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. 1974⁠–⁠1981)​ Rhonda Gehring ​ (before 1997)​ Teresa Modnick ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	3
Relatives	Jim Mathers (brother)

Gerald Patrick Mathers (born June 2, 1948) is an American actor who used to act. He is most famous for playing Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in the TV show Leave It to Beaver. This show was on TV from 1957 to 1963. Beaver was the younger son of June and Ward Cleaver, played by Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont. He was also the younger brother of Wally Cleaver, played by Tony Dow.

Early Life and Family

Jerry Mathers was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1948. His dad was a high school principal. Jerry grew up in the San Fernando Valley, which is in Los Angeles, California. He has one sister and two brothers, including Jimmy Mathers.

Starting His Acting Career

Jerry Mathers started acting when he was only 2 years old. His first job was as a child model for a department store ad. Soon after, he was in a commercial for PET Milk. He acted alongside a famous comedian named Ed Wynn.

He also appeared in some early movies. These included This is My Love (1954) and Men of the Fighting Lady (1954). He was also in The Seven Little Foys (1955). A famous director, Alfred Hitchcock, cast him in the movie The Trouble with Harry (1955). In that movie, Jerry played Arnie, who finds a body in the forest.

Playing Beaver Cleaver

Jerry Mathers says he got the role of Beaver Cleaver in a funny way. He told the show's producers he wanted to go to his Cub Scout meeting instead of auditioning. The producers liked how honest he was. They thought he was perfect for the part.

Jerry played Beaver for six years. He was in all 234 episodes of the show. He was the first child actor to get a share of the money from toys and other items sold for a TV show. Leave It to Beaver still makes money today, more than 50 years after it first aired.

The show has been shown in over 80 countries and 40 languages. Jerry Mathers has said that Leave It to Beaver is known all over the world. He said, "I can go anywhere in the world, and people know me." In Japan, the show is called 'The Happy Boy and His Family.' So, people in Japan would say, 'Hi, Happy Boy!'"

In a 2014 interview, Jerry was asked if he knew the show was special. He said no, because he had been acting since he was two. He explained that every year, they didn't know if the show would come back. They would film 39 episodes, then take a break. If the show was chosen again, they would start filming more. This happened for six years, which was how long their contracts lasted.

Jerry Mathers stayed good friends with Barbara Billingsley. She played his TV mom, June Cleaver. After she passed away, he said she was "a good friend and an even better mentor." He felt she was like a favorite teacher.

Music Career

In 1962, when Leave It to Beaver was almost over, Jerry Mathers recorded two songs. These were "Don't 'Cha Cry" and "Wind-Up Toy." When he was in high school, Jerry had a band. It was called Beaver and the Trappers.

Education and Military Service

Jerry Mathers in U.S. Air Force uniform

As Jerry Mathers got older, he stopped acting for a while. He wanted to focus on high school. He went to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. During this time, he was also in his band, Beaver and the Trappers.

While still in high school, Jerry joined the U.S. military. From 1966 to 1969, he was part of the California Air National Guard. In 1967, he helped give an Emmy Award to Gene Kelly.

Jerry Mathers went to college after high school. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1973. He earned a degree in philosophy.

Later Career and Projects

After college, Jerry Mathers worked at a bank. He was a commercial loan officer. He then used money he had saved from his acting career to start a business in real estate.

In 1978, he returned to acting. He and Tony Dow, who played Wally in Leave It to Beaver, acted in a play called Boeing, Boeing'. They also toured with another play called So Long, Stanley.

In 1981, he worked as a radio disc jockey in Anaheim, California.

In 1983, Jerry Mathers played Beaver Cleaver again in a TV movie. It was called Still the Beaver. Most of the original cast from the show were in it. This movie was so popular that it led to a new TV series. The show was first on the Disney Channel in 1984. Later, it moved to TBS and was called The New Leave It to Beaver. It ran until 1989.

In the 1990s, Jerry Mathers appeared on other TV shows. These included Parker Lewis Can't Lose and Diagnosis: Murder. He also played himself on Married... with Children. In 1998, he wrote a book about his life called And Jerry Mathers as The Beaver.

In 2007, he acted on Broadway for the first time. He played Wilbur Turnblad in the musical Hairspray. In 2009, Jerry Mathers became a spokesperson for a program that helps people get their prescription medicines.

In 2018 and 2019, Jerry Mathers helped promote Leave It To Beaver and other old TV shows on MeTV.

Personal Life

Mathers in 2007

Jerry Mathers has been married three times. He met his first wife, Diana Platt, in college. They married in 1974. He met his second wife, Rhonda Gehring, while touring in a play. They have three children: Noah, Mercedes, and Gretchen. Jerry Mathers married his third wife, Teresa Modnick, in 2011.

Health and Awareness

In 1996, Jerry Mathers found out he had type 2 diabetes. His doctor told him to lose weight. In 1997, he joined a weight loss program and lost over 40 pounds (18 kg). He then became the first male spokesperson for the company. He also appeared in TV ads for a program that helps people with Type 2 diabetes.

Filmography

Awards

See also

In Spanish: Jerry Mathers para niños