Jerry Mathers

Known for his iconic role as Theodore ‘Beaver’ Cleaver in the classic television sitcom ‘Leave It to Beaver,’ Jerry Mathers established a distinguished early career. His initial professional experiences included child modeling and a commercial for PET Milk alongside vaudeville comedian Ed Wynn. Mathers made early film appearances in ‘This Is My Love’ (1954), ‘Men of the Fighting Lady’ (1954), and as Arnie Rogers in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Trouble with Harry’ (1955). His career-defining turn as Theodore ‘Beaver’ Cleaver spanned all 234 episodes of ‘Leave It to Beaver’ from 1957 to 1963, a run during which he became the first child actor to negotiate merchandising revenue from a television show.

In 1962, he also recorded two songs, ‘Don’t ‘Cha Cry’ and ‘Wind-Up Toy.’ Following the original series’ conclusion, Mathers pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley in 1973, and serving in the California Air National Guard from 1966 to 1969. He re-entered the entertainment industry in 1978, appearing in stage productions like ‘Boeing, Boeing’ and touring in ‘So Long, Stanley’ (late 1970s-early 1980s). He also worked as a disc jockey at KEZY radio in Anaheim, California, in 1981. His celebrated return as Beaver Cleaver came in the 1983 television reunion film ‘Still the Beaver,’ which led to ‘The New Leave It to Beaver’ television series (1984-1989).

He additionally served as a national spokesperson for medical and health-related initiatives, notably in the ‘Diabetic Nerve Pain’ TV movie in 2011. Mathers has since appeared in various short films and television series, including ‘The Hitchhiker’ (2014) and ‘Dad Dudes’ as William (2015).