Jerry Mathers was just nine years old when he rocketed to national fame as the titular star of Leave It to Beaver. On June 2, Mathers turned 75, and today, he is the last surviving cast member of the show that made him a household name.
In contrast to other young actors, Mathers managed to avoid the pitfalls that have affected some former child stars. He kept a comfortably low profile in the entertainment industry and found success in various other areas, including acting, producing, and even working as a motivational speaker. Looking back today, at 75, Mathers can say he is in a good place and has few horror stories of life after his rise to fame. Catch up with Mathers on this milestone birthday today!
Sadly, most of his peers from Leave It to Beaver have predeceased him, including Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Eddie Haskell, and most recently, Tony Dow in 2022. “It is with the utmost sadness I learned this morning of my co-star and lifelong friend Tony Dow’s passing,” Mathers said in tribute on Facebook. “He was not only my brother on tv, but in many ways in life as well. Tony leaves an empty place in my heart that won’t be filled.”
“Tony was so grateful for all of the love and support from our fans across the world,” noted Mathers, who wrapped up Leave It to Beaver as a young teen suddenly shouldering national attention as an undisputed star. While this could throw many child actors-turned-civilians off their axes, Mathers employed some important strategies from the start that kept him grounded...CONTINUE READING