Barbara Hale (April 18, 1922 – January 26, 2017)

(AP) – Barbara Hale, a movie actress who found her most
famous role on television as steadfast secretary Della
Street in the long-running CBS series "Perry Mason" 
(1957 – 1966) has died.

Hale was surrounded by family when she died Thursday
at her Los Angeles area home, said Jaqueline Stander,
an agent for Hale’s son, actor William Katt ("The Greatest
American Hero," ”Carrie").

"She was gracious and kind and silly and always fun to be
with," Katt posted on his Facebook page Thursday, calling
Hale a wonderful actress and a "treasure as a friend and
mother." Hale reportedly died of complications from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.