Born on the 18th of April 1922, in Illinois, Barbara was one of two children. As a young girl, she had intended to major in art and drawing; she began her professional career as a model for a comic strip called "Ramblin' Bill", during the time she was working her way through The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. In 1946, she married actor Bill Williams (I)(died 1992), and with son William Katt in 1951, one of 3 children.
Barbara worked consistently in Hollywood in a series of films until she landed the role of Perry Mason's long suffering and efficient secretary,
… More Della Street. Of interesting note, she was well known for her patentented screams.....Raymond Burr once said. "She has the best shriek in Hollywood". Additionally, William Katt teamed up with his mother in many of the Perr Mason, made-for-TV-movies in the 80s and 90s. William Katt played the role of the son of Paul Drake, the investigator in the original series.
She also collaborated off-screen with Mr Burr, where as an avid orchid cultivator, he named an orchid after Barabara Hale.
Barbara can be seen 2 times a day in Perry Mason re-runs on the Hallmark Channel. Check local listings
SrRui
TrickMeNot
