Robert Rockwell and Jeff York played the defendant in one episode and the killer in another. Any others?
Did any actor play the defendant, the killer,and the murder victim in different episodes?
H.M. Wynant played the defendant, victim, and killer in different episodes, and even played a district attorney opposing Perry in one episode.
shareThere are ten other members of the DMV Club (played defendant, murderer and victim). They are Robert Armstrong, John Conte, Robert H. Harris, Stacy Harris, Hugh Marlowe, Mala Powers, Denver Pyle, Herbert Rudley, Vaughn Taylor and Bill Williams.
shareInteresting. Bill Williams was Barbara Hale's husband.
shareDidn't Ray Burr himself play a dual-role in one episode as a gruff, bearded, disheveled sailor? In the episode, the sailor role was actually, within the script, attempting to discredit Mason by setting him up as a look-alike to frame Mason? Sorry I am not more well versed on the episode names.
shareYes, late in the series, The Case of the Dead Ringer. See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0673233/combined
Featured the sultry actress Arlene Martel who also appeared on Hogan's Heroes.
Don't forget about John Larkin. He not only played the killer in one and a defendant in another, he played Perry Mason on the radio.
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Everyone may have an opinion but very few seem to have an informed one.
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I remember seeing that factoid in the trivia section of one of his episodes.
In two of Lasrkin's episodes I saw recently on METV, his bombastic performances were played for laffs. In one, he and his wife fought like the Kramdens over a Gauguin painting. In the other, his character and family members tried to control the finances of a ditzy, wealthy aunt who just married a soon-to-be-murdered French boy toy. About everyone played it broadly, even the murder victim and his murderer.
The strange thing is that TCOT Betrayed Bride is actually a rare thing--it's compelling drama. Unfortunately, it's compelling drama in addition to being a Very Special Sitcom for Those Who Think Young. Larkin's role is extremely believable as a family member with legitimate concerns about the family's wealth and the way Nellie doesn't give a damn about anyone. (And, oh, is that right.)
Another strange thing is that TCOT Reluctant Model was--to my sincere surprise--taken from an Erle Stanley Gardner novel that is ten times more serious than the crazy script that made it to the screen. The episode is nearly unwatchable, as many later-series episodes are, for histrionics. In this, Larkin sadly gets the Perry Mason Male Diva Award. In three episodes (throw in Greek Goddess), he screams and throws fits that make at least me mute the volume and read the captions.
It was the 60's, the insane, pathetic, rotten 60's.