Barbara Hale was born on 18 April 1922, in DeKalb, Illinois USA, of Irish and Scottish ancestry. Barbara is an actress, best known for being a part of the “Perry Mason” television series as the secretary Della Street. She appeared in over 270 episodes of the show, and all of these efforts have helped put her net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Barbara Hale? As of 2017, sources estimate a net worth that is at $3 million, mostly earned through a successful career as an actress. She also appeared in over 30 “Perry Mason” television movies, as well as being cast in numerous films. She received countless accolades over the course of her career, and all of these achievements helped ensure the position of her wealth.
Barbara Hale Net Worth $3 million
Hale attended Rockford High School and matriculated in 1940. She then attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts with aspirations of becoming an artist. While attending there, she had to model to help pay for her education, which eventually led to her acting career.
In 1943, Barbara moved to Hollywood and would appear uncredited in many films; her first official credited role would be in “Gildersleeve’s Bad Day”. Throughout this period, she was under contract to RKO Radio Pictures which would lead her to a string of films, which included “Higher and Higher” in which would display her singing prowess alongside Frank Sinatra. She also became the lead of “West of the Pecos” and “Lady Luck” which would boost her to stardom. In 1949, she appeared in “The Window” alongside Arthur Kennedy, and would co-star in the film “Jolson Sings Again”. Two years later, she became the lead actress in “Lorna Doone” and would also star in “The Jackpot” with James Stewart. In the next few years, other projects she would become a part of included “The Far Horizons” and “A Lion Is in the Streets”, all contributing to her net worth.
In 1957, Hale was cast in the television series “Perry Mason” which essentially ended her movie career as she also became a part of 30 “Perry Mason” television movies after the run of the series. She appeared in “The Oklahoman” in 1957, and would then make several guest appearances in various series, including “Ironside” in 1971. Aside from these appearances, she was also active on radio though not as much compared to her television work.
Aside from her acting career, Barbara was a spokesperson for Amana which were responsible for the Radarange microwave ovens. In 1960, she was recognized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and won an Emmy Award in 1959 for her television work. She also received the Golden Boot Award in 2001 for her contribution to the cinema.
For her personal life, it is known that Barbara married actor Bill Williams in 1946 and they have three children; the couple met during the filming of “West of the Pecos”. Bill died of cancer in 1992. Their son, William Katt would become an actor and also appeared in several “Perry Mason” movies.
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1959), Golden Boot Awards (2001)
Nominations
Hollywood Walk of Fame (1960), Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series (1961)
Movies
“Lady Luck” (1946), “The Window” (1949), “Jolson Sings Again” (1949), “A Lion Is in the Streets” (1953), “Seminole” (1953), “Big Wednesday” (1978), “The Giant Spider Invasion” (1975)
TV Shows
“Family Theater” (1950–1954), “Perry Mason” (1957-1966), “The Greatest American Hero” (1982), Perry Mason television films (1985–95)
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[about making West of the Pecos (1945)] I told the director, Edward Killy, about casting a smaller role in the film for Bill Williams [her future husband]. Killy was sort of a stocky man, and had a cigar. He was a short man, and that cigar was about as big as he was . . . He smoked all the time! But he said, "Sure, Barb, I'll get Bill Williams up here in Lone Pine". He knew I had a crush on Bill. So Killy said, "I'll give him one scene at the beginning of the shoot and another at the end of the picture, so Bill can stay the whole time!". That was so nice of him.
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[about her marriage to Bill Williams] It took me two years to talk him into marrying me.
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Fact
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Barbara Hale was absent from 8 episodes of the 271 episodes of the show Perry Mason (1957) bringing the total count to 263 episodes of the series.
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Currently resides in Palm Desert, California and Los Angeles, California. [August 2005]
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Was one of the original 'Dr Pepper" girls featured in the soda company's calendars in the 1940s and 50s. Her photo can be see at the Dr Pepper Museum in Dublin, Texas (not to be confused with the Waco Dr Pepper Museum).
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Best remembered by the public for her starring role as confidential secretary "Della Street" in Perry Mason (1957).
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Was voted the May Queen her senior year in high school.
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Graduate of Rockford (Illinois) High School, class of 1940.
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According to official voter registration records on file at the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk-Recorder, Ms. Hale lists her date of birth as April 18, 1922.
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She has three children. Jody Katt (born 1947), William Katt (1951) and Juanita Katt (1953).
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On the Perry Mason (1957) set she sketched constantly.
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Has an orchid named after her (cultivated by Raymond Burr).
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During her time on Perry Mason (1957), Ms. Hale was known industry-wide for her screams. "She has the best shriek in Hollywood", Raymond Burr once said.