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. In one episode, however, Ward is out of town and Wally is asked to play the man of the house. The romance ends when Beaver sends Penny a toad in a nicely wrapped box. 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. Meanwhile, what a shock to see some of the show's regulars as other people on this episode. Production was shifted to a different backlot, and other than their air time changing, the show otherwise remained the same. Leave it to Beaver Trivia Thatll Change How You See the Show, COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. Paul Sullivan, who initially portrayed Wally, was replaced by Tony Dow after going through a growth spurt following the filming of the pilot episode. This just proves that Beaumont was a man of many talents. After the show, Ken Osmond left the acting business in order to become a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. Leave It to Beaver is an iconic [1] American television situation comedy about an American family of the 1950s and early 1960s. Wally is based on Connelly's son, Jay. 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. It didnt stop because of poor ratings, though. Wally then becomes romantically involved with Mary Ellen Rogers, though the viewer often hears about her rather than sees her. 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. WhenLeave It To Beaver first debuted on CBS, strict censorship laws governed what could and couldnt be shown on TV. He carves the roast at dinner and monitors Beaver's behavior. 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. Even before Dow was cast, the producers were looking for someone athletic to fill the role, so Dow was a perfect fit. In another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. In the 1970s, a popular rumor circulated that Eddie Haskell, as played by Ken Osmond, was really Alice Cooper, the rock star. 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 . The ministry to which he was assigned happened to be extremely poor, so he needed to find another source of income. One of the most noticeable goofs on the show was the changing age gap between Wally and Beaver. His usual routine was to drive with his wife, son, and mother-in-law from Minnesota, but didnt have the time. As of September 2012 he was living and working in Topanga Canyon, CA, as a sculptor. Somehow, a myth was begun and perpetuated that Mathers had in fact been killed in Vietnam, which is ironic because the military wouldnt let him serve for that reason. Then, as Wally leaves the room with a parting bon mot and the canned laughter kicks in, the camera catches June's bewildered, dazed, or amused facial expression. It just so happened that playing Ward Cleaver was the best way to do so. 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. While many people seek side jobs in order to support their acting dreams, Beaumont got into acting for the paycheck. While many people seek side jobs in order to support their acting dreams, Beaumont got into acting for the paycheck. Most people think it was just part of the characters costume, but thats not why she wore them. As for the heels, she wore them to appear taller than the boys as they grew up. He didnt just act as Ward Cleaver, he also wrote a couple episodes. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. 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 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. Mathers genuinely had a cub scout meeting to go to after his audition, which he was anxious to get too. But the typical chores of a teen boy (mowing the lawn, carrying out the trash, washing windows), apparently are not his. Instead, his son drove the family, but ended up in an accident on the way, which Hughs mother-in-law didnt survive. He also included their friends in the friends of both Beaver and Wally. The town was Skokie, Illionis, but the footage wasnt taken for the show. Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) is the younger son of Ward and June Cleaver and Wally's brother. When the war broke out in Vietnam, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, wanted to enlist in the Marines. Leave It to Beaver was actor Tony Dow's first dramatic experience. To that end, Beaumont was able to play a part in writing for several episodes ofLeave It To Beaver, as well as to also direct some of the episodes. June Cleaver: All right, but we respected it last summer and they set fire to the attic! Paul Sullivan, Actor: Over the Top. When the show first began, Beaver was only in second grade, making him around 7 years old. Miss Simms ( Diane Brewster) is a secretary/receptionist at the Franklin Milk Company. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. Wally also acts as a foil to the shenanigans of Eddie and Lumpy, but sometimes reluctantly goes along with them. When the purebred show cat was put in the tree for the scene, however, it was spooked by its surroundings and ran away. 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 Because of that scene, the show was almost banned from the airwaves entirely. And to celebrate our own enjoyment of the show, we're taking a look at the lives and careers of Hugh, Barbara, Tony and Jerry. However, Barbara Billingsley didnt wear heels at the start of the show. Based on the success of the show and the character of Wally, the decision appeared to be the correct one. Unfortunately for Paul, he grew too much in the six month break before the show went to series. 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. He was 77. 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. 1961-1962 Leave It to Beaver TV Series Bill Scott Scott. Tony Dow wasnt an actor and had no prior acting experience when he started onLeave it to Beaver. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivan's place as Wally. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. Theres more to the tale of the toilet onLeave It To Beaver than simply being censored for wanting to show a toilet. 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. Mathers didnt end up pursuing a music career in the end. In another episode, however, Beaver mentions being only 30 miles from the beach. 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. The toilet was shown in an episode when Wally and Beaver tried to keep a baby alligator in the toilet tank. Her hobbies included cake decorating and needlepoint. Oh, who are we kidding, we don't need to summon you guys! Jerry Mathers wanted to take a break from acting in order to focus on going to high school. Wally - this was the weirdest and worst aspect of the pilot. 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). The writers didnt want the show to be too comedic. After the show, Ken Osmond went on to become a Los Angeles Police Officer. Hugh Beaumont turned to acting for very different reasons that most performers. Mathers was dressed in his cub scout uniform, however, it wasnt just a costume choice. Fans recognize Tony Dow for his role as Wally Cleaver on the sitcom Leave it to Beaver. For six years, fans fell in love with the Cleaver family every time they tuned it to watch an episode. The original pilot never aired with the mainLeave it to Beaverseries. In the first season of Leave It to Beaver, Wally is a thirteen-year-old in his final year (8th grade) at Grant Avenue Grammar School. He had been a Junior Olympian swimmer before he began acting. What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of It's a Small World (1957) in Australia? What Cooper had meant was that he behaved a lot like the character of Haskell as a child, not that he portrayed him. "Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble," they said. 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. The rumor spread like wildfire. Ward takes pity on the boys and buys them a bicycle. The episode was ranked #42 on TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time! Dow explained,[I]f any line got too much of a laugh, theyd take it out. Frankie Bennett, a mischievous boy, tells them new bikes can be had at a local dairy in exchange for 1,000 bottle caps from the company's products. In 1983, the cast got together again for the filming of the TV movie "Still the Beaver." It was a good title at face value, but the producers were afraid people might think the show was a nature program. Luckily for Osmond, he was wearing a bullet proof vest, which ultimately saved his life. Hugh Beaumont wasnt content to simply act on the show. That day, the world could have lost a great actor. A number of actors who appeared in supporting roles in the pilot were later cast in recurring roles in the series. A growth spurt. There was good reason the boys lives were so relatable to viewers. In 1980, Ken Osmond was shot three times during a foot chase while working for the LAPD. So instead of letting the jokes roll, they cut any line that garnered too many laughs. It stars Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers ("as The Beaver", as the opening credits put it). Billingsley followed up her run with a role in the sequel, "The New Leave it to Beaver," which aired in the '80s. In the later seasons, Wally has a few after school jobs and buys a used car. Movies. It just so happened that playing Ward Cleaver was the best way to do so. Mathers didnt end up pursuing a music career in the end. 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. Instead, it became the house that was used for a number of other shows as well. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. If you thought Eddie Haskell was a huge brat, dont worry, youre not alone. Actor: The Natural. 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. Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, and Jerry Mathers in an episode of "Leave it to Beaver." 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. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. The pilot had no "canned" laughter in the background. 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. In 1983, CBS aired the reunion telemovie Still the Beaver starring Jerry Mathers. 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. The series pilot episode was originally filmed and casted by Max Showalter, and he played Ward Cleaver. 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. Americans have been in love with the idealistic Cleaver family for generations since. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. The actor starred in "Leave It to Beaver" from 1957 to 1963. Off-screen, the actress enjoyed being a mom to two boys just like in the show. June Cleaver had a different longer hairstyle and looked actually prettier with it. Unfortunately, Billingsley was typecast for her sweet demeanor as June, however, she managed a role in "Airplane." 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. Movies. He didnt even audition forLeave it to Beaveroriginally, but a different show that was cancelled. If you were to go on a tour of the Universal lot, theres still a chance you too could visit the Cleaver house. Neither song got very much air time, which was fortunate, because they werent considered to be that good. Not all passports are created equally. 9 of 9 found this interesting | Share this After his run as Haskell, Ken Osmond disappeared seemingly for a while, and rumors abounded. 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. He was 77. Ward Cleaver: Oh, no, June, don't you dare think of such a thing. The network cancelled the show, butBeavers cancellation was short lived, as it was quickly picked up again by ABC. 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 Tonys luck, however, that whenLeave It To Beaver realized they needed to recast Wally, they remembered him and gave him a call. And Im grateful for it and I enjoy it. In real life, the actor wasnt much different. Trending. Before shows likeLeave it to Beaver, it wasnt couth to show bodily functions on screen, or even imply them. For the main series, producers cast Tony Dow to take Paul Sullivans place as Wally. A follow-up series called "The New Leave It To Beaver" followed in 1983 which featured the original characters as the older generation. Yet another episode made it seem like Mayfield was in Ohio, because Wally supposedly went to a school near Shaker Heights. 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. The original Wally was, like, 5 7 when we did the pilot, but he grew to about 65, and he was almost as big as Hugh, and thats when they went back and found Tony, Mathers said. Beaver was relegated to the background. The windshield created glare on film, so the crew removed it to avoid that issue. Their bedroom is a principal setting on the show. Menu. Unfortunately, Sullivan wouldn't be able to reprise Wally's role in other episodes due to an inevitable growth spurt. Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley and Jerry Mathers in a scene from "Leave it to Beaver." Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! 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. Wally Cleaver (Paul Sullivan) is the older son of Ward and June and the brother of Beaver. Leave It To Beaver had a curious effect on fashion trends of the era. Beaver may not have been reliant on pop culture for its storylines, but it certainly made mention of the Sputnik launch during several episodes. [1] The series made its CBS debut several months later on October 4, 1957, with the episode, "Beaver Gets 'Spelled". 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. 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. But for Pens & Patron is a travel site dedicated to wandering spirits. In his later years, he became a stockbroker, after finding it hard to break allusions that he really was Lumpy. Here's the scoop about the young actress Jeri Weil who played Judy Hensler during the first three seasons of the classic TV series, Leave It To Beaver.Check . Advertisement Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver from the television program "Leave It to Beaver." | Source: Wikimedia Commons 7. The humor of the character rests in Wally's teenage perspective. "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. Highlights of the original and previously unaired pilot for Leave it to Beaver, called \"It's a Small World\" and featuring different actors in roles of Ward and Wally, and Harry Shearer as an Eddie Haskell-type smart-aleck, and Richard Deacon (Mr. Rutherford) and Diane Brewster (Miss Canfield) as different characters, was teased on Entertainment Tonight and then shown for the first time as the first episode of the 1987 season of The New Leave it to Beaver on TBS Superstation October 4th, with an introduction by Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow, Barbara Billinglsey, and Kipp Marcus (Beaver, Wally, June, and Kipp Cleaver). Paul Sullivan did not have much of an acting career outside of this pilot. It was the first series to have a true finale. 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. Osmond's part as the two-faced teenage scoundrel, Haskell, was only supposed to be a one-off guest appearance. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. 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). The episode cost a whopping $50,000 to film at the time. He remained on good terms with his former television family until the end. 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. Wally, on the other hand was in 8th grade, meaning there was a six year gap between the boys. Bank became a stockbroker and lived his life his own way before passing away in April 2017. 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. One episode ofLeave it to Beaverwas actually censored by the Federal Communications Commission when it showed a toilet on screen. This wasnt because cars lacked the technology for them, but rather because the glass of the windshield created a glare when filmed by the cameras. 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. 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. 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. Wally is portrayed in the series by Tony Dow. Heres 22 of them from The History Garage.com. 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. Instead, Mathers decided to join the United Air Force Reserve. In another episode, Eddie "slugs" Wally in the school corridor when he believes Wally is moving in on his girl, and in another episode, Wally is caught by the coach throwing towels around the locker room. 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. Hugh Beaumonts character, Ward Cleaver, was the character who was always setting good moral examples for his kids to follow. The audition led to the producers forLeave it to Beaverdiscovering his talent and asking him to act as Wally Cleaver.