His first roles were in "Beverly Hills", "Yokel Boy" and "Of Mice and Men." There's even a brief appearance by Perry's prosecutorial nemesis Hamilton Burger (Justin Kirk), who plays a shocking part in Mason's transformation. He went on to perform in over 17 films, several of which he starred in. Sheriff's deputies, suspicious of marijuana use, raided a party on March 13, 1960, in a private home in Beverly Hills at which Talman was a guest. William Whitney Talman, Jr. (February 4, 1915 – August 30, 1968) was an American television and movie actor, best known for playing Los Angeles District Attorney Hamilton Burger in the television series Perry Mason. There's even a brief appearance by Perry's prosecutorial nemesis Hamilton Burger (Justin Kirk), who plays a shocking part in Mason's transformation. Shea Whigham ("Boardwalk Empire," "Fargo," "Homecoming") starts off as Perry's investigative partner before finding a new role that should bring him back for a future season. If you don't currently subscribe to HBO or HBO MAX and wonder if this show's for you, HBO has posted the entire first episode on YouTube (embedded below). One of his children, Timothy, went on to become a musical comedy dancer, once performing on Broadway in, In an interview Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of. After the 1966 cancellation of Perry Mason, Talman appeared on The Wild, Wild West and in a first-season episode of The Invaders, "Quantity: Unknown”, which was his last on-screen acting role before his death.[13]. Upon his return home, it was discovered that he had lung cancer.
When the message was being filmed, Talman knew he was dying, was in a great deal of pain and was in fact under heavy sedation for it. Unlike a fist or gun fight, in court you can have a winner without having a loser. Prior to leaving for active duty he married actress Lynne Carter. By the time the season is over, there's been some measure of justice, but viewers aren't getting the tightly wrapped package they might expect from something called "Perry Mason."
The origin story, however, is complete, and we're set up for a season two that could feel a whole lot more like the Perry Mason people have always loved. Public school. In a tragic turn of events, his former wife took her own life in December of 1963 by closing up her house and turning on the gas jets. He was born William Whitney Talman Jr. on February 4, 1915, in Detroit, Michigan, the first son of William Talman Sr. and Ada B. Talman.
A lifelong heavy smoker, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and knew he was dying when he filmed the commercial. He then said, "You know, I didn't really mind losing those courtroom battles, but I'm in a battle now I don't want to lose at all.