# RIP Barbara Hale **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570 "2017-01-30T06:53:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/1 "2017-01-30T06:53:55Z")
I’m surprised nobody else has posted about this. > [@](#): > > Barbara Hale, who played secretary Della Street in the “Perry Mason” television series and movies, died Thursday. She was 94. > > According to a Facebook post by her son William Katt, Hale passed away at her home on Sherman Oaks, Calif. > **[Barbara Hale, ‘Perry Mason’ Actress, Dies at 94](https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/barbara-hale-dead-perry-mason-secretary-della-street-1201971817/)** > > Barbara Hale, who played sercretary Della Street in the "Perry Mason" television series and movies, died Thursday. She was 94. According to IMDB, her career ran 1943-1995. Here’s a few early photos: [http://www.xpautographs.com/17959-14358-thickbox/barbara-hale-autograph.jpg](http://www.xpautographs.com/17959-14358-thickbox/barbara-hale-autograph.jpg) [![](https://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Hale,%20Barbara/Annex/Annex%20-%20Hale,%20Barbara%20(Seminole)_01.jpg) ](https://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Hale,%20Barbara/Annex/Annex%20-%20Hale,%20Barbara%20(Seminole)_01.jpg) [![](https://pics.wikifeet.com/Barbara-Hale-Feet-821924.jpg) ](https://pics.wikifeet.com/Barbara-Hale-Feet-821924.jpg) And here’s a recent one. [![](https://www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/hollywood_show_060812/barbara-hale-at-the-hollywood-show-held_4022647.jpg) ](https://www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/hollywood_show_060812/barbara-hale-at-the-hollywood-show-held_4022647.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/2 "2017-01-30T11:08:51Z")
She’s now pouring coffee for Perry and Paul in that big office in the sky! RIP. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/3 "2017-01-30T11:56:25Z")
Was she the one who spoke jive? Hubby says he remembers her from her Amana commercials. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/4 "2017-01-30T12:04:58Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Was she the one who spoke jive? In _ **Airplane!** _? That was Barbara Billingsley, the Beav’s mom. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/5 "2017-01-30T12:53:57Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In _ **Airplane!** _? That was Barbara Billingsley, the Beav’s mom. Ah. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/6 "2017-01-30T13:08:11Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Ah. Thanks. Quick hijack: When the film came out in the '80s, everyone in the cinema said “Hey! That’s Beaver’s mom! _Haw, haw, haw, haw!_” A couple of weeks ago, my daughter (age 21) saw _ **Airplane!** _ for the first time. The whole “Mrs Cleaver” thing was lost on her. To her, she was just “that old lady who spoke Jive.” ☹ We now return you to _ **Barbara Hale, RIP** _, already in progress. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/7 "2017-01-30T16:01:02Z")
She starred in the movie with _THE_ best special FX ever: _The Giant Spider Invasion_. Alan (“The Skipper”) Hale, Jr–Leslie (Apollo’s got a hard-on) Parrish–Robert (“Star Trek VI”) Easton and an army (1) of bear-skin-covered-Volkswagen-Beetles-with-legs-sticking-out-the-windows representing the invasion of Wisconsin arachnids. A pleasant time is guaranteed for all. Be there. Aloha. She was William (“Greatest American Hero”) Katt’s mom. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/8 "2017-01-30T17:20:57Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > She starred in the movie with _THE_ best special FX ever: _The Giant Spider Invasion_. > > Alan (“The Skipper”) Hale, Jr–Leslie (Apollo’s got a hard-on) Parrish–Robert (“Star Trek VI”) Easton and an army (1) of bear-skin-covered-Volkswagen-Beetles-with-legs-sticking-out-the-windows representing the invasion of Wisconsin arachnids. > > A pleasant time is guaranteed for all. > > Be there. Aloha. > She was William (“Greatest American Hero”) Katt’s mom. That was mentioned the OP. Katt also played Paul Drake, Jr. in a few of the _Perry Mason_ TV movies the 90s alongside his mom and Raymond Burr. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/9 "2017-01-30T18:27:13Z")
Perry Mason reruns were part of my childhood. Della Street was an interesting character and a welcome diversion from the scowling Perry Mason. I never saw Barbara in anything else. But she handled the Della role really well. I vaguely recall an episode where Della is implicated in a murder. She had more lines in that episode and Barbara made the most out of them. R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/10 "2017-01-30T18:35:03Z")
I looked it up. Della Street was accused of murder in the 1985 TV movie. Perry Mason Returns. Hale’s biggest role in that series. IIRC I hope it’s available on DVD. I’d enjoy seeing it again. A clever way to reintroduce the Perry Mason character. > **[Perry Mason Returns (TV Movie 1985) - IMDb](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0089801/)** > > Perry Mason Returns: Directed by Ron Satlof. With Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Katt, Holland Taylor. When his former secretary Della Street is accused of murder, Perry Mason gives up a judgeship to defend her. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/11 "2017-01-30T18:39:48Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > She starred in the movie with _THE_ best special FX ever: _The Giant Spider Invasion_. > > Alan (“The Skipper”) Hale, Jr–Leslie (Apollo’s got a hard-on) Parrish–Robert (“Star Trek VI”) Easton and an army (1) of bear-skin-covered-Volkswagen-Beetles-with-legs-sticking-out-the-windows representing the invasion of Wisconsin arachnids. You left out Diane Lee Hart (“Terry”). :o **EASTON:** You wuz only 13 when you come t’live with us. **HART:** And now I’m 35. **[CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON CLEAVAGE]** 35-24-36! **EASTON:** We ain’t blood kin. We’s more like kissin’ cousins! Oakies in northern Wisconsin during the Bicentennial. Love it! ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/12 "2017-01-31T04:16:14Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Was she the one who spoke jive? Hubby says he remembers her from her Amana commercials. She was in the first “Airport” movie as Dean Martin’s wife (who is busy getting stewardess Jacqueline Bisset pregnant). Richard Anderson, who played Lt Drum the last season, is the only one alive from the regular cast. Della, Perry and Paul had lots of steak dinners afterwards where Paul got to ask “there is one thing I don’t understand”. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-barbara-hale/778570/13 "2017-01-31T14:29:08Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > She starred in the movie with _THE_ best special FX ever: _The Giant Spider Invasion_. Just watched the MST3K version of that yesterday.