LEAVE IT TO BEAVER

From Oct. 4, 1957, to June 20, 1963, Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver gave kids the business on TV.

Tony Dow

Gee-whiz! After playing son Wally, Tony, 73, didn’t mess around. He continued acting, appearing in shows from

The Mod Squad to Diagnosis: Murder. He also got into directing and sculpting — once getting a piece exhibited at Paris’ Louvre Museum! “It was cool because nobody in France knew who I was.”

Jerry Mathers

Golly! Unlike son Theodore, Jerry, who turned 70 on

June 2, wasn’t into anything goofy. He served in the

U.S. Air Force National Guard, got a philosophy degree and became a real estate broker. He then got back into showbiz — starring in TV’s The New Leave It to Beaver, doing ads and making his Broadway debut in Hairspray.

Hugh Beaumont

1909–1982

While dad Ward tried not to be too hard on the Beaver, Hugh decided to take things easier himself. After appearances on The Virginian, Petticoat Junction and Mannix, he retired to Minnesota and became a Christmas tree farmer. After passing from a heart attack, the ’83 TV reunion pic Still the Beaver was dedicated to him.

Barbara Billingsley

1915–2010

Though mom June always thought there was a problem with “Beav,” Barbara had trouble of her own with being typecast. But a turn in the movie Airplane! revived her career, leading to turns on shows from Mork & Mindy to Murphy Brown. She was also the voice of Nanny on Muppet Babies.