Following that, she starred in the 1997 "Leave it to Beaver Film. Given the character he portrayed, its hard to image Lumpy as anything akin to suave. Id work with him all day, then wed go home to our families. Bullies have always seemed to be around, and Frank Bank was the perfectly horrible bully on the show named "Lumpy." Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wally_Cleaver&oldid=1129258944, Articles that may contain original research from April 2022, All articles that may contain original research, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, student; various after school jobs including newspaper carrier, drug store soda jerk, and ice cream vendor, This page was last edited on 24 December 2022, at 10:31. If you were to go on a tour of the Universal lot, theres still a chance you too could visit the Cleaver house. The Leave It To Beaver Secrets You Never Knew - Pens & Patron Its clear from his profession as a minister, as well as the fact that he had gotten a Masters degree, he was interested in more serious pursuits. In his later years, he became a stockbroker, after finding it hard to break allusions that he really was Lumpy. Wally Cleaver - Wikipedia Hugh Beaumont turned to acting for very different reasons that most performers. Their bedroom is a principal setting on the show. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. The season four episode shows Beaver stuck inside a giant bowl of soup on a billboard after he went to see if there was real soup in there. He ended up managing several cast members investments. Paul Sullivan - IMDb Wally is the thirteen-year-old son of archetypal 1950s suburban parents, Ward and June Cleaver and the older brother of the seven-year-old ("almost eight") title character, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. The show's four main characters appeared in all 234 episodes of the show, and, in the opening sequence, were introduced in the following order: Read more about this topic: Leave It To Beaver Characters, I could live without acting. Acting is a gift Ive received. "Leave It to Beaver" It's a Small World (TV Episode 1957) - IMDb Its characters were relatable, the show had a good balance of humor, and it felt like a real American family. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. That was four years before "Leave It to Beaver" aired. When the sequel series begins in 1984, Wally and Mary Ellen are the parents of a 10-year-old daughter, Kelly (Kaleena Kiff). Ward takes pity on the boys and buys them a bicycle. He was 77. The pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. Wally Cleaver (Paul Sullivan) is the older son of Ward and June and the brother of Beaver. In the originalLeave it to Beaverpilot, Wally was played by actorPaul Sullivan. One of the shows writers, Joe Connelly, based Wally and Beaver off of his own children, whose antics he would scribble down in a notebook on the regular. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. Family matriarch June Cleaver was played by the gorgeous Barbara Billingsley. As the best friend of Wally, Eddie Haskell was tasked with using his smooth-talking to help the Cleaver brothers out. 1961-1962 Leave It to Beaver TV Series Bill Scott Scott. 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. Brewster and Deacon would find roles in the series as Miss Canfield, Beaver's second grade teacher, and Fred Rutherford, Ward's co-worker and father of "Lumpy," Eddie Haskell's easily duped henchman/bully. In 1980, Ken Osmond was shot three times during a foot chase while working for the LAPD. To hold the Franklin Milk in the Franklin Milk bottles. Luckily, ABC aired the rest of the five seasons later on. Apparently, a bunch of the other people did, too. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. The audition led to the producers forLeave it to Beaverdiscovering his talent and asking him to act as Wally Cleaver. Instead, his son drove the family, but ended up in an accident on the way, which Hughs mother-in-law didnt survive. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Paul Sullivan, who initially portrayed Wally, was replaced by Tony Dow after going through a growth spurt following the filming of the pilot episode. It was the first series to have a true finale. [3] It was televised again in October 2007 as part of TV Land's 50th anniversary celebration of Leave It to Beaver. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. Beaumont didn't remain the show business after "Leave It to Beaver." He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. In one episode, were shown footage of a town. He ended up managing several cast members investments. It aired as an installment of "Heinz Studio 57," an anthology series. In Still the Beaver and The New Leave It to Beaver, Wally is married to high school-sweetheart Mary Ellen and is an attorney engaged in private practice. 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 town was Skokie, Illionis, but the footage wasnt taken for the show. Eddie was played by the actor Ken Osmond, but due to a little mix up in an interview, many viewers believed Eddie Haskell grew up to become Alice Cooper, the rock musician. James F. Hawkins is an American former actor, producer and writer. From Quiz: 'Leave It To Beaver'- The Pilot Episode! Yes, after filming the pilot, Sullivan was growing and, well, grew out of the role. Jerry Mathers (who was cast as Theodore Beaver Cleaver) in 2007. There were tons of brands ranging from board games to comic books that were featured during the show. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. The rumor spread like wildfire. Ken Osmond, Eddie Haskell on 'Leave It to Beaver,' dies - CNBC 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. Paul Sullivan, Actor: Over the Top. It was the beginning and end of Jerry Mathers music career. "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. Dow explained,[I]f any line got too much of a laugh, theyd take it out. What Cooper had meant was that he behaved a lot like the character of Haskell as a child, not that he portrayed him. Barbara's June wore formal attire along with pearls and heels during the show, but it wasn't all about style. Our condolences. As for the heels, she wore them to appear taller than the boys as they grew up. Sneaky Frankie Bennett tells Beaver that he can win a new bicycle by entering a popular television show's Franklin Milk bottle-cap contest, but Beaver and big brother Wally cause quite a com Sneaky Frankie Bennett tells Beaver that he can win a new bicycle by entering a popular television show's Franklin Milk bottle-cap contest, but Beaver and big brother Wally cause quite a commotion at the milk company's office when no one there seems to know anything about a conte Sneaky Frankie Bennett tells Beaver that he can win a new bicycle by entering a popular television show's Franklin Milk bottle-cap contest, but Beaver and big brother Wally cause quite a commotion at the milk company's office when no one there seems to know anything about a contest after the boys show up to claim their prize, pulling a wagon loaded with a thousand bot See production, box office & company info. Keep . Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. However, the actor didn't quite follow through with his early career. The Only Actors Still Alive From The Cast Of Leave It To Beaver Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June Cleaver and Wally's brother. One high-school friend who made five "romantic" appearances was Julie Foster. Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Series - IMDb However, when she kissed Casey on the lips right off the bat, I felt she was cheating on Beaumont! Wally then becomes romantically involved with Mary Ellen Rogers, though the viewer often hears about her rather than sees her. In another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. It was the first series to have a true finale. It's been over five decades since the hit show "Leave It to Beaver" ended, but fans still remember the adventures of little Theodore who breathed life into the series. He has played the same character (Wally Cleaver) on three different series: Leave It to Beaver (1957), The Love Boat (1977) and The New Leave It to Beaver (1983). Barbara Billingsley chose pearls as part of her regular costume because she had a small scar on her neck that she deemed unsightly for the cameras. After he was cast as Ward Cleaver, he had to get himself to California pronto, which meant flying. 40 Leave It To Beaver Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts However, Tony Dow wasnt always a member of the fictional family. She only began wearing heels as the two boys began growing, so she could better appear to tower over them, especially when dealing with their many misdeeds. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. When the production for the show moved from the Republic Studios to Universal, they built a new version of the original house. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. Its clear from his profession as a minister, as well as the fact that he had gotten a Masters degree, he was interested in more serious pursuits. Meet 'Leave It to Beaver' Actors Over 60 Years after the Show Ended The series lasted one season on the Disney Channel before being picked up by TBS in 1986 and renamed The New Leave It to Beaver. Paul Sullivan - IMDb Sullivan appeared on the shows pilot titled, Its A Small World.. 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. Osmond passed away in May 2020. Barbara Billingsley chose pearls as part of her regular costume because she had a small scar on her neck that she deemed unsightly for the cameras. Menu. Heres 22 of them from The History Garage.com. While many people seek side jobs in order to support their acting dreams, Beaumont got into acting for the paycheck. Given the character he portrayed, its hard to image Lumpy as anything akin to suave. It's a Small World (Leave It to Beaver) - Wikipedia Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. Dow died Tuesday morning, his reps Frank Bilotta and Renee James said in a statement. Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. But for Pens & Patron is a travel site dedicated to wandering spirits. "Leave It to Beaver" Beaver Gets 'Spelled' (TV Episode 1957) - IMDb However, he did so well . This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. 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. And Im grateful for it and I enjoy it. 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. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver ( Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June and the brother of Wally. He's all right. In the later seasons, Wally has a few after school jobs and buys a used car. Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. The Yucatan peninsula is a perennial favorite when it comes to travelers visiting Mexico. As Beaver grew into an awkward young teen, he sometimes took a back seat to his older brother Wally, a student in his final years of high school. The boys were often shown in the bathroom. 15 What was Miss Landers' first name? Current "New Leave It to Beaver" cast member Janice Kent, who is also in the audience, discusses becoming a part of the family in the new series. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. When the show first began, Beaver was only in second grade, making him around 7 years old. Billingsley passed away due to Polymyalgia at age 94 in 2010. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He often showed off his personal flare by coming up with constant nicknames for the other characters, most of which were improvised by Ken Osmondon the spot. Trailer for Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Series. Beaumont didn't remain the show business after "Leave It to Beaver." Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . On a whim, Tony decided to audition alongside his friend, and they filmed a pilot together, which never got off the ground. In 1983, the cast got together again for the filming of the TV movie "Still the Beaver." Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. After the directors decided to give the role to Dow, he would go on to be a permanent fixture on the show until its end. Paul Sullivan is known for The Book of Life (2014), Megamind (2010) and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). When the show opens, Beaver is seven years old ("almost . WhenLeave It To Beaver first debuted on CBS, strict censorship laws governed what could and couldnt be shown on TV. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. Jimmy Hawkins - Wikipedia The actress wore pearls to conceal the hollow in her neck. Still, that didn't happen. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. One episode ofLeave it to Beaverwas actually censored by the Federal Communications Commission when it showed a toilet on screen. 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. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. ", Actress Barbara Billingsley attends the opening of "Radio City Christmas Spectaculor" on December 11, 1998 at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California | Photo: Getty Images. "Leave It to Beaver" It's a Small World (TV Episode 1957) - IMDb [1] It never aired as an episode within the series. Although it was his look of the innocent that got him the part, Matthers would go on to play the role of a troublesome boy quite well. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. 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. He had to leave his family in Minnesota to work on the show. But the typical chores of a teen boy (mowing the lawn, carrying out the trash, washing windows), apparently are not his. That means that Eddie Haskell was the original cool kid. Fans got this idea when a college newspaper editor asked Cooper what kind of kid he was, to which he answered, I was obnoxious, disgusting, a real Eddie Haskell. However, the reporter misquoted him and reported that Cooper was the real Haskell. In another episode, he falls for a tennis playing "older woman" who uses him to make her estranged boyfriend jealous. Paul Sullivan Jr. - IMDb Unlike most TV shows today, the pilot that was shot forLeave It To Beaver featured several different actors than the ones who would later become famous for the show. Paul Sullivan did not have much of an acting career outside of this pilot. Thats on purpose! On a whim, Tony decided to audition alongside his friend, and they filmed a pilot together, which never got off the ground. A few episodes deal with Wally's teen taste in hairstyles and clothing. At the beginning episodes of the show, Barbara Billingsley wore flat shoes. Back home, his son, Hunter, drove his mom and grandmother to work one day and lost control of the car. The series ends with Wally a high-school graduate preparing for State college and Beaver looking forward to entering Mayfield High. 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 adorable that he landed the role immediately. Wally's first girlfriend on the show is Penny Jamison, a New York girl he meets during ballroom lessons at Miss Spencer's School of the Dance. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead.