Wally serves as a bridge between Ward, June and Beaver. 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. He is best-known for his TV roles in shows like Annie Oakley, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver, Petticoat Junction, and The Donna Reed Show; and as Tommy Bailey, son of George Bailey in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life . Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. And Im grateful for it and I enjoy it. Before the show, he worked as a Junior Olympics diver. When asked about his relationship with Dow, Mathers fondly recalled their relationship on set. Actor Paul Sullivan appeared only in the pilot as Wally Cleaver. The Cleaver family from the television program "Leave it to Beaver." At 69, Jerry Mathers hasnt been acting much lately, but he did surprisingly end up the focus of a tragic rumor during his mid-life years. You can thankLeave It To Beaver. What Cooper had meant was that he behaved a lot like the character of Haskell as a child, not that he portrayed him. The pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. He carves the roast at dinner and monitors Beaver's behavior. Actor: The Natural. 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. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. Wally and Beaver may have been the center of the show, but the story certainly wouldnt have been the same without having Eddie Haskell in the mix. An epic family comedy that revolved around the lives of a family living in the suburbs, "Leave It to Beaver" captures the essence of being a child during the 1950s by following the adventures of a curious boy named Theodore aka "The Beaver.". Menu. 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. He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. 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. Meanwhile, what a shock to see some of the show's regulars as other people on this episode. There was good reason the boys lives were so relatable to viewers. 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. He left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. Explore, taste, and write about the world. Wally Was Re-Cast, Too. Originally, the pilot for the show was titled "It's a Small World." 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. After school time is spent practicing sports, and, once home, Wally spends most of his time doing schoolwork in his bedroom. "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. Both her pearls and her heels are one of the most cited examples of what it meant to be a housewife in the 1950s. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. However, the actor didn't quite follow through with his early career. Theres a lot of facts you might know. In one episode, Wally grows a moustache over the summer, thinking Julie will be enchanted with his debonair look, and then the poor boy is humiliated when she laughs at it when he arrives back to school. Paul Sullivan is known for Leave It to Beaver (1957), Official Detective (1957) and Studio 57 (1954). 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 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. Tony Dow, the wholesome actor who portrayed "the perfect big brother" Wally Cleaver on the everlasting TV comedy Leave It to Beaver and its 1980s sequel, has died. Tony Dow wasnt an actor and had no prior acting experience when he started onLeave it to Beaver. 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. Afterthat, series finales became a staple across American television. Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldn't be able to reprise Wally's role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. He slips into slang occasionally, which upsets his mother. The audition led to the producers forLeave it to Beaverdiscovering his talent and asking him to act as Wally Cleaver. Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. The Cleaver house that was shown on screen for most of the series is still standing in the Universal backlot. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Paul Sullivan is an actor, known for Over the Top (1987) and Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008). Movies. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. 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. "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. While many people seek side jobs in order to support their acting dreams, Beaumont got into acting for the paycheck. In one episode, he infuriates his mother by wearing his hair in a greasy "tango dancer" style and in another episode he irks both his parents when he buys a garish suit in a men's wear store. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. 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. Release Calendar Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . 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. 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. Some consider Mayfield to be in Wisconsin, because the town of Madison, as well as the Green Bay Packers, were mentioned. 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 wasnt uncommon for stars of the 1950s to cross over into other artistic genres, not unlike many stars today. Advertisement Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." | Source: Wikimedia Commons 7. In 1985, a sequel to the original series was produced called Still the Beaver, again starring Jerry Mathers and other original cast members. In the episode, the Cleavers reminisce over old photos in a scrapbook while flashback clips are played from previous episodes. 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. Leave It to Beaver is an iconic [1] American television situation comedy about an American family of the 1950s and early 1960s. Movies. Hugh Beaumont turned to acting for very different reasons that most performers. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. In the 1980s, Osmond was shot three times while he was on duty during a chase with a criminal. 10. Wally also acts as a foil to the shenanigans of Eddie and Lumpy, but sometimes reluctantly goes along with them. It didnt stop because of poor ratings, though. 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. 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. ", Kami Cotler AKA Elizabeth from 'The Waltons' Is Now a Mom of Two 41 Years after the Show Inside Her Life, Tim Allen Left Ex-wife of 15 Years In the Back Seat When He Found Fame Despite Her Support in His Career, Jon Provost, Who Played Little Timmy in 'Lassie', Was 'Lucky' to Escape the Child Star Curse He Is 71 Now, Jenna Bush Hager Proposed to Her Future Husband a Few Months after the Worst First Date - He Said No', Roseanne Barr Blamed Sara Gilbert for Destroying Her Her Family-Oriented Life After the Scandal. June Cleaver: All right, but we respected it last summer and they set fire to the attic! In 1980, Ken Osmond was shot three times during a foot chase while working for the LAPD. 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. Though there are four bedrooms in the Cleaver house, Wally and Beaver share a bedroom. It is during the course of the last episode the viewer learns how Beaver got his nickname. The pilot had no "canned" laughter in the background. He's kind of goofy-looking but he wasn't as bad as I would have guess after I first saw him. Let's take a look at 15 "Leave It to Beaver" facts that fans might not know. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. 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. The name "Leave It to Beaver" went from being a '50s classic to a household phrase and one of the most popular references in sitcom history. Unlike most TV shows today, the pilot that was shot for Leave It To Beaver featured several different actors than the ones who would later become famous for the show. To that end, executives attempted to make a pop star out of Jerry Mathers in addition to being a TV star. In fact, there was someone else who played little Beaver before Dow. [3] It was televised again in October 2007 as part of TV Land's 50th anniversary celebration of Leave It to Beaver. The original pilot never aired with the mainLeave it to Beaverseries. In a first-season episode, Mary Ellen cultivates Beaver's friendship in order to get to Wally, then maneuvers Wally into going to a dance against his will. Americans have been in love with the idealistic Cleaver family for generations since. On a whim, Tony decided to audition alongside his friend, and they filmed a pilot together, which never got off the ground. 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. It took producers a significant amount of negotiation in order to show even that much, but eventually the executives on the Production Code Association, who were responsible for policing film and television decided to relent, so long as the scene wasnt too crude. 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. Many associate June Cleavers classic pearls as the quintessential look for a 1950s housewife, but the truth is, that wasnt necessarily every mothers uniform. By 1963, no TV show had ever had a proper series finale, butBeaver found itself in a bit of a pickle. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. Paul Sullivan is known for The Book of Life (2014), Megamind (2010) and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). 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.