Summary
- Remembering Leave It to Beaver, a TV classic from the '50s with its iconic cast, remains a heartfelt look at 1950s Americana.
- The show's child actors brought a unique story perspective, leading to memorable episodes filled with valuable lessons and warm sentiment.
- Though the cast moved on post-cancellation, they're fondly remembered for bringing the beloved characters of Leave It to Beaver to life.
Remembered as one of the seminal sitcoms from the early days of television, Leave It to Beaver had a massive impact on popular culture, and more than 65 years later, fans wonder, "Who is still alive from Leave It to Beaver?" 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 reruns.
Leave It to Beaver chronicled the adolescent life of its titular character, and because of that, many of the show's cast members were children. That childlike perspective led to some of the iconic sitcom's most memorable episodes, and the tone was a heartwarming mixture of coming-of-age with the lovable schmaltz of 1950s Americana. Even if some of Leave It to Beaver's jokes aged poorly, the family-friendly series was exactly what many viewers were looking for when it came to TV escapism. Though its cast was mostly known for Leave It to Beaver, some continued to act long after the show was canceled.
The Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked
The best TV shows of all time will be debated forever, but there are clear contenders. These are the very best TV shows of all time, ranked.
Jerry Mathers (1948 - )
As Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver
Perfectly cast as the young Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, Jerry Mathers played the character in every episode of the show. Though "Beaver" is a very tame sitcom kid by today's standards, he was seen as a bit of a rebellious spirit on the show, always preferring to mess around with his friends and read comic books. The episodes often found him getting into trouble and learning important lessons as a result.
Though Leave It to Beaver is what made him famous, Mathers had already been working in show business for years by the time he landed the part. He appeared alongside Shirley MacLaine in Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry in 1955, and after Leave It to Beaver he continued to work mostly in TV. However, by the 2000s, Mathers had largely stepped away from show business. His most recent appearance was in the 2008 TV movie Mother Goose Parade.
Rusty Stevens (1948 - )
Played Larry Mondello
Appearing during the show's first three seasons, Robert "Rusty" Stevens played the lovable Larry Mondello, who was one of the Beaver's best friends. He was known for his love of candy bars and for not always being the sharpest kid around. His foolishness often led Beaver astray and caused him to get into trouble.
Stevens's first big role came in Leave It to Beaver, but he only scored a few other TV roles in the immediate years following his departure from the show. After stepping away from acting for years, he returned as Larry in the forgotten TV revival Still the Beaver and even showed up in three episodes of the subsequent reboot series The New Leave It to Beaver in the 1980s. Following his appearances in that nostalgic resurrection of the beloved sitcom, Stevens left show business in 1989.
Stephen Talbot (1949 - )
Played Gilbert Bates
Just looking to fit in with the boys, Gilbert Bates was a sensitive friend of the Beaver, and he was played brilliantly by Stephen Talbot on the sitcom. Gilbert started as another troublesome kid whose antics got Beaver into trouble. He was also a loudmouth who was prone to telling lies to make himself seem more impressive. However, he eventually became a good friend to Beaver.
Eschewing acting by the 1980s, Talbot found great success as a news producer on the series Frontline and scored a host of major awards including Emmys and Peabodys for his reporting.
Leave It to Beaver was Talbot's breakout role, and he continued to act in one-off TV appearances in Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone during the '60s. Eschewing acting by the 1980s, Talbot found great success as a news producer on the series Frontline and scored a host of major awards including Emmys and Peabodys for his reporting. As of 2023, Talbot continues to work behind the scenes as a news and documentary producer.
Tony Dow (1945 - 2022)
Played Wally Cleaver
Tony Dow co-starred in Leave It to Beaver as Wally, the eldest child of the Cleaver clan, and his teenage problems offered a change of pace from the Beaver-centric episodes. Wally was seen as an "all-American" teen and an ideal that young men should strive for at the time. He was intelligent and athletic while also being polite to his parents and teachers.
Wally Cleaver was Dow's first major role, and he found great success throughout the '60s and '70s on shows like Never Too Young. As Dow's acumen grew, he began working behind the scenes and even directed episodes of shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Coach. One of Dow's final acting roles came in the 2003 film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 77.