Jerry Mathers on 'Leave It to Beaver': Minister TV Dad Kept Set Wholesome

The set of Leave It to Beaver was a wholesome haven, mirroring the 1950s sitcom’s charm. Jerry Mathers, the now 77-year-old who played Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver, recently shared that his TV dad, Hugh Beaumont, brought a minister’s grace to the set. 'He kept us on the straight and narrow,' Mathers recalled, noting the crew’s professionalism—no late-night partying here, just a family-like vibe.

Beaumont, who passed in 1982 at 73, wasn’t just a father figure on-screen. As a lay Methodist minister, he fostered a nurturing environment, especially for the young cast. Mathers revealed the crew was mostly parents, instinctively knowing how to make kids feel at ease. 'It was always fun,' he said, describing a set filled with laughter and camaraderie.

Mathers also cherished his bond with Barbara Billingsley, his on-screen mom, who died in 2010 at 94. Their connection deepened post-show through charity work, with Billingsley often calling on Mathers to lend a hand. 'She’d take me to new places, helping out with her causes,' he shared, a testament to her generous spirit.

The show, running from 1957 to 1963, produced 234 episodes that still air in syndication, offering Mathers a nostalgic escape. 'Watching it brings back happy memories,' he said. His closeness with co-star Tony Dow, his TV brother who passed in 2022 at 77, was particularly poignant. 'Tony was my brother in life too,' Mathers reflected, praising Dow’s kindness and humility.

Recent losses, like Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell) in 2020, haven’t dimmed Mathers’ affection for the show. A reunion this month with co-stars like Stephen Talbot and Veronica Cartwright at The Hollywood Show was a joy. 'Our fans are so devoted,' Mathers noted, touched by their love for a show that still brings peace in a chaotic world.