Heard, Not Seen

[Gary D.]

I couldn't decide where to post this--I could have added it to an existing thread, but I didn't actually see the lady in question--I just chatted with her over the phone.



Although he�s been gone for forty years, William Talman�s role of Hamilton Burger, Perry Mason�s perennial opponent, always defeated, of course, remains lodged in my mind. Talman was an all-around talent�one of filmdom�s most adroit villains, a good actor, and with a comedic flair as well.



I wasn�t aware of who she was at the time, but one of his former wives was our client. After I was clued in, I happened to answer the phone one day when she called, and told her that I was a fan of her late husband (I didn�t know they had been divorced years before he died).



We talked about thirty minutes�they remained close, even after subsequent marriages on his part. I found out about the Perry Mason show�they always expected Raymond Burr to go first, as he didn�t maintain his health or watch what he ate. Talman did a very courageous thing, and when he knew he was dying of lung cancer, made an anti-smoking commercial that ran after his death.



Later, when I was involved in a film group, trying to ferret out information about another deceased actor, I called the former Mrs. Talman up and asked her about 'Della Street�s' Barbara Hale. I wanted to contact Ms. Hale because she had once starred in a film with the actor.



As always, Mrs. Talman was gracious and even invited me out for lunch. I begged off but wish I hadn�t. She sounded very kind but a bit out of my league.



If anyone is interested, both William Talman and she have good write-ups in IMDb�their fans must have expanded their bios.



You will notice that I didn't mention the name she was known to on Broadway, but that is easily determined.

[bhowells]

name='Gary D.']I couldn't decide where to post this--I could have added it to an existing thread, but I didn't actually see the lady in question--I just chatted with her over the phone.



Although he’s been gone for forty years, William Talman’s role of Hamilton Burger, Perry Mason’s perennial opponent, always defeated, of course, remains lodged in my mind. Talman was an all-around talent—one of filmdom’s most adroit villains, a good actor, and with a comedic flair as well.



I wasn’t aware of who she was at the time, but one of his former wives was our client. After I was clued in, I happened to answer the phone one day when she called, and told her that I was a fan of her late husband (I didn’t know they had been divorced years before he died).



We talked about thirty minutes—they remained close, even after subsequent marriages on his part. I found out about the Perry Mason show—they always expected Raymond Burr to go first, as he didn’t maintain his health or watch what he ate. Talman did a very courageous thing, and when he knew he was dying of lung cancer, made an anti-smoking commercial that ran after his death.



Later, when I was involved in a film group, trying to ferret out information about another deceased actor, I called the former Mrs. Talman up and asked her about 'Della Street’s' Barbara Hale. I wanted to contact Ms. Hale because she had once starred in a film with the actor.



As always, Mrs. Talman was gracious and even invited me out for lunch. I begged off but wish I hadn’t. She sounded very kind but a bit out of my league.



If anyone is interested, both William Talman and she have good write-ups in IMDb—their fans must have expanded their bios.



You will notice that I didn't mention the name she was known to on Broadway, but that is easily determined.

Gary this is a great story, I am a huge fan of Perry Mason and Raymond Burr.



I was very young when the original series was shown on british tv but I do remember the opening credits.



The orgiginal series hasnt been shown on tv in this country since the show went off the air. We only get the later tv movies.



I note however that youtube have a number of clips and complete episodes.



Not surprised to learn that Raymond Burr didnt look after his health, his weight always seemed to be a problem. He got heavier in later seasons of Ironside and think the show was cancelled in 1975 due to Burrs ill health, he suffered a heart attack and there were other health problems as well.

[Gary D.]

Actually, the lady in question is Lynne Carter. For a while, I couldn't find out anything about her--except there was a Lynne Carter who was a female impersonator--apparently, quite a well-known one at that, and I was sure it wasn't the Lynne Carter.



Then, suddenly, her name came up not only on IMDb but other places as well.



Although the Talmans divorced in 1952, she had friends in the Mason cast and stayed friendly with her ex-husband. She wasn't that big in the movies, and her best film was Port of New York (wasn't this Yul Brynner's first flick?), and there was a retrospective somewhere on it the past few years and she was invited. I found a few pictures of her, none very late, and she had a film noir quality about her, much as Audrey Totter's.



Anyway, she told me, and IMDb confirms, that they met in New York on Broadway, playing either Shakespeare, Shaw, or Wilde, probably the latter.



I hope Perry Mason continues to be shown, if only to keep Mr. Talman's name alive, and I can never picture anyone except Raymond Burr playing the detective.