JERRY MATHERS
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Jerry
Mathers began his legendary acting career at age two. His early
film
appearances were along side some of the industry's best known
performers,
such as Shirley McLaine, Bob Hope and John Forsythe. Jerry
Mathers was
a favorite of director Alfred Hitchcock. Mathers was named as one
the most
well known individuals in television history by People Magazine
1989.
Generations of Americans and people throughout the world are
familiar with
Jerry Mathers. He has one of the highest "Q" ratings,
for recognizability of
a name and face in the United States. Personal fans and friends
of Jerry
Mathers include General. Douglas MacArthur, President Ronald
Reagan,
Ted Turner, Steven Speilberg, George Foreman, Cher, Ron Howard,
and
many other prominent individuals.
After much success as a model in the print media, Jerry Mathers
was asked
to appear on Ed Wynn's weekly television show, which sparked his
acting
career. In 1955, he was recruited by Alfred Hitchcock for his
movie The
Trouble With Harry, which starred John Forsythe and Shirley
McLaine in
her first film appearance. From there, Jerry Mathers' career took
off and he
began appearing in several movies such as The Seven Little Foys
and That
Certain Feeling with Bob Hope; and Deep Six and Men of The
Fighting
Lady, which starred Alan Ladd and Walter Pidgeon. Jerry Mathers
was
now an accomplished film star.
in 1957, at the age of eight, Jerry Mathers became the only
above-the-credits
star in the role of Beaver Cleaver in the popular sitcom Leave It
To Beaver.
It was the first time in television history that a child actor
was given such a
credit. Jerry Mathers also was one of the first television stars
to be given a
percentage of the show's merchandising rights, which still
provides an
amazing amount of income forty years later! The sitcom was a huge
success
and ran for six years, airing 234 episodes. The syndication ended
in 1963.
Being a high school principal, Jerry Mathers' father encouraged
him to make
education a priority. He finished his high school education and
simultaneously experimented with a career in recording. With his
group,
"Beaver and The Trappers," he released two records on
the Atlantic label,
which topped charts in several states.
Jerry Mathers continued with a traditional education and earned a
Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of California,
Berkeley.
Jerry Mathers did not die as a soldier in Vietnam as reported by
actress
Shelly Winters on the Johnny Carson Show in 1968.
Jerry Mathers began a successful career in investment and real
estate
development using his savings from his early acting career.
Although he
was offered many roles in both television and film, he declined
to accept
Now the father of three, and an actor who has earned a very
wholesome
reputation among his fans, he is sensitive to today's perception
of family
values.
In 1982, Jerry Mathers was requested by Universal Television and
his
former cast members to return to his acting career as Beaver
Cleaver in the
made-for-TV movie Still the Beaver.
Jerry Mathers agreed to do the film. The show was rated in the
top ten
movies of the week and served as a pilot for the series The New
Leave It To
Beaver, which ran for 108 episodes. Jerry Mathers announced his
retirement from series television until the year 2000. In his
mind, there was
nothing more he could accomplish in television or on film during
the 20th
century. Mathers would only consider assignments two days or less
in
length, and which would allow him to pick up his children at
school. After
thirty-six years as a working actor, it was time to be a
real-life father.
Mathers has occasionally revisited television when called by
friends, making
selected appearances on shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
and
Saturday Night Live.
Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow refused to participate in the 1997
feature
film "Leave It To Beaver". After reading the script
they felt it did not convey
the positive message created by the original show's writers Joe
Connelly and
Bob Mosher. As they predicted, the movie was a critical and
financial
failure.
Due to Jerry Mathers having a merchandising clause in his 1957
contract, he
created a line of Jerry Mothers merchandise in cooperation with
Universal
Studios. The products are sold in direct mail catalogs throughout
the world.
Jerry Mather's autobiography, "...And Jerry Mathers As The
Beaver" was published
in the Summer of 1998 by Putnam and chronicles the entire life of
this television
icon. Jerry recounts his experiences working with several
entertainment industry
legends and what it is like to be one of the world' s most
recognizable people.
The release of the book was followed by a national book tour.
Jerry Mathers is one of America's most requested speakers at
national
conventions concerning the emotional state of the American family
in the 90's
compared to the mythical Cleaver's of the 50's.
Jerry Mathers still considers various film and television
projects, but will not
tarnish an image which has made him internationally known and his
family both
on and off camera financially secure. Projects concerning
dysfunctional
families or those with questionable moral guidelines are rejected
on a regular
basis. With Jerry, Tony "Wally" Dow and Ken "Eddie
Haskell" Osmond have
been offered a number of television projects reuniting the well
known young
men from Mayfield. The year 2000 is fast approaching, so the
return of Jerry
Mathers to a full time acting career is possible. Mathers has
never regretted
having the past eight years in self-imposed exile and dedicating
them to his three
children. Ward and June Cleaver would expect nothing less!
Top Child Model
The Trouble With Harry Director -
Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Shirley MacLaine & John Forsythe
The Seven Little Foys Starring Bob Hope
That Certain Feeling Starring Bob Hope
Deep Six Starring Alan Ladd
Men of The Fighting Lady Starring Walter Pidgeon
Leave it To Beaver Top Billing 1957-1963
"Beaver and the Trappers" Recording Group Atlantic Records
Live Theatre Across America
Still the Beaver Television Movie
The New Leave It To Beaver Television Show
Leave it To Beaver - Book
Leave it To Beaver Merchandise Line
Television Hall of Fame
147 Guest Starring Television Appearances
The World According To Beaver - Publishing
Public Appearances
The Tonight Show Players
October 1997 Universal Studios Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Leave It To Beaver
Jerry Mathers Autobiography Putnam Berkley Group, Inc.
Leave It To Beaver still top rated syndicated series around the world