Perry Mason's Boss

Born June 20, 1911, Gail Patrick Jackson had two notable careers in Hollywood. In front of the cameras, she was a successful actress whose credits included such classic films as Stage Door and My Favorite Wife.

Her second act found her serving as Executive Producer of TV's Perry Mason, a post she held for that popular show's entire nine-year run. It was highly unusual in 1957 for a woman to take on such a job, but she enjoyed the full trust of Mason's creator Erle Stanley Gardner. It was she who supposedly saw the potential of Raymond Burr to be the star, when others on the production staff were dubious. As partners in Paisano Productions, Ms. Jackson and her then-husband Cornwell (who had been Gardner's literary agent) profited handsomely from the show's success.

Gail Patrick Jackson died in 1980, but left behind a record of accomplishment that will long be remembered.