Jerry Mathers’ Experiences
Jerry Mathers, who played Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, is still alive and well. When asked if his off-screen personality was like Beaver’s, he joked that he got in a lot less trouble. He also shared that while filming, there were around 60 men and eight or nine women on set, and during breaks, they’d play games like throwing footballs or baseballs.
Mathers’ audition for the role was quite memorable. He showed up in his Cub Scout uniform as he had to go to a meeting right after. His natural charm, innocence, and authentic line delivery impressed the show’s creators, Joe Connolly and Bob Mosher. And despite his concerns about missing the meeting, his honesty added to his charm and won him the role. After getting the role, his school time was chopped up as he had to jump in and out for filming different shots.
Jimmy Mathers’ Smart Deal
Jimmy Mathers was a pioneer as the first child actor to negotiate a deal for a share of the merchandising revenue from the show. This turned out to be quite lucrative as Leave It to Beaver has continued to make money even over 60 years after its original run.