and maybe only) appearance and, perhaps, a comment. A means the actor has won an Oscar® in an acting category. Thanks to Thomas Smith for reminding me of James Coburn's recent Oscar® win. I have tried my best to be accurate but I have undoubtedly messed up here and there. Sorry!

The categories are rather arbitrary since many of these people qualify for more than one category. If you look closely at almost any of them, you'll discover that he/she has appeared in all sorts of other things. Actors get around a lot and will do almost anything. Note that an actor may appear in more than one category. Click on the for the actor's filmography page at the Internet Movie Database.

If the name's a link, click it for a picture. Use your browser's back button to return here.

Contributors
These people have provided suggestions for this list by e-mail. Their entries are marked with the bracketed number in front of their name. The comments on the entries are based on information they provided and/or on my own research. Many thanks to all!

The Lists

Whatever Category

Erle Stanley Gardner, #271, 5/2/66, a noted author [1]
Gail Patrick, #271, 5/2/66, actress, later a noted TV producer [28]
Joi Lansing, #8, 11/9/57, TV and film, 50's babe
Archie Moore, #184, 10/10/63, light-heavyweight prizefighter [1]

Beauty Queens
. . . I know, this should be a list, but just look at these pictures

Jean Bartel, #219, 11/12/64, Miss America 1943 [11][12]
Kathleen Crowley, #20, 2/1/58, Miss New Jersey 1949
Judy Dan, 162, 11/29/62, Miss Hong Kong 1952 [27]
Barbara Eden, #7, Miss San Francisco 1951 [27]
Alizia Gur, #254, 12/12/65, Miss Israel 1960 [12]
Patricia Hardy, #19, 1/25/58, Miss Brooklyn 1951, others [27]
Allison Hayes, #87, 3/12/60, Miss Washington DC 1949 [27]
Terry Huntingdon, #77, 12/5/59, Miss USA 1959 [27]
Nancy Kovack, #193, 12/19/63, Michigan Peach Queen 1955 [27]
Barbara Lawrence, #26, 3/15/58, Little Miss Hollywood 1942 [27]
Cloris Leachman, #270, 5/15/66, Miss Chicago 1946 [27]
Jacqueline Loughery, #188, 11/14/63, first Miss USA 1952 [11][27]
Carole Mathews, #24, 3/1/58, Miss Chicago 1938 [27]
Nobu McCarthy, #73, 10/24/59, Miss Tokyo 1954 [27]
Lee Meriwether, #226, 1/7/65, Miss America 1955
Mary Ann Mobley, #224, 12/17/64, Miss America 1959
Chris Noel, #252, 11/21/65, Miss Palm Beach and 14 others [27]
Carol Ohmart, #113 2/25/61, Miss Utah 1946 [27]
Pat Priest, #210, 5/14/64, Queen, Norfolk Azalea Pageant 1954 [27]
Ziva Rodann, #142, 2/3/62, Miss Israel 1957
Gloria Talbott, #113, 2/25/61, Miss Glendale (CA) 1947 [27]
Alix Talton, #33, 5/17/58, Miss (Atlanta) Georgia 1938 [27]
Greta Thyssen, #3, 10/5/57, Miss Denmark 1952 [27]
Irene Tsu, #189, 11/21/63, Miss Chinatown (San Francisco) 1961 [27]

Elvis' Women
. . . actresses with a major role in an Elvis Presley film. See comment above.

Julie Adams, #176, 4/4/63, Tickle Me [27]
Merry Anders, #238, 4/22/65, Tickle Me [27]
Anne Benton, #95, 6/11/60, Flaming Star [27]
Joan Blackman, #225, 12/31/64, Blue Hawaii, Kid Galahad [27]
Yvonne Craig, #35, 5/31/58, ...World's Fair, Kissin' Cousins [27]
Barbara Eden, #7, 11/2/57, Flaming Star [27]
Joan Freeman, #164, 12/13/62, Roustabout [27]
Allison Hayes, #87, 3/12/60, Tickle Me [12]
Anne Helm, #121, 5/20/61, Follow That Dream [27]
Joyce Jameson. #189, 11/21/63, Frankie and Johnny [27]
Nancy Kovack, #193, 12/19/63, Frankie and Johnny [27]
Sue Ane Langdon, #128, 10/14/61, Frankie and Johnny, Roustabout [27]
Marlyn Mason, #271, 5/22/66, The Trouble with Girls [27]
Mary Ann Mobley, #224, 12/17/64, Harum Scarum, Girl Happy [27]
Joanna Moore, #38, 6/21/58, Follow That Dream [27]
Chris Noel, #252, 11/21/65, Girl Happy [27]
Nita Talbot, #42, 10/4/58, Girl Happy [27]
Joan O'Brien, #87, 3/12/60, It Happened at the World's Fair [27]
Pat Priest, #210, 5/14/64, Easy Come, Easy Go [27]
Judy Tyler, #15, 12/28/57, Jailhouse Rock [27]

Playmates
. . . women who posed for the centerfold in Playboy magazine

Dolores Donlon, #63, 4/18/59, Miss August, 1957
Angela Dorian, #255, 12/19/65, Miss September, 1967
Arline Hunter, #55, 2/7/59, Miss August, 1954
Dawn Richard, #6, 10/26/57, Miss May, 1957
Joan Staley, #40, 9/20/58, Miss November, 1958

Movie People
. . . most everybody here did TV too but I remember them mostly from films

Julie Adams, #176, 4/4/63, The Creature from the Black Lagoon
Corey Allen, #106, 12/10/60, Rebel Without a Cause, TV director [12]
Robert Armstrong, #43, 10/11/58, King Kong, many films [5]
Patricia Barry, #81, 1/9/60, many films, much TV [14]
Bruce Bennett, #41, 9/27/58, Tarzan #8, many films
Francis X. Bushman, #95, 6/11/60 [1]
John Mack Brown, #28, 3/29/58, famous movie cowboy [17]
Elisha Cook, #42, 10/4/58, The Maltese Falcon et al
Rod Cameron, #192, 12/12/63, also TV's State Trooper
James Coburn, #108, 1/7/60, many films
Tom Conway, #205, 4/2/64, The Falcon, many films
Wendell Corey, #266, 4/3/66, Rear Window, many films, TV [7]
Bette Davis, #169, 1/31/63 many films
Angie Dickinson, #23, 2/22/58, many films, TV's Police Woman
Brian Donlevy, #269, 5/1/66 many films
Paul Fix, #7, 11/2/57, many films, much TV incl.The Rifleman
Louise Fletcher, #86, 2/27/60, many films
Benson Fong, #25, 3/8/58, many films
Hampton Fancher, #252, 11/21/65, Blade Runner, much TV [11]
Leo Gordon, #65, 5/9/59, famous tough guy, lots of TV roles too
Jon Hall, #190, 11/28/63, also TV's Ramar of the Jungle
Allison Hayes, #87, 2/12/60, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
James Hong, #162, 11/29/62, Revenge of the Nerds [1]
Richard Jaeckel, #176, 4/4/63, Battleground et al [1]
Ben Johnson, #221, 11/26/64, Sgt. Tyree, many films [23]
George Kennedy, #178, 4/18/63 many films
Leonid Kinsky, #264, 3/20/66, Casablanca, many films
Diane Ladd, #183,10/3/63, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Frankie Laine, #57, 2/21/59, famous singer and actor [12]
Ruta Lee, #30, 4/26/58, many films
Gary Lockwood, #156, 2001: A Space Odyssey
Keye Luke, #162, 11/29/62, many films
Barton MacLane, #54, 1/24/59, San Quentin, many films
Hugh Marlowe, #55, 2/7/59, many films
Strother Martin, #135, 12/2/61, Cool Hand Luke et al
Sean McClory, #127, 10/7/61, The Quiet Man et al
Ellen McRae (Ellen Burstyn), #159, 11/1/62
Conrad Nagel, #118, 4/22/61, many films, early TV
Tommy Noonan, #128, 10/14/61, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [12]
Margaret O'Brien, 166, 1/3/63, The Canterville Ghost et al [29]
Ryan O'Neal, #198, 2/6/64, Love Story et al [15]
Michael Parks, #169, 1/31/63, Kill Bill 1 & 2, many films, TV [12]
Leslie Parrish, #91, 4/30/60, The Giant Spider Invasion [14]
Hal Peary, #231, 2/18/65, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve
Walter Pidgeon, #172, 2/28/63, Forbidden Planet, many films
Zasu Pitts, #146, 3/17/62, character actress, many films
Mala Powers, #201, 2/27/64, films, TV, radio
Robert Redford, #96, 9/17/60, you know
Michael Rennie, #170, 2/7/63, The Day the Earth Stood Still
Burt Reynolds, #150, 4/8/62, many films, TV's Evening Shade [2]
Arthur Shields, #30, 4/26/58, The Quiet Man et al
Barry Sullivan, #227, 1/14/65, many films, much TV
Gloria Talbott, #113, 2/25/61, many films, much TV
Lee Van Cleef, #173, 3/7/63, also TV's The Master
Ruth Warrick, #224, 12/17/64, Citizen Kane
Frank Wilcox, #5, 10/19/57, many films
Marie Windsor, #28, 3/29/58, Cat-Women of the Moon et al
Roland Winters, #229, 2/4/65, many films
Estelle Winwood, #271, 5/2/66, character actress, many films [3]
Fay Wray, #36, 6/7/58, the big guy's girlfriend in King Kong
Jeff York, #116, 3/25/61, Mike Fink in Davy Crockett [20]

Television People
. . . most everybody here did movies too but I remember them mostly from TV

Claude Akins, #26, 3/15/58, BJ & the Bear, movies [1]
Mabel Albertson, #158, 10/25/62, Tom Ewell Show, many guest spots
Michael Ansara, #207, 4/16/64, Broken Arrow, movies [1]
Herbert Anderson, #55, 2/7/59, Dennis the Menace
Richard Anderson, #195, 1/9/64, The Six Million Dollar Man
Parley Baer, #124, 9/2/61, Many shows plus movies and radio
Barbara Bain, #85, 2/20/60, Mission: Impossible (TV series)
Jeanne Bal, #120, 5/6/61, Mr. Novak, just because
John Banner, #104, 11/19/60, Hogan's Heroes, TV and films
Frances Bavier, #8, 11/9/57, Andy Griffth Show, movies
Terry Becker, #36, 6/7/58, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Henry Beckman, #95, 6/11/60, HCTB, TV, many guest spots, films [8]
Noah Beery (Jr.), #228, 1/21/65, The Rockford Files
James Best, #172, 2/28/63, Duke's of Hazard [31]
Carl Betz, #17, 1/11/58, Judd for the Defense [19]
Robert Bice, #3, 10/5/57, many guest spots, films
Whit Bissell, #100, 10/15/60, much TV, lots of movies
Whitney Blake, #1, 9/21/57, Mrs. B. in Hazel [26]
Truman Bradley, #91, 4/30/60, Host of Science Fiction Theater [12]
Paul Brinegar, #17, 1/11/58, Wishbone on Rawhide [16]
Robert Brown, #107, 12/17/60, Here Come The Brides [8]
Kathie Browne, #103, 11/12/60, many guest spots, just because [10]
Edgar Buchanan, #163, 2/6/62, Petticoat Junction [2]
Joyce Bulifant, #172, 2/28/63, she made Match Game fun!
Victor Buono, #239, 4/29/65, Batman, many shows
Frank Cady, #130, 10/21/61, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction [2]
William Campbell, #78, 12/12/59, Star Trek, films, TV [16]
Kathryn Card, #66, 5/16/59, I Love Lucy, Lucy's mom [24]
Virginia Christine, #110, 1/21/61, Folger's Mrs. Olson, many roles [12]
Dick Clark, #271, 5/2/66, American Bandstand [1]
Phyllis Coates, #37, 6/14/56, Adventures of Superman (1951) [2]
Robert Colbert, #239, 4/29/65, Young and the Restless 73-83
Gary Collins, #232, 3/4/65, Born Free, TV personality
Michael Connors (Mike Connors), #218, 11/5/64, Mannix
Michael Conrad, #188, 11/14/63, Hill Street Blues [2]
Michael Constantine, #224, 12/17/64, Room 222 [1]
Bert Convy, #90, 4/23/60 [1] Game show host, TV personality
Jackie Coogan, #128, 10/14/61, Addams Family, movies too
Jeanne Cooper, #40, 9/20/58, Young and the Restless since 1973
Ellen Corby, #65, 5/9/59, The Waltons
Yvonne Craig, #35, 5/31/58, Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl
Gary Crosby, #226, 1/7/65, Adam 12
Ken Curtis, #102, 11/5/60, Festus in Gunsmoke, many films
Jim Davis, #164, 12/13/62, Dallas
Richard Deacon, #106, 12/10/60, The Dick Van Dyke Show
Ivan Dixon, #152, 5/19/62, Hogan's Heroes, TV director
Barbara Eden, #7, 11/2/57, I Dream of Jeannie, TV, films.
Stuart Erwin, #157, 10/18/62, old time TV Star, many films
Myrna Fahey, #90, 4/23/60, Father of the Bride, died young
Norman Fell, #86, 2/27/60, Three's Company et al [1]
John Fiedler, #220, 11/19/64, Piglet in Pooh, many shows, films [4]
Sylvia Field, #7, 11/2/57, Dennis the Menace, Mr. Peepers
Pat Finley, #179, 5/2/63, a Seattle TV personality, years ago
Constance Ford, # 24, 3/1/58, many guest spots [33]
Bernard Fox, #242, 9/12/65, Bewitched, many guest spots [9]
Michael Fox, #10, 11/23/57, much TV, many films
Florida Friebus, #181, 5/16/63, The Bob Newhart Show [6]
Mark Goddard, #180, 5/9/63, Lost In Space
Bruce Gordon, #75, 11/14/59, The Untouchables [1]
Harold Gould, #222, 12/3/64, Rhoda, Golden Girls, movies [2]
Dabbs Greer, #22, 2/15/58, Picket Fences, much TV, movies [21]
Virginia Gregg, #18, Dragnet (TV 1969), many films, much radio
Alan Hale (Jr.), #137, 12/16/61, Gilligan's Island, many movies
Neil Hamilton, #35, 5/31/58, Batman
Vinton Hayworth, #97, 9/24/60, I Dream of Jeannie, (69-70) [2]
David Hedison, #159, 11/1/62, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Gloria Henry, #1, 9/21/57, Dennis the Menace [2]
Darryl Hickman, #2, 9/28/57, tmlo Dobie Gillis, TV, films [1]
Connie Hines, #99, 10/8/60, Mister Ed
Will Hutchins, #261, 2/20/66, Sugarfoot [16]
Sherry Jackson, #190, 11/28/63, Make Room for Daddy [10]
Stacy Keach (Sr.), #210, 2/27/64, films also, dad of... [25]
Joe Kearns, #50, 12/20/58, Dennis the Menace [2]
De Forest Kelley, #137, 12/16/61, Star Trek, films, TV
Ed Kemmer, #81, 1/9/60, Cmdr. Buzz Corry, many films
Werner Klemperer, #27, 3/22/58, Hogan's Heroes, many guest spots
Harvey Korman, #160, 11/8/62, The Carol Burnett Show
Nancy Kovack, #193, 12/19/63, many guest spots, just because [18]
Nancy Kulp, #36, 6/7/58, Beverly Hillbillies, Bob Cummings Show [1]
Wesley Lau, #125, 9/16/61, Time Tunnel, some lawyer show
Cloris Leachman, #270, 5/15/66, MTM, many guest spots, many films
David Lewis, #12, 12/7/57, General Hospital 78-93 [12]
June Lockhart, #214, 10/8/64, Lost In Space, TV, many films [2]
John Lupton, #77, 12/5/59, Days of Our Lives 67-72, 75-79) [16]
David McCallum, #200, 2/20/64, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Peggy McCay, #33, 5/17/58, Love of Life, many guest spots [4]
Gavin MacLeod, #122, 5/27/61, Love Boat, many guest spots
Frank Maxwell, #82, 1/23/60, many guest spots [12]
Allan Melvin, #188, 11/14/63, All in the Family [2]
Lee Meriwether, #226, 1/7/65, Barnaby Jones, much TV
Marvin Miller, #176, 4/4/63, The Millionaire, many films
Carl Milletaire, #128, 10/14/61, The Untouchables
Billy Mumy, #183, 10/3/63, Lost In Space, TV, many films
Ed Nelson, #134, 11/25/61, lots of TV, many films [17]
Leonard Nimoy, #166, 1/3/63, Star Trek, films, TV
Hugh O'Brian, #171, 2/14/63, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Philip Ober, #30, 4/26/58, many guest spots, films
Kevin O'Neal, #262, 2/27/66, Ryan's brother [30]
Barbara Parkins, #160, 11/8/62, Peyton Place, Valley of the Dolls [7]
Paul Picerni, #23, 2/22/58, many guest spots, films [3]
Edward Platt, #107, 12/17/60, the Chief in Get Smart
Pat Priest, #210, 5/14/64, The Munsters [1]
Denver Pyle, #24, 3/1/58, Duke's of Hazard et al, movies [1]
Alejandro Rey, #133, 11/18/61, The Flying Nun [1]
Rhodes Reason, #256, 1/9/66, many popular TV shows; film; stage
Frances Reid, #169, 1/31/63, Days of Our Lives since 1965 [4]
Grant Richards, #19, 1/25/58, The Untouchables
Roy Roberts, #115, 3/18/61, Gale Storm Show, many films
Robert Rockwell, #66, 5/16/59, Our Miss Brooks [13]
Kasey Rogers, #63, 4/18/59, Bewitched [16]
Hayden Rorke, #119, 4/21/61, I Dream of Jeannie, TV, films [2]
Marion Ross, #56, 2/14/59, Happy Days [1]
Herbert Rudley, #140, 1/13/62, The Mothers-In-Law [2]
Arline Sax (Arlene Martel), #146, 3/17/62, many guest spots, just because
Susan Seaforth, #161, 11/15/62, Days of Our Lives [16]
Marian Seldes, #30, 4/26/58, TV, stage, film actress
Robert F. Simon, #27, 3/22/58, Bewitched, many guest spots, films
Julie Sommars, #235, 3/25/65, Matlock [1]
Olan Soulé, #39, 2/28/58, Dragnet 1967, TV and movies [21]
Karen Steele, #19, 1/25/58, many guest spots, just because
George Takei, #73, 10/24/59, 1/3/63, Star Trek, films, TV
Nita Talbot, #42, 10/4/58, Hogan's Heroes, much TV, many films [1]
Kenneth Tobey, #98, 10/1/60, many TV shows and films [16]
George Tobias, #207, 4/16/64, Bewitched, many films [16]
Constance Towers, #126, 9/30/61, General Hospital [11]
Dan Travanty (Daniel J. Travanti), #257, 1/16/66, Hill Street Blues
Paul Tripp, #153, 5/26/62, pioneer kids TV educator (1949) [22]
Bobby Troup, #57, 2/21/59, Dr. Early on Emergency, many films
Jerry Van Dyke, #204, 3/26/64, Coach
Joyce van Patten, #168, 1/17/63 many shows and films [1]
Harry von Zell, 151,5/5/62, The George Burns Show
Richard Webb, 246, 10/10/65, Captain Midnight, many films
Rebecca Welles, #10, 11/23/57, not Orson & Rita's daughter [28][11]
Adam West, #115, 3/18/61, Batman
Jack Weston, #28, 3/29/58, The Hathaways, movies [1]
David White, #181, 5/16/63, Bewitched [2]
Jesse White, #46, 11/8/58, the Maytag repairmen, many roles [1]
Bill Williams, #145, 3/3/62, The Adventures of Kit Carson, films
Dave Willock, #108, 1/7/61, Do It Yourself, many films
Paul Winchell, #199, 2/13/64, Paul Winchell-Jerry Mahoney Show
Paul Winfield, #251, 11/14/65, Julia et al, many films [1]
Meg Wyllie, #161, 11/15/62, Mad About You (1992), much TV
Victor Sen Yung, #72, 10/17/59, Hop Sing on Bonanza [1]