Birthday: February 16, 1909 (Aquarius)
Born In: Eudora, Kansas, United States
Hugh Beaumont
(Actor)
Eugene Hugh Beaumont was an American actor, director, and writer. He is best remembered for playing Ward Cleaver in the TV series ‘Leave It to Beaver’. Born in Eudora, Kansas, to a travelling salesman, he frequently moved with his family due to his father’s profession. After graduating from a private coeducational prep school in Tennessee, he studied at University of Chattanooga and later earned his Master of Theology degree from University of Southern California. Beaumont’s career in show business began in 1931 with performances in radio, night clubs and theatres. He eventually started acting in motion pictures in 1940 and went on to appear in numerous films as well as television projects. On a personal note, the actor married only once in his lifetime. He tied the knot with actress Kathryn Adams in April 1941 on Easter Sunday, Their partnership lasted 33 years until their separation in 1974. Beaumont died of a heart attack in 1982 while visiting his son, a psychologist serving in Munich, West Germany.
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Quick Facts
Also Known As: Eugene Hugh Beaumont
Died At Age: 73
Family:
Spouse/Ex-: Kathryn Adams Doty (m. 1941–1974)
father: Edward H. Beaumont
mother: Ethel Adaline Whitney
children: Hunter Beaumont, Kristy Beaumont, Mark Beaumont
Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males
place of death: Munich, Germany
Notable Alumni: University Of Chattanooga
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
U.S. State: Kansas
More Facts
education: University Of Southern California, University of Chattanooga
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Childhood & Early Life
Eugene Hugh Beaumont was born on February 16, 1909, in Eudora, Kansas, USA, to Edward H. Beaumont and Ethel Adaline Whitney. He had a sister named Gloria Bussman.
After studying at the Baylor School, he enrolled at University of Chattanooga. He later attended University of Southern California and graduated from there with a Master of Theology degree.
Career
Hugh Beaumont started appearing in motion pictures in 1940. Most of his early roles were minor and were not credited. In 1946–47, he starred in five movies as the private detective Michael Shayne.
During 1952 and 1953, he made guest appearances in a number of TV programs including 'Ford Theatre', 'Big Town', 'Letter to Loretta', 'Topper', 'Adventures of Superman', ‘The Lone Ranger’ and 'Four Star Playhouse', to name a few.
The actor had a guest role in ‘The Public Defender’, a series which aired on CBS. In 1955, he starred in the war film ‘Hell's Horizon’ alongside Marla English and John Ireland.
Beaumont featured in Universal International's science fiction horror movie ‘The Mole People’ in 1956. During this time, he also featured in one of the early episodes of CBS’s series ‘My Friend Flicka’.
In July 1957, he portrayed a sympathetic characterization of the infamous western robber Jesse James in the TV series ‘Tales of Wells Fargo’ and also played Jeff Kurth in the western ‘Night Passage’.
During the 1960s, he appeared in several community theater productions and had a few guest roles in television series like ‘The Virginian,’ ‘Mannix,’ ‘Petticoat Junction,’ and ‘Wagon Train.’
Beaumont also worked as a writer and sold several radio scripts, television screenplays, and stories to various magazines.
He retired from the show business in the late 1960s and started working as a Christmas-tree farmer in Minnesota. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire in 1972 after suffering a stroke.
Major Works
From 1950 to 1953, Hugh Beaumont narrated Reed Hadley’s crime drama series ‘Racket Squad,’ appearing in 33 episodes. The series was based on the crime cases of a fictional detective named Captain John Braddock.
In 1957, the actor was cast in his best-remembered role as Ward Cleaver, a wise suburban father in the drama ‘Leave It to Beaver’ that followed an inquisitive young boy and his adventures in school, at home, and around his neighborhood.
Family & Personal Life
On April 13, 1941, Easter Sunday, Hugh Beaumont married actress Kathryn Adams. The couple had three children: Mark, Kristy and Hunter. They divorced in 1974.
On May 14, 1982, the actor died of heart attack while he was in Munich (then West Germany) where his son, a psychologist, was working.
The 1983 TV movie ‘Still the Beaver’ is dedicated to the talented actor. In the early 1980s, a rock band from Texas formed “The Hugh Beaumont Experience” using his name.
How To Cite
Article Title
- Hugh Beaumont Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
- https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/hugh-beaumont-43916.php
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