Raymond Burr Burr went on a crash diet. When he returned, he tested as Perry Mason and won the role. While Burr's test was running, Gardner reportedly stood up, pointed at the screen and said, "That's Perry Mason." William Hopper also auditioned as Mason, but was cast instead as private detective Paul Drake. Also starring were Barbara Hale as Della Street, Mason's secretary; William Talman as Hamilton Burger, the district attorney who loses nearly every case to Mason; and Ray Collins as homicide detective Lieutenant Arthur Tragg. The series ran from 1957-66. Burr received three consecutive Emmy Award nominations and won the
Burr Sprague Sprague died at his home in Brodhead, Wisconsin. Burr Sprague Burr Sprague (April 30, 1836 – April 17, 1917) was an American lawyer and politician. Born in Perrysburg, New York, Sprague moved to Wisconsin in 1848 and lived in the town of Spring Valley, Rock County, Wisconsin and then Brodhead, Wisconsin. He was a lawyer and was the editor and publisher of the "Brodhead Independent Observer". Sprague also served as postmaster of Orfordville and Brodhead, Wisconsin. He also served as judge of the Green County court and Brodhead superintendent of public schools. In 1868, 1880, and 1881, Sprague served in