By the time those pesky Alice Cooper rumors spread, Ken Osmond had been a police officer for over 18 years! The Leave It To Beaver Secrets You Never Knew - Pens & Patron TV Shows. He ended up managing several cast members investments. Have you noticed while watching the show that the Cleavers car is missing the rear windshield? He would wear his Cub Scouts uniform to the several rounds of audition and tell everyone that he was anxious to get to his den. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Ken Osmond at The Paley Center for Media on June 21, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California | Photo: Getty Images. Some of that stems from the fact that Tony Dow himself was an accomplished athlete, even before he made it onto the show. Other cast members include Russ Thorson as Man with Milk Bottles, Leonard Bremen as Milk Bar Operator, Tim Graham as Doc, and Virginia Carroll as Nurse. Wally is based on Connelly's son, Jay. On the show, Wally was often portrayed as the successful older brother, who not only was smooth with the ladies, but was admired for his athletic prowess. One of the most noticeable goofs on the show was the changing age gap between Wally and Beaver. Oops? Bank became a stockbroker and lived his life his own way before passing away in April 2017. Sullivan would have been a household name for years to come. He is an athlete with track, basketball and baseball being his three favorite sports; and, he excels at all. Today, many of the show's cast members including Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver), Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver), and Frank Dank (Lumpy Rutherford), are no longer alive, but the memories of them are still fresh. Movies. In celebration of the TV shows 60th anniversary, many of the cast members began doing interviews on many TV networks in order to discuss their time on the show. Fox News reports that Osmond became a Los Angeles Police Department officer for 18 years before becoming a celebrity spokesman. By the end of the show, however, Beaver was set to begin high school, while Wally was graduating, meaning the gap had reduced to only a four year difference. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. Beaumont didn't remain the show business after "Leave It to Beaver." He would later play the role in spin-offs. Eddie might have been quite the rascal on the set ofLeave It To Beaver, but Osmonds future profession showed just how different he was from his character. Beaver - still Jerry Mathers - was a tiny bit smaller than what we saw on the first season, but basically the same kid and character. He was so worried about being late for the meeting, he informed the casting team that he had somewhere to be, which they absolutely loved. In fact, there was someone else who played little Beaver before Dow. Wally is the "all-American" boy. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. However, its Everybody has a different definition of a perfect vacation. Child actor Paul Sullivan, however, portrays the character in the series pilot, "It's a Small World", which aired in April 1957. Movies. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. Wally, on the other hand was in 8th grade, meaning there was a six year gap between the boys. It was a good title at face value, but the producers were afraid people might think the show was a nature program. There was good reason the boys lives were so relatable to viewers. In the 1980s, Wally and Beaver were brought back to screens in a TV movie that featured them as parents, with June around as a loving grandma to their kids. Tony Dow, , 77, juvenile TV actor (Leave It to Beaver,'( - Google Groups He didnt even audition forLeave it to Beaveroriginally, but a different show that was cancelled. "It's a Small World" is the pilot episode from the iconic American television series Leave It to Beaver (19571963). | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Wally's age permitted the writers to place him in dating situations with his school friends. A growth spurt. Menu. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. In the second season, Wally attends Mayfield High School, and remains there for the show's last five seasons, despite the fact that he should have graduated. Its just stock footage they paid to use. Paul Sullivan - IMDb We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Wally Cleaver (Paul Sullivan) is the older son of Ward and June and the brother of Beaver. The episode was ranked #42 on TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time! After the show, Ken Osmond left the acting business in order to become a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. From Quiz: Leave It To Beaver [2] Following its April 1957 telecast, the episode was subsequently misplaced and was feared lost until a copy was found in a film vault in Illinois. The pilot episode aired on April 23, 1957, but never aired as an episode within the series. Bullies have always seemed to be around, and Frank Bank was the perfectly horrible bully on the show named "Lumpy." It also helped him hide his sneaky ways. Instead of showing up, reading some lines, and then hoping for the part, Mathers arrived in his Cub Scout uniform and informed the casting directors that he had to hurry because he had a meeting to attend. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. One would have imagined that booking such a popular show likeLeave It To Beaver would have been an exciting event, however, for Hugh Beaumont, it led to tragedy. That means that Eddie Haskell was the original cool kid. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. Beaumont was always professional and friendly on set, but he was severely depressed while working on it. Keep . In order to be able to see the boys sitting in the back seat of the car, the glass was therefore removed, which solved the problem of glare. Although it is not specified what Wally's exact specialties are, he did agree to be Beaver's attorney to fight for custody of his kids, but the plans changed when Beaver's ex-wife asked him to take the boys because the only vet school that will take her is in Italy. They've been collecting them all week. Simon closes the seminar, expressing his hope that this is one of many cast reunions to . Paul Sullivan Wally Cleaver Richard Deacon Mr. Baxter Diane Brewster Miss Simms Joseph Kearns Mr. Fred Crowley (as Joe Kearns) Russell Thorson Man with Milk Bottles (as Russ Thorson) Leonard Bremen Milk Bar Proprietor (as Lennie Bremen) Harry Shearer Frankie Bennett Tommy Randall Frankie's Friend Tim Graham Doc Virginia Carroll Nurse Rory O'Connor Meet 'Leave It to Beaver' Actors Over 60 Years after the Show Ended At the time, no show had ever shown a bathroom, and the censorship authorities wanted to do more than just remove the scene from the show. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. In order to be able to see the boys sitting in the back seat of the car, the glass was therefore removed, which solved the problem of glare. Producers took advantage of Dow's popularity and scripted episodes delving into Wally's dating life, his after school jobs, his pals, and his car. The day the series began running was October 4, 1957, which was the same day that the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the very first satellite into space. Family matriarch June Cleaver was played by the gorgeous Barbara Billingsley. He is best known by the public for his role as Wallace "Wally" Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver (1957). Fans looked for clues in every episode, but soon found out from the writers and producers that the show was set in Mayfield, a fictional town meant to represent the American ideal. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June Cleaver and Wally's brother. He spends school nights at home glued to his textbooks and scratching out essays in his composition tablet. When the show first debuted in 1957, its ratings were only so so, which caused executives at CBS to rethink their commitment to the program. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. The show producers finally came to a compromise with the FCC by showing only the toilet tank, and not the bowl. They didnt want a big laugh; they wanted chuckles. You may have wondered why the humor of the show was styled as such, so its nice that Dow provided the answer. The Yucatan peninsula is a perennial favorite when it comes to travelers visiting Mexico. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. The actor who played Larry, Robert "Rusty" Stevens, was born in 1948 and is still alive today. Instead, his son drove the family, but ended up in an accident on the way, which Hughs mother-in-law didnt survive. Paul Sullivan is known for The Book of Life (2014), Megamind (2010) and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). When the show aired its final episode,Leave It To Beaverbecame the first American program to have its own series finale! During an interview for the shows 60th anniversary, Tony Dow toldToday that the shows writers didnt wantLeave It To Beaver to be filled with jokes that had audiences rolling on the floor in laughter. Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . In one episode, however, Ward is out of town and Wally is asked to play the man of the house. Back home, his son, Hunter, drove his mom and grandmother to work one day and lost control of the car. Wally Cleaver - Wikipedia Tony Dow appeared in the series proper as Wally for all the episodes. Hugh Beaumont turned to acting for very different reasons that most performers. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. Beaumont blamed himself and his work on the show for her death, because he wasnt there to drive the car instead of Hunter. "Leave It to Beaver" might be a hit series of its time, but initially it was canceled by CBS after the first season ended in 1958. After his run as Haskell, Ken Osmond disappeared seemingly for a while, and rumors abounded. Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. There was good reason the boys lives were so relatable to viewers. UnlikeBeaver,Happy Days was filmed during the 1970s, even though it took place in the 1950s. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. The producers werent able to figure out a way for the show to go on without him, so they decided it would be best forLeave It To Beaver to go off the air. In 1997, the feature film Leave It to Beaver was released with young Erik von Detten as Wally. The original pilot never aired with the mainLeave it to Beaverseries. Paul Sullivan, who initially portrayed Wally, was replaced by Tony Dow after going through a growth spurt following the filming of the pilot episode. The Soviet Union announced that it had launched "Sputnik I" into space on October 4, 1963, the same day the show debuted. In the original Leave it to Beaver pilot, Wally was played by actor Paul Sullivan. In 1983, CBS aired the reunion telemovie Still the Beaver starring Jerry Mathers. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivan's place as Wally. The producers werent able to figure out a way for the show to go on without him, so they decided it would be best forLeave It To Beaver to go off the air. The series premiered on a notable day in history, though it had nothing to do with the show that would become an icon in its own right later on. One episode ofLeave it to Beaverwas actually censored by the Federal Communications Commission when it showed a toilet on screen. In the 1980s, Osmond was shot three times while he was on duty during a chase with a criminal. Movies. The Only Actors Still Alive From The Cast Of Leave It To Beaver On a whim, Tony decided to audition alongside his friend, and they filmed a pilot together, which never got off the ground. 'Leave It To Beaver': The Original Wally Cleaver Was Replaced After a In his later years, he became a stockbroker, after finding it hard to break allusions that he really was Lumpy. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. He slips into slang occasionally, which upsets his mother. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. Museum of Broadcasting Seminar Series, The: "Leave It to Beaver Before acting onLeave it to Beaver,Hugh Beaumont was a Methodist minister. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Showcase yourself on IMDbPro Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Known for Leave It to Beaver 7.6 TV Series Wally Cleaver 1957 1 ep Official Detective 8.0 TV Series Tommy Harrison 1957 1 ep Studio 57 7.9 TV Series Wally Cleaver But the typical chores of a teen boy (mowing the lawn, carrying out the trash, washing windows), apparently are not his. In a play taken straight from Beaver's life, Mathers was shooting an episode where Beaver cares for a neighbor's cat. He sometimes humorously regards his parents as clueless squares. Theres a lot of facts you might know. Despite the rumors, Mathers became the star ofBeaverspin off movies and TV shows in the 1980s, which was originally titled,Still The Beaver. It was the first series to have a true finale. Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. Unlike his brother Beaver (who thinks girls are "creepy"), Wally is popular with the girls and has many girlfriends during the course of the series' run. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. At the time, no show had ever shown a bathroom, and the censorship authorities wanted to do more than just remove the scene from the show. It aired as an installment of "Heinz Studio 57," an anthology series. But where are the cast members now? Matthers returned to television for a reunion, "Still the Beaver" in 1983, and appeared in a few episodes of the famous series, "Lassie." So many people, in fact, that TV Guide ranked Eddie Haskell as #2 in their list of TVs 10 Biggest Brats on its March 27, 2005 issue. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. Even though Mary Ellen was Wally's principal romantic interest, Wally dated several other girls during his high school years. At other times, he clues the parents in on Beaver's activities, plans and feelings. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver ( Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June and the brother of Wally. In the originalLeave it to Beaverpilot, Wally was played by actorPaul Sullivan. "Leave It to Beaver" It's a Small World (TV Episode 1957) - IMDb Paul Sullivan is known for Leave It to Beaver (1957), Official Detective (1957) and Studio 57 (1954). Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. Osmond's part as the two-faced teenage scoundrel, Haskell, was only supposed to be a one-off guest appearance. In celebration of the TV shows 60th anniversary, many of the cast members began doing interviews on many TV networks in order to discuss their time on the show. Luckily for Osmond, he was wearing a bullet proof vest, which ultimately saved his life. Though Wally sometimes warns Beaver he will suffer some sort of physical punishment from Ward ("Dad's gonna clobber you! Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. His dating life is sometimes frustrating as he tries to deal with the thoughts and emotions of teenaged girls. Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. Menu. Many of the scenarios that Beaver and Wally found themselves in throughout the show often seemed to hit very close to the concerns of other children and teenagers their age. He is an intelligent, polite teenager, who is trusted by his parents, popular with his peers, and liked by his teachers. Paul Sullivan did not have much of an acting career outside of this pilot. As of September 2012 he was living and working in Topanga Canyon, CA, as a sculptor. When the sequel series begins in 1984, Wally and Mary Ellen are the parents of a 10-year-old daughter, Kelly (Kaleena Kiff). Still, that didn't happen. Menu. In this web exclusive, actor and artist Tony Dow, who beginning at age 12 starred as Wally Cleaver in the classic sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," explains to co. They didnt want a big laugh; they wanted chuckles. You may have wondered why the humor of the show was styled as such, so its nice that Dow provided the answer. Its characters were relatable, the show had a good balance of humor, and it felt like a real American family. Were very good friends. He sometimes clears the dinner table for his mother (i.e., he carries a few dirty dishes to the kitchen), and in one episode is seen drying dishes. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Are Uncoupling Goals as She Calls Him Sweetest Father in Birthday Post, Gulliver Lewis Had an Old-fashioned Upbringing - Facts about Damian Lewis' Son, Mary Beth Evans Lives 'Suburban Life' in Small House with Husband of 37 Years - They Are 'Coolest Grandparents' of 4, Jerry Mathers Wife Left Him for Another Man While a Doctor Warned He Could Have 3 to 5 Years Left to Live, Michelle Obama Felt Lost & Alone as She Could Not Conceive at 35 - She Described Having a Baby as Magical', The Life of Twins Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush 40 Years after Playing Carrie in 'Little House on the Prairie'. The town was Skokie, Illionis, but the footage wasnt taken for the show. Dow portrays an adult Wally Cleaver in both the reunion telemovie, Still the Beaver (1983), and in the sequel series The New Leave It to Beaver (1985-1989). He had to leave his family in Minnesota to work on the show. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. One high-school friend who made five "romantic" appearances was Julie Foster. Despite the fact that Beavers friend Lumpy was seen as the ultimate nerd throughout the show, when the actor, Frank Bank wrote his autobiography as a result, he claimed that he was rather gifted when it came to his romantic relationships. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as June and Ward Cleaver from the television program "Leave it to Beaver." Luckily for Osmond, he was wearing a bullet proof vest, which ultimately saved his life. June Cleaver: Ward, can you see any possible use for Franklin Milk bottle caps? He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. As for the heels, she wore them to appear taller than the boys as they grew up. Fearing bad publicity should a well-loved child star be killed in action, he was told he wouldnt be deployed. A few episodes deal with Wally's teen taste in hairstyles and clothing. Dow won the role of Wally in spite of his . Hugh Beaumonts character, Ward Cleaver, was the character who was always setting good moral examples for his kids to follow. He later abandoned screentime to work as a radio broadcaster. UnlikeBeaver,Happy Days was filmed during the 1970s, even though it took place in the 1950s. Toilet scenes were not shown on television back then, but "Leave It to Beaver" became the first although it was just the tank. Here's a look at what became of them. He's all right. It wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today. Whatever Happened to Judy Hensler from TV's Leave It To Beaver Ken Osmond, Eddie Haskell on 'Leave It to Beaver,' dies - CNBC "It's a Small World" was filmed with a single camera, in full screen black-and-white at Republic Studios and the Universal Studios backlot. Many episodes have a very brief "after school" scene in the kitchen between June and Wally. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. These days, he enjoys sculpting every day. Yet another episode made it seem like Mayfield was in Ohio, because Wally supposedly went to a school near Shaker Heights. June Cleaver: All right, but we respected it last summer and they set fire to the attic! The pilot episode of the series was originally titledWally and the Beaver. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Frank Bank (April 12, 1942 - April 13, 2013) was an American actor, particularly known for his role as Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the 1957-1963 situation comedy television series Leave It to Beaver.. Bank was cast in fifty episodes of Leave It to Beaver between January 24, 1958, until the series finale on May 30, 1963.