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Leave It to Beaver, the classic sitcom that featured one of the best TV families ever, is gearing fans up for a huge milestone just as summer winds down. Centered on the Cleavers, who live in the fictional town of Mayfield, the show was first broadcast by CBS on October 4, 1957, but was dropped after a season. ABC then picked it up and aired it for another five years, from October 2, 1958, to June 20, 1963. So, in a few months, Leave It to Beaver will mark close to seven decades since its premiere, which, of course, is about to be celebrated in just the grandest style.

In October, the beloved comedy will mark 68 years, and Fetv has the perfect plan to commemorate before then. This month, the network will air several episodes of Leave It to Beaver in a Back-to-School Marathon within a day. As confirmed by Remind Magazine, the marathon is scheduled for this Sunday,...

Sitcoms don’t get much more wholesome than the 1950s comedy, Leave It to Beaver. But its squeaky-clean reputation didn’t stop rumormongers from creating a laundry list of salacious urban legends around the fates of its stars. In particular, Jerry “The Beaver” Mathers and Ken “Eddie Haskell” Osmond suffered disturbing futures, at least according to the whispers on the pre-Snopes streets.

Here are three Leave It to Beaver urban legends that are equally untrue…

1 The Beaver Was Killed in Vietnam

When the stubbornly living Jerry Mathers appeared on Tom Snyder’s Tomorrow Show in the mid-1970s, Snyder noted that viewers hadn’t seen much of Mathers on TV lately. Most people chalked up his absence to the persistent rumor that the Beav was killed “in the war in Southeast Asia.”

The origins of the legend are twofold. First, Mathers did sign up for military service as part of the Air Force Reserves.

One of America's favorite families was the Cleavers on Leave It to Beaver. Centered around a boy named Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, the wholesome series was just one of those charming things that has been passed down for generations. And star Jerry Mathers, who was 9 years old when the show began, has nothing but fond memories of his television parents. Mathers was speaking with People and shared stories about both Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley, who played Ward and June Cleaver on the series.

“They were really nice people,” Mathers told the publication. “Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley were wonderful to Tony and me. They were actually kind and caring to everyone.”Tony Dow played Beaver's older brother, Wally, who was often included in whatever Beaver was up to that episode. But for all the fun that Mathers had on set, he shared that Beaumont made sure the cast stayed...

Before Harry Shearer was Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns or Waylon Smithers on The Simpsons, even before he was Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, he was nearly one of the stars of the classic sitcom, Leave It to Beaver. He was so close, in fact, that he was actually featured in the show’s original 1957 pilot.

It’s A Small World featured Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver and Jerry Mathers as the Beaver, but the pilot had some jarring alternative-universe casting as well. Wally and Ward Cleaver were played by different actors, and smart-ass kid Eddie Haskell went by a different name, Frankie Bennett. Simpsons voice maestro Shearer was Frankie, up to typical Haskell antics by tricking Wally and the Beaver into believing they’d get a free bicycle if they could save up 1,000 bottle caps. What a wise guy.

Producers decided to go in a different direction with Ward and Wally,...

MTV launched on August 1, 1981, famously charging out of the gate with The Buggles' hit song "Video Killed the Radio Star." It was pretty presumptuous and cheeky for the suits at MTV to assume that their new network was instantly ripping apart an old media landscape, but they were eventually proven somewhat right. MTV became, for a prolonged spell, a brand new cultural fulcrum for Gen-x youths. The network didn't just randomly showcase hip music videos — a medium that exploded in popularity thanks to MTV's machinations — but carefully curated them, allowing viewers to appreciate certain genres, labels, or artists they may not have known otherwise. Some early MTV explorers may recall 1983's "I.R.S. Records Presents The Cutting Edge." Hosts would introduce blocks of videos and even take requests. The term VJ entered the pop lexicon.

Also, to round out their programming blocks, MTV ran multiple news segments and documentary shows, updating...

Barbara Billingsley, the actress who played mom June Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver, wasn’t nearly as generous with the compliments as Eddie Haskell, the neighborhood suck-up who was always trying to get in her good graces. Once she got a load of Roseanne, another family sitcom that became popular 30 years after her own, she complained to a newspaper about “this big, sloppy woman.”

“You know, the first time I saw Roseanne, I thought, ‘Ugh! I hate the messy house,’” she told Newark’s Star-Ledger, as reported by MeTV. It’s unclear whether Billingsley’s “big, sloppy woman” dig referred to the way the character kept her home or the sitcom star’s personal appearance.

The Conner house certainly looked nothing like the immaculate Cleaver abode. June was famous for vacuuming in high heels and pearls, an ensemble that Roseanne never pulled off on her show. Billingsley later revealed...

There may be no more archetypical American family sitcom than "Leave it to Beaver." Even character names became archetypes, as "Ward Cleaver" instantly connotes a firm-but-fair perfect father, and a June Cleaver type would be assumed a wholesomely beautiful housewife and mother. Family problems, drawn from the writers' real lives, usually proved solvable, and the Cleaver clan generally provided the model of the family that the viewer would like to have.

As conventional as its drama may have been, the show did break new ground. It was the first prime-time series to specifically create a series finale episode, and said finale was also one of the earliest clip-show sitcom episodes. In the last episode, "Family Scrapbook," the Cleavers look at old stills from prior episodes and remember highlights from the show, including many of the major supporting characters, like Wally's obnoxious pal Eddie Haskell. Ward and June also finally revealed...

Jay North, the former child star who became a household name in the 1950s, has died at age 73. North is best known for portraying Dennis Mitchell in the 1959 sitcom Dennis the Menace. His co-star, Jeannie Russell, who played Margaret Wade, confirmed the news of his passing to The Hollywood Reporter. The former actor died in Lake Butler, Florida, on April 6, 2025, following a battle with colon cancer. According to TV Line, North's character, Dennis, might've had heart eyes for Russell's character, Margaret, but off-screen, to Russell, he was her "otherwordly brother." His last on-screen appearance came in a 2003 production called Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, as himself.

North got the role of Dennis Mitchell after auditioning during CBS's nationwide search for the perfect boy to play the part. He was only six years old and initially didn't impress the studio. His agent pressed for a second audition, and North...

The Beaver was only in second grade when Leave It to Beaver made its sitcom debut in 1957. By the time the show finished its final season in 1963, Theodore Cleaver had grown into an awkward teenager. With big brother Wally finishing his high school career, the show ending its run made sense. But according to series star Jerry Mathers, the show nearly kept going into the Beav’s young adult years.

Leave It to Beaver aired on two different networks, but it was an ABC property for the majority of its run. After the show’s sixth season, the network looked at current trends among popular shows and decided to implement some changes over at the Cleaver house. For one thing, it wanted to produce the show in color. Makes sense — everyone was making the switch. ABC also proposed a more radical shift: It wanted to make each episode an hour long.

Young Sheldon and Arthur the King nabbed two awards each at the 27th annual Family Film and TV Awards, which honored both past and current TV series and movies in a ceremony that aired Saturday night on CBS and is available to stream on Paramount+.

Young Sheldon was named best ensemble television series, while the show’s star Iain Armitage won the award for best actor in a TV series.

Arthur the King took home the award for best feature film, with star Mark Wahlberg named best actor in a feature film.

Big Brother was named best competition series, Let’s Make a Deal won for best game show, and Military Makeover With Montel won the award for best reality show.

Meanwhile, Mary Poppins was named best iconic classic film, while Saved by the Bell won best iconic classic TV series at the awards, which “celebrate outstanding achievements in film and...

On Saturday November 9 2024, CBS broadcasts Family Film and TV Awards!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Family Film and TV Awards” promises to be a heartfelt celebration of family-friendly entertainment. Airing on CBS, this special event recognizes the best in film and television that brings families together. With a focus on excellence in storytelling, this episode aims to highlight the importance of wholesome content for all ages.

A special highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Icon Award to Jerry Mathers. Known for his iconic role as Beaver Cleaver in the classic series “Leave It to Beaver,” Mathers has left a lasting impact on family television. His contributions to the industry have made him a beloved figure, and this honor reflects his enduring legacy in family entertainment.

The event will be hosted by Kevin Frazier and Amanda Kloots, who are sure to bring their charisma and warmth to the stage.

Let’s be frank: few child actors achieve the level of enduring recognition Jerry Mathers has. For many, he’s eternally the wide-eyed, perpetually curious Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver from the iconic series Leave It to Beaver. Now, Mathers’ decades-long career is getting a well-deserved nod at the 27th Annual Family Film and TV Awards, where he’ll receive […]

Jerry Mathers: From Beaver Cleaver to Icon, a Family Film and TV Awards Salute...

The “Family Film and TV Awards” is set to air on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 9:00 Pm on CBS. This special event is all about celebrating the best in family-oriented film and television, honoring the work that brings families together and entertains audiences of all ages. Viewers can expect a night filled with heartfelt tributes, memorable performances, and a showcase of the films and shows that have made a significant impact on family entertainment.

One of the highlights of the evening will be the presentation of the prestigious Icon Award to Jerry Mathers, best known for his endearing role as Beaver Cleaver on the classic series “Leave It to Beaver.” Mathers’ contributions to family television have left a lasting legacy, and this award recognizes his influence and importance in the industry. Hosting the ceremony are Kevin Frazier and Amanda Kloots, who are sure to bring their energy and charisma to the stage,...

Network TV censors were pretty tough back in the 1950s and 1960s, and rarely cut sitcoms much slack. That’s why Rob and Laura Petrie were forced to sleep in separate beds on The Dick Van Dyke Show. And also, presumably, why Rob never dropped any F-bombs while nearly killing himself on that damn ottoman week after week.

Somewhat shockingly, even the squeaky clean family program Leave It to Beaver once did battle with network censors, too. And somehow the dispute had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Ward and June Cleaver named their son “Beaver.”

In what was originally supposed to be the very first episode of the show, “Captain Jack” found Beaver and Wally trying to order a pet alligator from the back pages of a comic book. When that plan fails, they instead opt to obtain a gator from some sketchy local dirtbag, which apparently...

Leave It to Beaver was a groundbreaking sitcom from the 1950s, setting the stage for future family-friendly series. Key cast members, like Jerry Mathers (Beaver) and Tony Dow (Wally), found continued success in TV after the show. Some cast members, like Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell), struggled with typecasting but later found success in other shows.

Remembered as one of the seminal sitcoms from the early days of television, the Leave It to Beaver cast had a massive impact on popular culture. The show aired for six seasons starting in 1957, and it became a cultural touchstone for the late-'50 and early-'60s. Though incredibly simplistic compared to modern sitcoms, Leave It to Beaver blazed the trail for the genre and was often imitated in the ensuing decades. A true syndication hit, the series found its greatest popularity when it began to play in syndication.

Leave It to Beaver chronicled the adolescent life of its titular character,...

Few TV shows define the early days of the medium like "Leave it to Beaver." Over six decades after it began airing, the idyllic family sitcom isn't just synonymous with 1950s television, but 1950s America as a whole. While its white picket fence dreams have never been reflective of the real world, the show still functions as a gentle comedic escape from reality for many a classic TV fan.

As one of the oldest culturally significant TV shows still in syndication, it's impossible to watch "Leave It To Beaver" without wondering what became of the cheerful bunch of actors populating its sunny suburban world. Unfortunately, the considerable passage of time means that most of the actors involved in the series have died, but there are still three main actors — all of them former child stars — who are carving out paths for themselves in a post-"Leave it to Beaver" world.

Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock made a film starring Shirley MacLaine and John Forsythe? Did you know he made a broad comedy? Did you know he shot an entire film in Craftsbury, Vermont?! Well, I guess the last one isn't so shocking. And "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", Hitchcock's Carole Lombard-starring screwball comedy from 1941, is quite well-known and liked.

But I'm not talking about "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." I'm talking about the other comedy made by the master of suspense. 1955's "The Trouble With Harry" represented several firsts for Hitchcock -- his first dark comedy, the first film he made after obtaining American citizenship (he had been living and working in the country for 16 years by that point), and the first film he made after commencing production on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." That series quickly became popular with audiences and was cemented in short order as an American institution,...

Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has cuddled up to Unstuffed: A Build-a-Bear Story, taking North American rights to the doc from The Last Blockbuster‘s Taylor Morden, which features the voices of talent including Jon Lovitz, Pete Holmes, Jerry Mathers, Larry Hankin and Mike Tyson.

The film, produced in a mixed-media format including animation and storyboarded sequences, will become available on digital platforms and on DVD beginning October 3. View the trailer above.

Directed by Morden from his script, Unstuffed explores the origins of the “teddy bear” as well as the psychological importance of stuffed animals in childhood development. Sprinkled with stories of Build-A-Bear’s lasting and emotional impact on the lives of everyday people and celebrities alike, the doc is told through the eyes of a teddy bear narrator (voiced by Lovitz) as it follows the furry footsteps of a single idea that reimagined not one, but two industries. The...

No matter how good a father is, they’re always going to have faults, quirks, and personality traits that get on our nerves as their children. A dad might be an incredible provider, but that could leave him emotionally unavailable when he gets home from a long day at work. Another dad might be nurturing and tender, but that leaves him bare when it’s time to lay down the hammer and bring some tough love to the family table.

There are no perfect dads, except if you combine all of the best traits of our favorite TV dads into one unrivaled super-dad! Examining fatherhood has always been an iconic part of watching television, with great dads setting the standard for their real-life counterparts all of the time. We’re going to compile all of the most vital parts of being a good dad, and manifest them through a combination...

Halloween clearly makes for some good TV.

The love affair started as far back as 1952, when ABC ran an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet titled “Halloween Party,” possibly the first Halloween-themed tie-in for a network show. That episode featured the first role for another actor who would be come part of early days of TV, Jerry Mathers, who went on to star in the classic Leave It to Beaver.

Other early shows that delivered Halloween themes included The Honeymooners, Lassie and The Andy Griffith Show.

After its early success, pretty much every show on TV jumped on the Halloween bandwagon, some more so than others. Bewitched and Sabrina the Teenage Witch were obvious candidates, and they aired five and six Halloween episodes, respectively.

ABC’s The Middle has scored the most Halloween candy with eight episodes. Modern Family, Roseanne and...

Halloween clearly makes for some good TV.

The love affair started as far back as 1952, when ABC ran an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet titled “Halloween Party,” possibly the first Halloween-themed tie in for a network show. That show featured the first role for another actor who would be come part of early days of TV, Jerry Mathers, who went on to classic Leave it to Beaver.

Related: Top 50 Movie Monsters Of All Time Gallery: From Pennywise & Chucky To Michael Myers & Frankenstein

Other early shows that delivered Halloween themes included The Honeymooners, Lassie and The Andy Griffith Show.

After its early success, pretty much every show on TV jumped on the Halloween bandwagon, some more so than others. Bewitched and Sabrina the Teenage Witch were obvious candidates and broadcast five and six Halloween episodes, respectively.

Related: Halloween Movies Photo Gallery:...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on Star 96.7 Wssr-fm reviewing the new Blu-Ray edition of “Back to the Beach,” the 1987 parody of Frankie and Annette beach movies from the 1960s, featuring of course Frankie and Annette.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello portray offbeat fictional versions of themselves, married and stuck in Ohio after Frankie (nicknamed the Big Kahuna) wiped out on a monster wave called the Cowabunga from Down Unda, and left the California Beach to raise rebellious Bobby (Demian Slide) and grown daughter Sandi. When Frankie and Annette go back in California to visit Sandi, the old wave meets the new wave.

Extras: Watch anywhere Digital Movie Code, Special Feature “Filmmaker Focus” spotlighting Director Lyndall Hobbs.

’Back to the Beach’ on Blu-Ray

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviewed “Back to the Beach” during the Eddie Volkman...

Topanga, Calif – Tony Dow is still dead. The featured cast member of the iconic 1950s sitcom “Leave it to Beaver” joined the ranks of Mark Twain and Generalissimo Francisco Franco on the list of deaths that were announced before the individual had died. On July 26th, 2022, a rep inadvertently leaked that Dow had passed, after a battle with cancer. His family had to intervene, expressing that he was still alive. Dow officially died on July 27th at his home in Topanga, California.

Exclusive Unpublished Photo: Tony Dow in Chicago, Circa 2018

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Anthony Lee Dow was born in Los Angeles, and was only 12 years old when he won the role of the Wally Cleaver, brother to the title character on “Leave it to Beaver” (1957-63), growing up in front of millions of TV viewers. He continued to act after the series ended,...

Editor’s note: Deadline originally posted this tribute on July 26 after Tony Dow’s family erroneously announced his death. The actor died Wednesday in hospice care.

Jerry Mathers is paying tribute to his Leave It to Beaver co-star, remembering Tony Dow as “not only my brother on tv, but in many ways in life as well.”

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

“It is with the utmost sadness I learned this morning of my co-star and lifelong friend Tony Dow’s passing,” Mathers wrote 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. He was always the kindest, most generous, gentle, loving, sincere, and humble man, that it was my honor and privilege to be able to share memories together with for 65 years.

“Tony was so grateful...

Tony Dow, who was best known for playing Wally on “Leave It to Beaver,” has died at 77. Confirmation of the actor’s death comes after it was prematurely reported by a since-deleted post on his official Facebook.

“We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey,” a new post on the account reads. “We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. One fan said it best—’It is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.'”

Dow was re-diagnosed with liver cancer in May. On Tuesday, the star’s official Facebook page erroneously announced his death, which included statements from family members. That post was deleted as his son,...

Click here to read the full article.

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, his reps announced after a tumultuous day for his family. He was 77.

Dow died Wednesday morning with his family at his side at his home in Topanga. A post on his official Facebook page read: “We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey.”

The post continued: “We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. One fan said it best—’It is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.

Actor Tony Dow, best known for his role as Wally Cleaver on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver, died on Wednesday at the age of 77.

Dow was still in hospice care Tuesday when his death was prematurely announced. “Tony’s wife Lauren, who was very distraught, had notified us that Tony had passed and asked that we notify all his fans,” according to a statement on his Facebook page. “As we are sure you can understand, this has been a very trying time for her. We have since received a call from Tony’s daughter-in-law saying that while Tony is not doing well,...

July 27, Wednesday

Billie Eilish, Debbie Harry, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Seth MacFarlane perform during the Count Basie Orchestra tribute to Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra.

Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Nickelodeon screens “Are You Afraid of the Dark? GhostIsland” with stars Telci Huynh, Luca Padovan, Chance Hurstfield and Julian Curtis and showrunner Jt Billings.

The London West Hollywood

Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint and Eve Best attend the premiere of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon.”

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles

Jerry Mathers, Anson Williams, Erin Murphy, Dee Wallace, Leonard Maltin and original “Our Gang” cast member Sidney Kibrick attend the VIP preview of the “Our Gang” 100th anniversary exhibit.

The Hollywood Museum, Hollywood

July 28, Thursday

Louis Vuitton opens “220 Trunks, 200 Visionaries,” an exhibit of 200 trunks designed by Gloria Steinem, Frank Gehry, Alex Israel and more.

Louis Vuitton Beverly Hills,...

Update, with statements from Dow’s son & management Tony Dow’s son and management team have confirmed that the actor is still alive, with his representatives attributing the earlier misinformation to the distraught state of the Leave It To Beaver actor’s wife.

“This is a difficult time,” Dow’s son Christopher Dow said in a statement posted on the actor’s Facebook page. “Dad is at home, under hospice care, and in his last hours. My wife and I are by his side along with many friends that have visited. He has a fighting heart.”

Earlier, in a note marked “Urgent Update” on the Facebook page, representatives Frank Bilotta and Renee James write, “This morning Tony’s wife Lauren, who was very distraught, had notified us that Tony had passed and asked that we notify all his fans. As we are sure you can understand, this has been a very trying time for her.

Just hours after announcing the death of Tony Dow on Tuesday, the Leave It to Beaver actor’s management has retracted its statement.

A new statement posted to Dow’s Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon reads as follows:

More from TVLineTony Dow Dead at 77, Following Premature Death AnnouncementTVLine Items: Kung Fu Adds CW Vets, Norman Lear Birthday Special and MoreTVLine Items: Raising Kanan Trailer, Kate Winslet's Palace Series and More

“This morning Tony’s wife Lauren, who was very distraught, had notified us that Tony had passed and asked that we notify all his fans. As we are sure you can understand,...

Among TV dads, one name held up as a paragon of parenthood is Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont), who dispensed love and wisdom to Wally (Tony Dow) and Theodore, aka the Beaver, from 1957 to 1963 on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver. Here are some of his best qualities from three of tonight’s six gems on Fetv. He’s Teachable In “The Perfect Father” (7/6c), Ward wants the boys and their pals to play at the house. But when he inserts himself into their basketball fun, the kids clear out — and Ward learns that keeping some distance can be a good way to stay close. He Puts the Boys First Ward cancels movie night with wife June (Barbara Billingsley) to help with homework. Somehow he ends up penning “Beaver’s Poem” (7:30/6:30c), which wins a school prize — whoops — but it’s the thought that counts! He’s Consistent...

Tony Dow, the actor who starred as Wally Cleaver on “Leave It to Beaver,” has once again been diagnosed with cancer. Dow’s wife, Lauren Shulkind, broke the news on the actor’s official Facebook page. The specifics of Dow’s cancer diagnoses were not disclosed.

“Dear friends and fans of Tony Dow, I have some very sad news to share with you,” Shulkind wrote on Facebook. “Unfortunately, Tony has once again been diagnosed with cancer. He is approaching this reality so bravely, but it is truly heartbreaking. We want to thank you in advance for your caring thoughts. Our Love, Lauren & Tony.”

Dow starred in the series regular role of Wally Cleaver on “Leave It to Beaver” for all six seasons of the show, which started its run on CBS before moving over to ABC. The show ran for 234 episodes between 1957 and 1963. Dow starred in the series opposite Jerry Mathers...

“Dancing with the Stars” is coming back for a 30th season this fall, and there’s a long list of celebrities I’d love to see compete. Below is a list of male stars I think the show should consider to vie for the next Mirror Ball Trophy. Do you agree with these picks? Let us know which you’d most like to see on “DWTS” by voting in the poll at the bottom of this post And of course let us know in the comments who else you would like to see when the show returns in September.

See‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 30: ABC renews the competition series for landmark year Jerry Mathers

This former child star is best known as the title character on the sitcom “Leave It to Beaver,” but he has proven to be pretty musically inclined in the years since. When he was...

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(Rich Correll with the T-Rex prop from Jurassic Park.)

By Mark Cerulli

After 30+ years as a 007 collector, I understand collecting… how amassing items connected to a movie series or iconic character gets into the blood and forces you to disregard common sense when pursuing a must-have. Like most collectors, I have always been constrained by two factors – money and time. Now imagine a collector who isn’t bothered by either, who has a deep passion for horror and even deeper pockets to acquire almost anything available. Meet Richard “Rich” Correll!

A native Californian, Correll started his career as a child actor on Leave It to Beaver, practically growing up on the Universal lot. “Jerry Mathers is one of my best friends,” he notes. Rich found himself drawn to Universal’s Makeup Department where he became fascinated by the appliances and masks used in...

Good evening. Master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock was born on August, Friday the 13th back in 1899, and while the great filmmaker’s movies and his TV shows have always been widely available for aspiring film students and classic movie lovers, Peacock has lumped many of his classics in one place. 14 of the director’s films are now available to stream through NBCUniversal’s ad-supported service.

The trick with Hitchcock is, even writing a top 10 list of the director’s best movies would be leaving off some great ones. So below is a list of his essential titles that best define his style and penchant for thrills, and check out a video teaser of his classic films

Universal Pictures

“Shadow of a Doubt” (1943)

Peacock doesn’t have any of Hitchcock’s early films before he left Britain and his movies started getting Oscar buzz, but “Shadow of a Doubt” was one...

Gerald McGrew claims he would like to collect “a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too” for his imaginary zoo in the Dr. Seuss story “If I Ran the Zoo.” It soon became the slang word for someone who is a “square.” Sixty years later, the word “nerd” immediately brings to mind a certain visual: Braces. Eyeglasses. Ill-fitting britches. Outdated hairdo.

See‘The Big Bang Theory’: 25 greatest episodes ranked worst to best

Although there are plenty of nerdy characters throughout the history of television – Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Barney Fife (Don Knotts), for instance, in the early days – the sitcom “Happy Days” is credited for popularizing the term again in the late 1970s. At that time, it referred to anybody who was “uncool” – basically anybody who wasn’t Fonzie – but it was Potsie Weber (Anson Williams) who more often than not got that moniker. As time has moved on,...

Gerald McGrew claims he would like to collect “a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too” for his imaginary zoo in the Dr. Seuss story “If I Ran the Zoo.” It soon became the slang word for someone who is a “square.” Sixty years later, the word “nerd” immediately brings to mind a certain visual: Braces. Eyeglasses. Ill-fitting britches. Outdated hairdo.

Although there are plenty of nerdy characters throughout the history of television – Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Barney Fife (Don Knotts), for instance, in the early days – the sitcom “Happy Days” is credited for popularizing the term again in the late 1970s. At that time, it referred to anybody who was “uncool” – basically anybody who wasn’t Fonzie – but it was Potsie Weber (Anson Williams) who more often than not got that moniker. As time has moved on, the word nerd has evolved to encompass a wide variety of characters,...

Ken Osmond, who played obsequious troublemaker Eddie Haskell on TV’s Leave It to Beaver, has died, his manager confirms. Osmond was 76.

“He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father,” his son, Eric, said in a statement. “He had his family gathered around him when he passed. He was loved and will be very missed.”

The impact of his most famous performance can be measured by the fact that, for those of us of a certain age, if someone is described as an “Eddie Haskell”-type, we know exactly what is meant.

Appropriately, tributes poured in from across a broad spectrum. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Osmond “created a memorable character,” and Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach cited Eddie Haskell as one of his “all-time influences.”

The Haskell character was a troublemaking friend of Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow), the older brother of Theodore, aka the Beaver (Jerry Mathers). Hugh Beaumont...

Ken Osmond, a child actor known for his role as Eddie Haskell on “Leave It to Beaver,” has died at the age of 76.

Osmond died Monday at his home in Los Angeles. No cause of death was given.

In a statement, Osmond’s son Eric remembered him as “an incredibly kind and wonderful father.”

Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2020 (Photos)

“He had his family gathered around him when he passed,” Eric Osmond said. “He was loved and will be very missed.”

As an actor, Osmond was best known for playing the rebellious character of Eddie Haskell on the 1950s sitcom “Leave It to Beaver.” The teenage character was a friend of Beaver’s (Jerry Mathers) older brother Wally (Tony Dow) and was notorious for the way he’d pretend to be the perfect child in the presence of adults, while acting out when they weren’t around.

Osmond appeared...

Mill Creek and Kit Parker have raided the Columbia vault once again in search of Noir Gold from the ‘fifties. Their selection this time around has a couple of prime gems, several straight crime thrillers and domestic jeopardy tales, and also a couple of interesting Brit imports. They aren’t really ‘Noir’ either, but they’re still unexpected and different. The top title is Don Siegel’s incomparable The Lineup, but also on board is a snappy anti-commie epic by André De Toth. Get set for a lineup of impressive leading ladies: Diana Dors, Arlene Dahl, Anita Ekberg — and the great Colleen Dewhurst as a card-carrying Red!

Noir Archive 9-Film Collection Volume 3

The Shadow on the Window, The Long Haul, Pickup Alley, The Tijuana Story, She Played with Fire, The Case Against Brooklyn, The Lineup, The Crimson Kimono, Man on a String

Blu-ray

Mill Creek / Kit Parker

1957 -1960 / B&w...

Previous | Image 1 of 15 | NextTony Dow and Jerry Mathers of TV’s ‘Leave it to Beaver.’

Chicago – The TV, movie and entertainment world is coming back to Chicagoland with The Hollywood Show on March 23rd and 24th, 2019, at the Hyatt Rosemont/Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Ill. The event gives fans and admirers an opportunity to meet and get pictures with celebrities and take advantage of vendors offering show business memorabilia.

Prominent film actor John Cusack will make his first Chicago appearance at The Hollywood Show (Saturday the 23rd only). For nostalgists, Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris of “West Side Story” (1961) are appearing. This year’s show will also focus on some of the biggest TV shows in history, as Richard Thomas (John-Boy from “The Waltons”), Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H), Shirley Jones (“The Partridge Family”) and Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island) are set to appear. Also in attendance...

Chicago – 2018 was a killer year. I lost both my father and my childhood guitar idol|/mentor Ed King (of Lynyrd Skynyrd) within four days of each other. Both men played instrumental roles in starting and supporting my chosen photographic journey.

My dad bought me my first studio lighting equipment then fashioned and welded my fifteen foot solid steel background stands by hand in the garage. Ed King took me under his wing and on the road as a personal band photographer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, and then made sure some of my live shots ended up on their 1993 album.

There were a dozen former celebrity subjects/clients also passed this year. Some of them blissful joys to work with – like Burt Reynolds – while a couple others some of my worst nightmares. One Diva in particular ironically couldn’t muster up even the smallest sliver of “Respect.” Ninety celebrities posed for my lens last year,...

The highway of Classic TV shows is littered with the bodies of young actors who were either discarded by the industry that represented the only life they knew, were taken advantage of by parents who exploited them and stole all their money, or simply couldn’t cope with an existence outside of the cameras. Somehow, though, Jerry Mathers, who on Leave It to Beaver was the one that everything was left to, came through it all completely unscathed. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Jerry, born Gerald Patrick Mathers on June 2, 1948 in Sioux City, Iowa, has actually been acting since the age of two when he was a child model for a department store ad. This was followed by a TV commercial for Pet Milk, and then roles in the feature films This is My Love (1954), Men of the Fighting Lady (1954), The Seven Little Foys...

Previous | Image 1 of 20 | NextStefanie Powers from TV’s ‘Hart to Hart.’

Chicago – The TV, movie and entertainment world is coming back to Chicagoland with The Hollywood Show on March 17th and 18th, 2018, at the Hyatt Rosemont/Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Ill. The event gives fans and admirers an opportunity to meet and get pictures with celebrities and take advantage of vendors offering show business memorabilia.

This year’s show is focusing on 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s nostalgia, as Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers (Wally and the Beaver from “Leave it to Beaver”) will make their first Chicago appearance. Also in attendance will be Lyle Waggoner from the “Carol Burnett Show,” Linda Blair from “The Exorcist,” Parker Stevenson from “The Hardy Boys” and Julie McCullough from “Growing Pains,” among other big names. Click here for a complete list.

HollywoodChicago.com is at The Hollywood Show every year, and photographer...

[[tmz:video id="0_5ad5ebub"]] LeBron James surprised the basketball team at Notre Dame High School in L.A. on Tuesday -- hitting the gym for a training session while his wife checked out the campus ... TMZ Sports has learned.  We're told Bron and Savannah James rolled up to the school in a chauffeured car around 6 Pm and walked around campus before a workout on the court.  LeBron owns a home in Brentwood and there's talk he could be checking...

In 1997, the “Leave It To Beaver” star owned a successful catering business, but all that took a turn after a visit to the doctors. Jerry Mathers lost 55 pounds after his doctors diagnosed him with Type 2 diabetes. The actor revealed to Fox News that after being diagnosed, the doctors informed him that if he […]...

Jerry Mathers owned a successful catering business in Hollywood in 1997 when he received a devastating diagnosis from his doctor.

Mathers, 69, told Fox News doctors told him he only had three to five years to live if he didn’t manage his Type 2 diabetes.

“I was living the good life,” he said. “I had side businesses and one of them was a catering business. And I was doing a lot of motion picture and television catering for crews, which is for about 100-200 people. It’s like setting up a whole restaurant.”

The Leave It to Beaver actor was eating five...

Besides making people forever afraid of motel-room showers, Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" continues to have an incalculable impact on popular culture. Though it was released 55 years ago this week (on June 16, 1960), it continues to inspire filmmakers and TV producers. In just the last three years, we've seen the 2012 film "Hitchcock" (based on Stephen Rebello's book "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho,'" and starring Anthony Hopkins as the director and Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh) and the ongoing A&E TV prequel drama series, "Bates Motel."

Still, for all of the "Psycho" trivia revealed in "Hitchcock," the biopic barely scratches the surface of how the film got made, from the men who inspired the invention of Norman Bates, to the trickery Hitchcock used to tease the press while keeping the film's convention-shredding narrative twists a secret, to the film's unlikely connection to "Leave It to Beaver." Here,...

Centuries from now, pop-culture archaeologists will be able to identify 20th-century TV shows by looking for certain hallmarks. Most of the comedies, for example, will include the sound of unseen humans laughing uncontrollably for no apparent reason. There will be an inordinate number of dramas featuring a middle-aged, slightly rumpled white guy portraying a cop/lawyer/private investigator who always catches a bad guy and usually has a catchphrase. And, more likely than not, the historians will notice that these early era TV shows feature very lengthy title sequences that end with one actor being given special mention: the “and-as” credit.If you’ve spent even a few hours watching TV Land during the daytime hours, you’ve almost certainly seen an example of this unique Hollywood hierarchy. The kid on Leave It to Beaver isn’t played by Jerry Mathers, but rather by “And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

NBC's "Community" has been a fascinatingly awkward ride with plenty of nervous-making moments for diehard fans. Creator Dan Harmon's exit from and return to the series, Chevy Chase's notorious fights with Harmon that culminated with his own exeunt, and Donald Glover's surprising departure (which still allotted him a five-episode arc this past season) have been puzzling and jarring for Greendale geeks -- which is to say nothing of the show's constant on-the-bubble ratings situation. But at Wednesday night's PaleyFest panel for "Community," Harmon, co-producer/writer Chris McKenna, as well as stars Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, and Jim Rash expressed the same resilient camaraderie they've had since the show debuted in 2009. Attendees got an eyeful, including the entire first episode of the two-part season five finale, which should leave enough open-ended storylines for an expected sixth season (Gillian Jacobs told the room to consider it official already,...