Perry Mason (TV series)/Trivia

The Character Died with Him
- After Burr's 1993 death, NBC aired several more episodes with Paul Sorvino or Hal Holbrook playing a defense attorney friend of an out-of-town Mason.
- Ray Collins, who played Lt. Tragg
- William Hopper and Paul Drake
- William Talman and Hamilton Burger.
Edited for Syndication: Some episodes apparently do not exist in uncut form.
Outlived Its Creator
Recycled Script: Became somewhat common towards the end of the first series.
Role-Ending Misdemeanor: Narrowly averted in the case of William Talman, the actor behind Hamilton Burger, who was arrested for misdemeanor offenses and (though cleared of the charges) subsequently fired by CBS. A campaign led by his co-stars eventually got him rehired.
Star-Making Role: Perry Mason for Raymond Burr.
Stunt Casting: A number of guest stars filled in for Burr while he was recovering from an operation. Most did not fit this trope, but one was Bette Davis.
Trope Namers: The Perry Mason Method.
Word of God: After Raymond Burr's death, it was revealed that Perry Mason author Erle Stanley Gardner himself had advocated Burr's hiring; neither he nor the producers were happy with the actors who had auditioned for the titular role (but were leaning towards Fred MacMurray). Burr, who had primarily played The Heavy in a series of low budget films, was invited to shoot a screen test for the role of Hamilton Burger. Midway through the playback of Burr's test days later, Gardner (who had never heard of Burr) stood up, pointed at the screen and said "That's him! That's Perry Mason!" The rest is history.
Write What You Know: Erle Stanley Gardner was an attorney.