Since 1934, there have been six people to portray Earl Stanley Gardner’s famous defense attorney.
Warren Williams 1934-1936, The Case of the Howling Dog (1934), The Case of the Curious Bride (1935), The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935), and The Case of the Velvet Claws (1936)
Ricardo Cortez 1936, The Case of the Black Cat
Donald Woods – 1937, The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
Raymond Burr – 1957-1966 (TV Show), 1985-1993 (TV Movies) The person most thought of when the name Perry Mason is mentioned, was personally approved by Earl Stanly Gardner to play the role.
Burr appeared in nine seasons totaling 271 episodes as well as 26 made-for-TV movies before his death in 1993. He also appeared on the Jack Benny show as Mason in 1961 in the episode called Jack on Trial for Murder.
Monte Markham – 1973-1974 (The New Perry Mason TV Show) Only 7 years after Raymond Burr’s version went off the air, CBS decided to try again with a whole new cast, running up against Raymond Burr in Ironside.
It only lasted one season (15 episodes).
Matthew Rhys – 2020- (HBO) while the jury is still out on this one, apparently there will be no jury at all, as this version of Perry Mason is not a well- off defense lawyer, but a down-on-his-luck private eye.
There is a video on You Tube that has Mr. Burr playing the prosecutor and the man playing Paul Drake as Mason. Both were test shoots before the show came on the air.
It’s interesting to see Mr. Burger being played by Mr. Burr. The same attitude of Perry Mason, but on the opposite side.