Jerry Mathers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jerry Mathers
Mathers in 2023
Born	Gerald Patrick Mathers (1948-06-02) June 2, 1948 (age 77) Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
Education	Notre Dame High School
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950–2016
Known for	Portrayal of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver
Spouse(s)	Diana Platt ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1981)​ Rhonda Gehring ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1997)​ Teresa Modnick ​ ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	3
Relatives	Jim Mathers (brother)

Gerald Patrick "Jerry" Mathers (born June 2, 1948) is a famous American actor. He is best known for playing the main character in the classic TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver. The show was on the air from 1957 to 1963.

In the show, Mathers played Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. Beaver was the younger son of a friendly suburban family. His parents were June and Ward Cleaver, and his older brother was Wally Cleaver.

Early Life and First Acting Jobs

Jerry Mathers was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1948. His father was a high school principal. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California. He has one sister and two brothers.

Mathers started his career when he was only two years old. He was a child model for a department store advertisement. Soon after, he was in a TV commercial for PET Milk with the comedian Ed Wynn.

He also appeared in several movies as a young child. One of his most famous early roles was in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Trouble with Harry (1955). In it, he played a little boy named Arnie who discovers a dead body in the woods.

Becoming "The Beaver"

Mathers in a 1959 publicity photo for Leave It to Beaver.

Mathers got the role of Beaver Cleaver in a funny way. During his audition, he told the producers he would rather be at his Cub Scout meeting. The producers liked his honesty and thought he was perfect for the part.

He played Beaver for six years and appeared in all 234 episodes of the show. He was the first child actor to get a percentage of the money made from show-related products, like toys and games. Even today, Leave It to Beaver continues to earn money.

The show became a huge hit and has been shown in over 80 countries. Mathers said that people all over the world recognize him. "I can go anywhere in the world, and people know me," he said. "In Japan, the show's called The Happy Boy and His Family. So I'll be walking through the airport in Japan, and people will come up and say 'Hi, Happy Boy!'"

Mathers remained good friends with Barbara Billingsley, the actress who played his TV mom, June Cleaver. After she passed away, he called her "a good friend and an even better mentor."

Music Career

While he was still on Leave It to Beaver, Mathers recorded two songs in 1962. Later in high school, he started a band called Beaver and the Trappers.

Life After the Show

Mathers in his U.S. Air Force uniform.

When Leave It to Beaver ended, Mathers decided to stop acting for a while to focus on school. He went to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California.

While in high school, he joined the California Air National Guard, a part of the U.S. military, and served from 1966 to 1969. In the late 1960s, a false rumor spread that he had died in the Vietnam War. This was not true, as he was never sent to fight outside the United States.

After his military service, Mathers went to college. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1973 with a degree in philosophy.

Returning to Acting

Mathers in 2021

After college, Mathers worked at a bank and later in real estate. In 1978, he returned to the entertainment world. He and Tony Dow, who played his brother Wally, starred in a play together.

In 1983, most of the original actors from Leave It to Beaver got back together for a TV movie called Still the Beaver. The movie was so popular that it led to a new series, The New Leave It to Beaver. The new show ran until 1989, with Mathers playing a grown-up Beaver.

Through the years, Mathers has appeared on many other TV shows. In 2007, he performed on Broadway in the musical Hairspray.

Personal Life

Mathers in 2007

Mathers has been married three times and has three children: Noah, Mercedes, and Gretchen.

In 1996, Mathers was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His doctor advised him to lose weight. He joined a weight loss program and lost over 40 pounds. He later became a spokesperson to help others learn about managing diabetes.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Here are some of the movies and TV shows Jerry Mathers has appeared in.

Movies

Television

Awards