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The cast of Perry Mason threatened to quit after William Talman was suspended from the series
The cast didn't just fight for their friends in the courtroom.
We all know that a cast that works well together is more likely to stay together, but do you know what exponentially increases the likelihood of cast bonding? Quitting together, especially if you're doing so in the name of a good friend.
That's exactly what the cast of Perry Mason did, according to the Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, written by Hal Erickson. William Talman, better known as District Attorney Hamilton Burger of Perry Mason, got himself into a bit of hot water after the actor was briefly arrested.
Though the charges were dropped, the looming shadow of the arrest attempted to poison Talman's career, as CBS suspended the actor from Perry Mason on the grounds that he had violated the morals clause in his contract. Luckily, Talman didn't have to battle the network alone, as he had the Perry Mason fanbase and his costars on his side.
"Not only did viewers fervently demand Talman's reinstatement, but his fellow cast members rallied around the actor," wrote Erickson.
While viewers offered their support, the rest of the cast of Perry Mason was willing to put their careers on the line to protect their fellow actors and friends. "[They] warned CBS that if he [Talman] wasn't immediately allowed to return to the set, they might seriously reconsider signing contracts for the following season."
Luckily, the threat was able to shake CBS to its senses, and Talman was invited back into the Perry Mason cast with open arms.
"Bill Talman did indeed come back," Erickson wrote, "remaining with the show until its final episode, good-naturedly grousing about being a "perennial loser" straight down the line."
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In 1960, Talman was fired from Perry Mason for a short period after Sheriff's deputies, suspicious of marijuana use, raided a party on March 13, 1960 in the West Hollywood apartment of Richard Reibold, an advertising agency executive. The deputies reported finding Talman and seven other defendants variously naked and partly dressed. Among the guests was Mrs. Peggy Louise Flannigan, who would later become William Talman's next wife, after his divorce from Barbara Read.
All were arrested for possession of marijuana (the charge was later dropped) and lewd vagrancy. On June 17, municipal judge Adolph Alexander dismissed the charges of lewd vagrancy against Talman and the others for lack of proof. "I don't approve of their conduct," the judge ruled, "but it is not for you and me to approve but to enforce the statutes." In spite of the dismissal, CBS fired Talman and refused to give a reason. Talman was later rehired after the series' executive producer, Gail Patrick Jackson and Talman's friend Raymond Burr, made a request to CBS, Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of Perry Mason, spoke out in favor of Talman's return, and a massive campaign of letters from viewers to CBS.
