He is an athlete with track, basketball and baseball being his three favorite sports; and, he excels at all. Good thing, too. Americans have been in love with the idealistic Cleaver family for generations since. He was so adorable that he landed the role immediately. Actor Paul Sullivan appeared only in the pilot as Wally Cleaver. 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. Wally arrives home and finds his mother preparing dinner; he regales her with teenspeak banter about the day's events at school. The producers wanted someone who would look younger, so they cast Tony Dow as Wally instead. Two of Wally's friends are pictured, and they are greasy-looking punks. The family lives at 213 Pine Street next door to his widowed mother June, Beaver, and Beaver's sons; Ward had died shortly before the events of Still the Beaver take place (series star Hugh Beaumont had died in 1982). In June 1963, the series came to a close at milestones in the lives of Wally and Beaver: high school grad Wally preparing for State college and Beaver looking forward to entering Mayfield High. 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. Wally and Beaver want a new bicycle. Under their guidance, Jerry recorded two singles, Dontcha Cry and Wind Up Top. 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. Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. For instance: Ward Cleaver is played by Casey Adams. 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. The movie was developed into a new series titledThe New Leave It To Beaver. To that end, executives attempted to make a pop star out of Jerry Mathers in addition to being a TV star. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Paul Sullivan, who played Wally in the pilot and who sits in the audience, discusses his career after the pilot. He's all right. Beaver - still Jerry Mathers - was a tiny bit smaller than what we saw on the first season, but basically the same kid and character. 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. 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. Some of that stems from the fact that Tony Dow himself was an accomplished athlete, even before he made it onto the show. One high-school friend who made five "romantic" appearances was Julie Foster. Since then, the black and white show has gone down in history as one of the trailblazers for tv and film. Even after the show ended, fans hadn't had enough of the Cleaver family. 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. 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. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. Wally, on the other hand was in 8th grade, meaning there was a six year gap between the boys. 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. Sullivan would have been a household name for years to come. Were very good friends. This was the pilot episode of this television series. Based on the success of the show and the character of Wally, the decision appeared to be the correct one. It was the first series to have a true finale. Wally serves as a bridge between Ward, June and Beaver. The episode cost a whopping $50,000 to film at the time. 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. 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. Wally, on the other hand was in 8th grade, meaning there was a six year gap between the boys. ", 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. The house was constructed when the show moved its filming operations over to Universal, and the studio decided not to knock it down. If you thought Eddie Haskell was a huge brat, dont worry, youre not alone. He became a Christmas tree farmer in the '60s but was forced to retire due to a stroke in 1972. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of It's a Small World (1957) in Australia? Jerry Mathers didnt have a normal audition. As the best friend of Wally, Eddie Haskell was tasked with using his smooth-talking to help the Cleaver brothers out. June Cleaver: I think I'm going to ask them why they're collecting those things. In 1985, a sequel to the original series was produced called Still the Beaver, again starring Jerry Mathers and other original cast members. Gerald Patrick Mathers (born June 2, 1948) is an American actor best known for his role in the television sitcom Leave It to Beaver, originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963. The boys were often shown in the bathroom. 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. Thankfully, his bullet-proof vest saved his life. Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher wrote the teleplay with Jerry Hopper directing the episode. Some consider Mayfield to be in Wisconsin, because the town of Madison, as well as the Green Bay Packers, were mentioned. Miss Simms ( Diane Brewster) is a secretary/receptionist at the Franklin Milk Company. 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. 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. The series ends with Wally a high-school graduate preparing for State college and Beaver looking forward to entering Mayfield High. Other members of the original series cast, including Dow, reprised their roles. Wally is the "all-American" boy. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. But the typical chores of a teen boy (mowing the lawn, carrying out the trash, washing windows), apparently are not his. Though show may have been more internally consistent than most TV programs in history, but the fictional Mayfields general location seemed to be in flux. Debra Winger Still Saves White Dress from 1st Wedding as It Felt 'Electrifying' Wearing It for Her 2nd Husband, Mick Jagger Seduced His Kids' Nanny & Cheated with Her on His Wife Who Was in the Next Room, Erin Murphy AKA Tabitha from 'Bewitched' Is Now a Mom of 6 Inside Her Life 50 Years after the Show, Barbara Hale Was Close with Raymond Burr's Partner after Star's Death - He Kept Their Relationship a Secret for 35 Years, Michael Weatherly's 'Difficult' Divorce from 1st Wife Made Him a Better Man despite Its Impact on His Son, Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values Inside His Decision to Protect Them, Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher Designed Farmhouse with 'Future of Their Family' in Mind Inside Their Home, Tyler Perry Was Broke Living in His Car - He Recalls in Tears That He Was Only 'Praying & Believing. The romance ends when Beaver sends Penny a toad in a nicely wrapped box. Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." Many audience members reminisce about how June Cleaver was always pristine, even while engaging in all sorts of housework. The only actor who didnt return was Hugh Beaumont, who had died several years prior. The characters grew older along with the actors. In the episode, the Cleavers reminisce over old photos in a scrapbook while flashback clips are played from previous episodes. Fearing bad publicity should a well-loved child star be killed in action, he was told he wouldnt be deployed. In 1983, the cast got together again for the filming of the TV movie "Still the Beaver." One day after "Leave It to Beaver" star Tony Dow was pronounced dead by mistake, his son issued a confirmation Wednesday saying his father died after a long health battle in hospice care. Actress Barbara Billingsley was insecure about a dent in her neck, so she wore a pearl necklace to disguise it. It didnt stop because of poor ratings, though. 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 After he was cast as Ward Cleaver, he had to get himself to California pronto, which meant flying. 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. In another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. Itd be weird if a show didnt tie up all of its loose ends. The actor starred in "Leave It to Beaver" from 1957 to 1963. 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They make Eddie Haskell appear likable. It was the first series to have a true finale. Surprisingly, the show ran for a total of four seasons, and included many of the original cast members real children as actors on the show. There was a very specific reason producers found the young Jerry Mathers endearing when he showed up to audition for Beaver. Beaver became the first program to show a toilet on screen, but were only allowed to show the tank and handle. The episode was ranked #42 on TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time! He is best known by the public for his role as Wallace "Wally" Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver (1957). ). Tony Dow starred as Wally Beaver in "Leave It to Beaver." The actor died at 77 Wednesday. Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldn't be able to reprise Wally's role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. 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 left behind wife Kathryn Adam and their three children, Mark, Kristy, and Hunter. In the originalLeave it to Beaverpilot, Wally was played by actorPaul Sullivan. It was Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. The pearls would hide the scar from viewers, which made Billingsley more confident about her appearance. Movies. This was because Paul Sullivan had grown too tall in between pilot and series. A follow-up series called "The New Leave It To Beaver" followed in 1983 which featured the original characters as the older generation. The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. Both her pearls and her heels are one of the most cited examples of what it meant to be a housewife in the 1950s. One of the most curious things about the final seasons of the show is that the Cleavers car very distinctly had no back windshield. Child actor Paul Sullivan, however, portrays the character in the series pilot, "It's a Small World", which aired in April 1957. Even though Mary Ellen was Wally's principal romantic interest, Wally dated several other girls during his high school years. Off-screen, the actress enjoyed being a mom to two boys just like in the show. He has two children and a wife. Tony Dow almost didnt make it into the acting business, but rather decided to tag along with a friend of his who was a lifeguard at one of the pools he swam in. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. From Quiz: 'Leave It To Beaver'- The Pilot Episode! "Leave It to Beaver" never made it to Nielsen's list of the top 30 shows of the time since there were a plethora of classic shows running at the time. A few episodes deal with Wally's teen taste in hairstyles and clothing. In fact, there was someone else who played little Beaver before Dow. When considering the most iconic 1950s cool guy, most people think of Fonzy fromHappy Days before rememberingLeave It To Beaver. Answer: Alice When Miss Landers (Sue Randall) decided to get married, the newspaper carried a story about it wherein her name, Alice, was given. Leave It to Beaver is an iconic [1] American television situation comedy about an American family of the 1950s and early 1960s. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. If you were to go on a tour of the Universal lot, theres still a chance you too could visit the Cleaver house. He ended up managing several cast members investments. Featured in Leave It to Beaver: Family Scrapbook (1963) 4 /10 gattonero975 Details Release date October 4, 1957 (United States) Country of origin United States Language English Filming locations Revue Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA Production company Gomalco Productions See more company credits at IMDbPro Technical specs Edit However, Tony Dow wasnt always a member of the fictional family. 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. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. Actor Paul Sullivan played Wally Cleaver in the show's pilot. 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 first episode of the main series revolved around Wally and Beaver buying an alligator, which they needed to put in water. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. It was the beginning and end of Jerry Mathers music career. The show ends with Beaver and Wally playing with a wind-up toy and laughing like children. Wally also acts as a foil to the shenanigans of Eddie and Lumpy, but sometimes reluctantly goes along with them. Ward was originally portrayed by Max Showalter in the pilot episode, while Wally was played by Paul Sullivan. June Cleaver, portrayed by Billingsley, notably wore pearl necklaces in every single episode. "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. These days, he enjoys sculpting every day. Our condolences. 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. At other times, he clues the parents in on Beaver's activities, plans and feelings. Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. Given the character he portrayed, its hard to image Lumpy as anything akin to suave. In his later years, he became a stockbroker, after finding it hard to break allusions that he really was Lumpy. 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. During one 2014 interview, Mathers appeared onFox News to discuss his favorite recollections from the show. 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.