Perry Mason

Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a client being charged with murder, usually involving a preliminary hearing or jury trial. Typically, Mason establishes his client's innocence by finding the real murderer. The character was inspired by famed Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Earl Rogers.

The character of Perry Mason was adapted for motion pictures and a long-running radio series. These were followed by the best-known adaptation, the CBS television series Perry Mason (1957–1966) starring Raymond Burr. A second television series, The New Perry Mason starring Monte Markham, ran from 1973 to 1974; and 30 Perry Mason television films ran from 1985 to 1995, with Burr reprising the role of Mason in 26 of them prior to his death in 1993. A third television series, HBO's Perry Mason starring Matthew Rhys, started airing in 2020.

"The Perry Mason" series ranks third in the top ten best-selling book series. In 2015, the American Bar Association's publishing imprint, Ankerwycke, began reissuing Gardner's "Perry Mason" books, which had been out of print in the United States.

Recurring / Regular characters

Recurring characters in the Perry Mason stories include the following:

• Perry Mason: Los Angeles attorney introduced in the 1933 novel, The Case of the Velvet Claws.
• Della Street: Mason's confidential secretary introduced in the 1933 novel, The Case of the Velvet Claws.
• Paul Drake: Private investigator introduced in the 1933 novel, The Case of the Velvet Claws.

Hedda Hopper married actor and singer DeWolf Hopper on May 8, 1913, in New Jersey. They had one child, William, who later played Paul Drake in the "Perry Mason" series.

• Hamilton Burger: District attorney introduced in the 1935 novel, The Case of the Counterfeit Eye
• Lt. Arthur Tragg: Police homicide investigator introduced in the 1940 novel, The Case of the Silent Partner.
• Gertie Lade: Mason's switchboard operator, an "incurable romantic" introduced in the 1939 novel, The Case of the Rolling Bones, and occasionally appearing in the CBS-TV series.
• Sergeant Holcomb: Homicide detective often featured in the novels but in only two episodes of the CBS-TV series.
• Carl Jackson: Junior attorney in Mason's law firm, appearing in the novels and a few episodes of the CBS-TV series Perry Mason.
• David Gideon: Young legal assistant working with Mason in nine episodes of the CBS-TV series.
• Lt. Andy Anderson: Police homicide investigator in the CBS-TV series.
• Lt. Steve Drumm: Police homicide investigator in the CBS-TV series.
• Terrance Clay: Restaurateur and friend of Mason in the CBS-TV series.
• Paul Drake, Jr.: Paul Drake's son, also a private investigator, in the first nine Perry Mason television films.
• Ken Malansky: Attorney who replaced Paul Drake, Jr., in 21 of the television films.
• Lieutenant Ed Brock: Police commander in several of the television films.
• Michael Reston: District attorney in eight of the television films.
• Amy Hastings: Ken Malansky's girlfriend and assistant to Mason in three of the television films.
• Elinor Harrelson: Judge in seven of the Perry Mason television films.
• Barbara August: District attorney in two of the Perry Mason television films.

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