He was created by Erle Stanley Gardner, a prolific mystery writer, in 1933. The first Perry Mason novel was titled "The Case of the Velvet Claws," and it was a huge success, launching a series of over 80 books featuring the sharp-witted lawyer.
The television series, starring Raymond Burr, began in 1957 and ran for nine seasons. It's estimated that over 100 million viewers tuned in each week to watch Perry Mason solve his intricate legal mysteries.
So, Perry Mason was first a fictional character in books, and his popularity on the small screen brought him even greater fame.