June Cleaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids June Cleaver |
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Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as June and Ward Cleaver.
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| First appearance | "It's a Small World" (pilot episode) (April 23, 1957) |
| Last appearance | Leave It to Beaver (film adaptation, 1997) |
| Created by | Joe Connelly Bob Mosher |
| Portrayed by | Barbara Billingsley (television series) Janine Turner (1997 film adaptation) |
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Homemaker |
| Family | Theodore Bronson (father) |
| Spouse(s) | Ward Cleaver (husband) |
| Children | Wallace "Wally" Cleaver (oldest son) Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (youngest son) |
| Relatives | Martha Bronson, (aunt) Peggy, (sister) Infant niece |
June Evelyn Bronson Cleaver is a main character from the classic American TV show Leave It to Beaver. This show is a sitcom, which means it's a funny show about everyday life. June and her husband, Ward, are often seen as typical parents from the 1950s.
They have two sons, Wally and "Beaver". When the show starts, Wally is twelve years old and in seventh grade. Beaver is seven years old and in third grade. Each episode follows the adventures of Wally and Beaver. They usually learn a lesson by the end of the show. Sometimes, even the parents learn something new from their sons' experiences. June Cleaver was named one of the Top 10 TV Moms by Yahoo! for the years 1957-1963.
The role of June Cleaver was played by Barbara Billingsley. She played June in the first episode, called "It's a Small World" (1957). Barbara Billingsley also played June in the original TV series. Later, she returned for the TV movie Still the Beaver (1983). She also appeared in the follow-up series, The New Leave It to Beaver (1985–1989). In this later series, June is a grandmother as Wally and Beaver are grown up with their own children.
Who is June Cleaver?
June Cleaver was born in a place called East St. Louis. When she was younger, June went to a boarding school. She was even the captain of her school's basketball team. At one point, she was a student of Cornelia Rayburn, who later became the principal of Beaver's school.
June grew up comfortably. This might explain her perfect and stylish clothing throughout the show. She sometimes talks about her father.
June's Family Life
As a teenager, June met and dated Ward Cleaver. Ward grew up on a farm nearby. They both went to State college together. After marrying Ward, June kept her maiden name, Bronson, as one of her middle names.
June and Ward have two sons. Wally, the older son, is a good student and well-liked by everyone. Beaver, the younger son, often finds himself in funny situations or gets into trouble. The Cleaver family first lived at 485 Mapleton Drive. They moved to 211 Pine Street at the start of the third season.
June is very dedicated to her family. Her main interests outside the home are social events like weddings. She also attends school events, such as meetings or plays. She enjoys ladylike hobbies like needlepoint, decorating cakes, and arranging tea roses. She reads fancy women's magazines. In one episode, she hosted a social club meeting. The event was ruined when Beaver's pet monkey messed up the food on the dining table.
June's Daily Routine
When her sons come home from school, June is often in the kitchen. She might be chopping vegetables for a salad or baking a cake. Her kitchen is always very clean. Like many TV families from that time, the Cleavers ate breakfast and lunch in the kitchen. Their dinners were more formal, eaten in the dining room.
June always looks neat and proper. Her hair is always perfect, and she wears tasteful makeup. Fans of the show often notice that she looks dressed up, even when she is doing housework. For most of the series, she wears simple but elegant dresses or suits. She often pairs them with blouses or sweaters and high-heeled shoes. She almost always wears a pearl necklace, even when she is gardening.
Images for kids
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Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as June and Ward Cleaver.
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The Cleaver family in Leave it to Beaver 1960.
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Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley and Jerry Mathers - Leave It to Beaver 1959.
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Barbara Billingsley in the pilot "It's a Small World", 1957.
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June supervises the boys and their friends.
