Growing up in the 1960s, "Leave It to Beaver" was one of those shows that truly resonated with me. It captured the everyday adventures of the Cleaver family, centering around young Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, his older brother Wally, and their parents, Ward and June. The sitcom aired from 1957 to 1963, during a time when America was seeing vast social changes. Yet, "Leave It to Beaver" remained a steady and idyllic portrayal of suburban life, focused on traditional family values, where mischief and innocence often intertwined. What stood out to me as a child was the relatable way the show addressed growing up—whether it was handling problems at school, misunderstandings with friends, or even the occasional scrape that left Beaver learning valuable life lessons.
The show was groundbreaking in its simple, earnest storytelling. It was one of the first TV series to depict a middle-class nuclear family in a suburban setting, offering a reflection of 1950s American culture. At its heart were the Cleavers—Ward, the wise and patient father; June, the ever-supportive homemaker; and their two boys, who brought humor and warmth to every episode. Beaver’s wide-eyed curiosity and Wally’s cool older-brother vibe made for a compelling duo that millions of American viewers followed each week.
In June of 2020, I had the opportunity to speak with Jerry Mathers, the actor who brought Beaver to life. Our conversation offered a fascinating look back at his acting career as well as memories from the show, its lasting impact on television, and how playing Beaver shaped his life. It was a thrill to talk with someone whose work had such a personal influence on my childhood.
Jerry Mathers is a household name, best known for his role as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in the beloved sitcom "Leave It to Beaver". However, his career began long before that iconic role. "I started my career at around two years old," Mathers recalls, speaking fondly of his first foray into modeling. "My mom was shopping for clothes for me when a lady asked if I could be a model because I fit the clothes perfectly. I guess the little boy who usually did it had outgrown them." That chance encounter led to Mathers' start in show business, which would soon propel him into bigger projects.
After his early modeling days, Mathers quickly transitioned to television and film. His early work included roles in films like This Is My Love and Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry. He also appeared in commercials, including one for Pet Milk alongside legendary vaudeville star Ed Wynn. “I was only two, and they told me to just tug on his coat and say, ‘It’s time for a commercial.’ I did it right, and from there, I worked all the time,” Mathers shares, his voice full of nostalgia. “It was live TV, and they needed kids who could handle being in front of an audience.”
Working with some of the most famous names in entertainment gave Mathers plenty of memories. He recalls working with comedian Spike Jones, the star of the 1955 film The Seven Little Foys and iconic entertainer Bob Hope, who once saved his life during the filming of a fire scene. “We were filming a scene where I was up in the balcony, and they accidentally put too much gasoline on the curtains. The fire started for real, and my stunt double couldn’t get to me,” Mathers explains. “Bob Hope realized I wasn’t where I should be and came through the flames to save me.” It’s clear that Mathers holds a special place for the stars of that golden era of entertainment, noting that “Spike Jones was a great guy—he could play all these instruments and was always goofing around.”
One of the most fascinating elements of Mathers’ career is his experience working with Alfred Hitchcock on The Trouble with Harry, a film with a unique tone. “We filmed in Stowe, Vermont, for about six weeks. Hitchcock was a foodie, and every day we’d go through a buffet line, and everyone would watch to see what he picked to eat. I’d always run right behind him and ask, ‘Is that the one?’ He’d laugh and say, ‘Oh yes, Jerry, that’s the one,’ and I’d get the best food,” Mathers recalls with a laugh. Hitchcock’s reputation for being intimidating didn’t faze Mathers as a young boy. “Everyone else was a little scared of him, but I thought he was great.”
Perhaps the role Mathers is best known for is that of the "Beaver" in Leave It to Beaver, a part that almost slipped through his fingers due to his dedication to the Cub Scouts. “I had gone to so many callbacks for the role, and I was just tired of it. One day, I told my mom I couldn’t go because I had a Cub Scout meeting. When I got to the audition, the producers asked me what was wrong, and I told them I didn’t want to be late to my meeting. I think that’s what really sold them on me—that I was just being myself,” he shares. That genuine nature was exactly what made the character of Beaver Cleaver so relatable to audiences.
When discussing "Leave It to Beaver", he pointed out how crucial casting was to the show’s success. “I always thought Hugh Beaumont was an excellent choice,” he noted, highlighting Beaumont's dual role as an actor and a Methodist minister who juggled his ministry with acting. He also spoke fondly of Barbara Billingsley, who played his on-screen mother, saying, "She was just the most beautiful person you'd ever want to meet." Despite the common portrayal of Billingsley’s character as a stereotypical 1950s housewife, the actor emphasized her deeper role, "She might not have been the prototypical housewife... she was much deeper than that."
He recalled how the writers drew from real-life experiences, mentioning how Joe Connelly, the show's creator, based Beaver and Wally on his own sons. “A lot of the show’s dialogue was actually recorded from real conversations between his kids,” he said. This authenticity, he believed, contributed to the show's lasting appeal. "The Cleaver home was pretty much portrayed as a sanctuary... of mutual respect and dignity," he explained, with the show’s values resonating deeply with audiences. "I think there's a couple of reasons [why the show still stands up]... they're all from real life," he added, noting that the relatable and genuine experiences of the characters have kept the show relevant even decades later.
During the interview, the discussion turned to the groundbreaking nature of "Leave It to Beaver" and a particularly famous episode about Wally and Beaver sneaking home a pet alligator. The original plan was for this episode to air first, but it was delayed due to an unprecedented issue for television at the time—the depiction of a bathroom. Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, explained that back then, "you weren’t allowed to show bathrooms" on TV. In the episode, Wally and Beaver win an alligator at a fair but are told by their parents that they can't keep it. The boys decide to sneak the animal home and hide it in the toilet, which presented a problem for network censors. As Mathers recalled, "Even though they didn’t show the bowl, they just showed the top of the toilet. [The censors] said no, no." Despite the objections, the episode was eventually aired, marking the first time a bathroom was ever shown in a family sitcom—a truly groundbreaking moment for television.
When asked about what it was like to be part of such television magic at a young age, Mathers, who had been acting since the age of two, reflected on his early experience in the industry. Having started on live TV and done commercials, he explained, "It was nothing out of the ordinary for me. It was something I was very, very used to." His childhood was far from typical, spending most of his days on set rather than in a traditional school environment. Mathers also shared that the "Leave It to Beaver" set was a particularly enjoyable place to work because most of the crew members had families of their own, making it a family-friendly environment that was "a very, very fun time" for him.
The conversation then moved to the mystery surrounding Beaver’s nickname, a question that had puzzled audiences for years. Mathers shared that viewers had been curious about the origin of the name, and the writers didn't have a solid explanation for it. Finally, in the last episode, they decided that as a child, Beaver couldn’t properly pronounce Theodore and said something like "Tweeter," which somehow morphed into "Beaver." Mathers found the reasoning somewhat "ridiculous," but that’s the explanation the writers settled on for the character's famous nickname.
As the show evolved, Mathers’ character formed friendships with several recurring characters, such as Larry Mondello, Gilbert Bates, and Richard Rickover. When asked if he had a favorite, Mathers revealed that he got along best with Richard Rickover, portrayed by the son of Charles Correll, one of the writers from "Amos 'n' Andy." Mathers shared, "He and I became very, very good friends," though he noted that, unlike schoolmates, he didn’t see many of his on-screen friends regularly outside of filming, as they might only appear in one scene every few weeks.
The interview also touched on Mathers' friendship with Ken Osmond, who played Eddie Haskell. Mathers described Osmond as the "best actor on the show" because of how vastly different he was from his on-screen persona. Osmond had a distinguished career as an LAPD officer, was shot twice in the line of duty, and even rode a motorcycle to work. Mathers fondly remembered how Osmond would occasionally take him for a spin on his bike around the studio lot, a memory Mathers held dear despite his mother’s constant worrying. Describing Osmond, he said, "Just the nicest person you’d ever want to meet."
Reflecting on the end of the show after 234 episodes, Mathers compared the experience to graduating from school. "It was like maybe a private school where everybody went to a different school," he said. After six years together, the cast and crew were like a family, and the sudden end was bittersweet. Though they hoped for another season, the sixth year was their last. Still, the bonds they formed during those years remained strong.
Mathers also shared an interesting tidbit about his career as a child actor—he was the first child actor to secure a percentage of the merchandising revenue from the show. Items like hats, t-shirts, and even toys featuring Wally and Beaver became popular, and Mathers continued to earn from the show's merchandise long after the initial run. He remarked that he wasn’t surprised by the show's lasting popularity, noting, "It’s never been off the air," with reruns continuing to air globally for decades. The merchandise and the commercials that the cast did for sponsors were just part of what made "Leave It to Beaver" a cultural phenomenon.He fondly recalled, “It was a great time. We did it for six years, and I had the best time of my life. I really missed it when I left it.” The friendships he made during the show were important to him, likening the experience to “leaving elementary school” and moving on to a different phase in life where he didn’t see everyone regularly anymore.
When asked about the transition to new roles after *Leave It to Beaver*, Jerry shared that it wasn’t as difficult as one might assume. This was largely because he chose to focus on his education, going to high school for the first time after years of being privately tutored. "I had never been in school with any other kids. I'd had a private tutor since I was in the first grade with *Leave It to Beaver*," he explained. In high school, he joined the football and track teams, relishing in the opportunity to be part of a more traditional adolescent experience. He admitted that it was a “big jump” to attend school with other kids, but the adjustment wasn’t drastically different from what most students experience going from elementary to high school.
The interview also explored Jerry’s involvement in the *New Leave It to Beaver* series, which he described as an incredibly fulfilling reunion of cast and crew members. "We did the *New Leave It to Beaver*, and we did that for quite a few years, I think about 100 episodes of that," he recounted. He enjoyed the transition into the fatherly role, filling the shoes of Hugh Beaumont’s Ward Cleaver, while new young actors took on the mischievous antics that once belonged to Beaver. He said it was “really fun to be around people that I’d known as a child” while working as an adult.
Jerry also spoke about directing episodes of the *New Leave It to Beaver*, something that felt especially rewarding, given his connection to Hugh Beaumont, who had also directed several episodes of the original series. Jerry expressed, "I always did watch the directors and learn certain things." His knowledge of shots and coverage proved beneficial as he stepped into the director’s chair, though he admitted the challenge of working within strict time limits when directing child actors, who could only work a set number of hours each day. He noted, "A lot of times, the adults might be there till nine or ten o'clock, because we had to move everything back and then do a couple of close-ups on them."
An amusing anecdote from Jerry’s life came when he recounted his time on *The Dating Game*. What was supposed to be a fun experience turned awkward when the girl he was set up with turned out to be only 16 years old, despite having claimed she was older. “It wasn’t exactly the kind of date I expected,” Jerry admitted, but he still managed to have fun, later traveling through Europe on his own, which he described as a great adventure.
Throughout the interview, Jerry’s nostalgia for *Leave It to Beaver* remained evident. He didn’t have just one favorite episode but cherished many because of the different characters and animals involved. “When I see one of those, it brings back good memories,” he shared, recalling funny moments, like the time a show cat got loose on set, leading to a two-day search.
Whenever I watch *Leave It to Beaver* on ME TV here in New York, I'm constantly reminded of the profound impact this iconic show has had on generations of viewers. It's more than just a nostalgic trip back in time; it's a testament to the enduring values and heartfelt storytelling that continue to resonate with audiences. The daily posts and discussions in various *Leave It to Beaver* Facebook groups are a vivid illustration of this enduring connection. Fans from all walks of life share their fond memories, recounting how the show’s wholesome humor and genuine warmth have been a comforting presence in their lives.
The show’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of many people's lives, touching hearts and minds across decades. The stories and lessons from *Leave It to Beaver* are not just echoes of the past; they are vibrant reminders of a simpler, more innocent time that many long for in today's crazy divided world. It’s clear that the show's impact extends far beyond its original run, continuing to inspire and bring joy to countless individuals. As Jerry Mathers aptly put it, he had more fun doing the show than we had watching it, and that joy is something that has been passed down through the years.
The fact that we can still find comfort and connection through a black-and-white television show speaks volumes about its significance. It’s a reminder that the values and lessons from "Leave It to Beaver"—kindness, honesty, and family—are timeless and relevant even today. As we celebrate the show's enduring influence, it's a fitting tribute to the way it has become ingrained in the DNA of a generation, offering both a nostalgic escape and a comforting presence in our lives all these years later.
Here is the complete interview with Jerry :
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