Personable brunette leading lady with a distinctive speaking voice, in Hollywood films of the 1940s and 50s. Hale made a number of fairly routine but often watchable films during that period, usually as intelligent and capable working single women and supportive housewives, and brought to them an assured, no-nonsense grace. She is probably best known for her many years of faithful service as Della Street, the eponymous hero's capable assistant on the long-running TV drama, "Perry Mason".
Education
-
Chicago Academy for the Arts, Chicago, Illinois
Milestones
-
1943 Feature debut, "Higher and Higher"
-
1944 First starring role in a feature, "The Falcon in Hollywood"
-
1951 TV debut as a guest performer, "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars"
-
1955 Appeared in the special, "Meet the Governor"
-
1957 Featured in the long-running series, "Perry Mason," as his secretary, Della Street
-
1978 Last appearance in a feature, "Big Wednesday"
-
1983 Credited as a song performer (hymns), in the feature, "My Brother's Wedding"
-
Reprised her role as Della Street in a string of TV movies, beginning with, "Perry Mason Returns"