William Talman
William Talman was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the district attorney Hamilton Burger in the long-running TV series "Perry Mason." Born on February 4, 1915, in Detroit, Michigan, Talman began his acting career on stage before transitioning to film and television.
Talman's early career in Hollywood saw him playing supporting roles in films such as "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1949) and "Armored Car Robbery" (1950).
However, he achieved widespread recognition and acclaim for his role in the television series "Perry Mason," which aired from 1957 to 1966. Talman's character, Hamilton Burger, was the rival prosecutor to Raymond Burr's Perry Mason, and their ongoing courtroom battles became a defining element of the show. Talman's performance as Burger earned him an Emmy nomination in 1959.
Outside of "Perry Mason," Talman appeared in several notable films, often playing tough and authoritative characters. He portrayed gangsters in films like "The Hitch-Hiker" (1953), directed by Ida Lupino, and "The Racket" (1951), directed by John Cromwell. Talman's deep voice and imposing presence made him a natural fit for these roles.
Despite his successful acting career, Talman faced personal challenges. In 1960, he was arrested at a private party for possession of marijuana, which resulted in his temporary suspension from "Perry Mason." Talman used this experience to advocate against drug use, becoming a prominent spokesperson for anti-drug campaigns.
Tragically, Talman was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1967, and he used his remaining time to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking. Before his death on August 30, 1968, at the age of 53, Talman recorded a public service announcement about the harmful effects of smoking, which continued to be aired after his passing.
William Talman's portrayal of Hamilton Burger in "Perry Mason" remains his most enduring and recognizable role. His contribution to the series and his efforts to combat drug use and raise awareness about the hazards of smoking have left a lasting impact on both the entertainment industry and public health advocacy.
Talman's early career in Hollywood saw him playing supporting roles in films such as "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1949) and "Armored Car Robbery" (1950).
However, he achieved widespread recognition and acclaim for his role in the television series "Perry Mason," which aired from 1957 to 1966. Talman's character, Hamilton Burger, was the rival prosecutor to Raymond Burr's Perry Mason, and their ongoing courtroom battles became a defining element of the show. Talman's performance as Burger earned him an Emmy nomination in 1959.
Outside of "Perry Mason," Talman appeared in several notable films, often playing tough and authoritative characters. He portrayed gangsters in films like "The Hitch-Hiker" (1953), directed by Ida Lupino, and "The Racket" (1951), directed by John Cromwell. Talman's deep voice and imposing presence made him a natural fit for these roles.
Despite his successful acting career, Talman faced personal challenges. In 1960, he was arrested at a private party for possession of marijuana, which resulted in his temporary suspension from "Perry Mason." Talman used this experience to advocate against drug use, becoming a prominent spokesperson for anti-drug campaigns.
Tragically, Talman was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1967, and he used his remaining time to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking. Before his death on August 30, 1968, at the age of 53, Talman recorded a public service announcement about the harmful effects of smoking, which continued to be aired after his passing.
William Talman's portrayal of Hamilton Burger in "Perry Mason" remains his most enduring and recognizable role. His contribution to the series and his efforts to combat drug use and raise awareness about the hazards of smoking have left a lasting impact on both the entertainment industry and public health advocacy.
Quotes:
"I never let anyone bluff me. I'm always bluffing them."
"It's not the amount of screen time you have that matters; it's what you do with it."
"The challenge of playing a villain is finding the humanity in them."
"Acting is about taking risks and embracing vulnerability."
- William Talman
Trivia:
When he came down with lung cancer, he was the first actor to do a TV commercial on the danger of smoking.
In an interview Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of The Hitch-Hiker (1953), in which he gave a chilling portrayal of escaped murderer and serial killer Emmett Meyers. He was driving his convertible in Los Angeles with the top down, and he stopped at a red light. Another driver in a convertible who was stopped next to him stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "You're the hitchhiker, right?" Talman nodded, indicating that he was. The other driver got out of his car, went over to Talman's car and slapped him across the face, then got back in his car and drove off. In recalling the story, Talman said, "You know, I never won an Academy Award but I guess that was about as close as I ever will come to one."
He was actually fired from the Perry Mason (1957) series after a party at which he was a guest was raided by Los Angeles police. Although he denied any wrongdoing, he was fired from the show due to the morals clause in his contract. Although the cast and crew persuaded the network to rehire him, it damaged his acting career. He did not work very much as an actor after the incident.
In an interview Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of The Hitch-Hiker (1953), in which he gave a chilling portrayal of escaped murderer and serial killer Emmett Meyers. He was driving his convertible in Los Angeles with the top down, and he stopped at a red light. Another driver in a convertible who was stopped next to him stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "You're the hitchhiker, right?" Talman nodded, indicating that he was. The other driver got out of his car, went over to Talman's car and slapped him across the face, then got back in his car and drove off. In recalling the story, Talman said, "You know, I never won an Academy Award but I guess that was about as close as I ever will come to one."
He was actually fired from the Perry Mason (1957) series after a party at which he was a guest was raided by Los Angeles police. Although he denied any wrongdoing, he was fired from the show due to the morals clause in his contract. Although the cast and crew persuaded the network to rehire him, it damaged his acting career. He did not work very much as an actor after the incident.
