With great sadness, William Hopper passed away on March 6, 1970 at the age of 55. William Hopper was born on January 26, 1915 in Manhattan, New York City. He was an American actor, gaining fame and recognition for his role as the private detective Paul Drake in the television show Perry Mason. Prior to his stint on Perry Mason, Hopper was a World War II Navy veteran. William Hopper was married to actress Akiko Wakabayashi in 1959, and had one daughter. He was an active member of a handful of organisations, including the Motion Picture Relief Fund, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Actors' Equity Association. Hopper's iconic role as Paul Drake brought vast attention to his career, and also brought popularity to the Perry Mason TV series. He will be remembered for his famous work and respected for his commitment to the industry.