Matinee Classics - William Hopper Biography & Filmography

William Hopper ACTOR

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WILLIAM HOPPER BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

William Hopper was born on January 26th, 1915 in New York City, New York with the birth name William Dewolf Hopper Jr. born to Hedda Hopper and Dewolf Hopper Sr. His father and mother were both actors in the industry and he followed in their footsteps.

He first debuted in films in 1916 in the film, "Sunshine Dad" as a baby with his father. His family then relocated from New York to Hollywood to pursue their careers in the industry.

Hopper later became most well known for his role as private detective, Paul Drake on the television series, "Perry Mason" starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale and later he portrayed the father of Natalie Wood in, "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955) also starring James Dean, Sal Mineo and Dennis Hopper. For his role as Paul Drake he received an Emmy Award in 1959 for Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series.

Prior to working as an actor, Hopper joined the United States Navy in 1942 and served as a frogman where he won a Bronze Star for his bravery and heroic actions during various operations while serving in the Pacific.

Upon completing his military service he found work as a car salesman and worked in Hollywood for eight years before breaking into the film industry. He had some experience acting first as a baby and alter as a teenager working as a stage actor in stock theatre. He also appeared on Broadway in such productions as, "Order Please" and Romeo and Juliet".

Soon he began working in a number of films taking on small un-credited roles such as in the films, "The King Steps Out" (1936), "Public Wedding" (1937) and "Over the Goal" (1937).

More significant roles soon followed such as, "The Footloose Heiress" (1937), "Mystery House" (1938), "The Return of Dr. X" (1939), "All American" (1940), "Virginia City" (1940) starring Errol Flynn, "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) starring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet and Mary Astor, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942) starring James Cagney, "The High and the Mighty" (1954) starring John Wayne and "Good-Bye, My Lady" (1956).

In addition to his numerous film roles, he also added a variety of television credits to his resume with appearances on, "The Restless Gun", "The Joseph Cotten Show", "Gunsmoke", "Studio 57", "The Millionaire" and "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars".

He never neglected his love for films and later in his career continued to appear on the big screen in such his final feature in, "Myra Breckinridge" (1970).

William Hopper married twice throughout his lifetime, first to Jane Gilbert in 1940 and they had one child together before the marriage came to an end in 1959. He then married Jeanette J. Hopper and they remained together until he passed away on March 6th, 1970 from pneumonia in Palm Springs, California. His remains are interred in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.