'Leave it to Beaver' actor Frank Bank dies at 71
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this Sept. 27, 2007 file photo, seated, from left, Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley and Tony Dow, and, standing from left, Frank Bank and Ken Osmond, pose for a photo as they are reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the television show, “Leave it to Beaver,” in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP)
Frank Bank, who played oafish troublemaker Lumpy on the sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," has died. He was 71.
A spokesman for the Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles says Bank died Saturday. No other details were provided.
Bank played Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the popular sitcom, which ran from 1957 to 1963.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lumpy served as the series' loveable bully. He usually palled around with Wally Cleaver and often pushed around young "Beaver" Cleaver.
Bank reprised the role in the 1983 TV movie "Still the Beaver" and the follow-up series "The New Leave It to Beaver," which ran from 1983 to 1989.
Jerry Mathers, who played Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, announced the news of his passing on Facebook: "I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank, who played Lumpy on Leave it to Beaver. He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank's family."
Bank made occasional appearances on TV before giving up acting and becoming a stockbroker. His clients included former "Leave it to Beaver" co-stars Mathers and Barbara Billingsley.
Billingsley, who played June Cleaver, once told People magazine: "Frank is certainly brighter than Lumpy Rutherford, and a very good stockbroker."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.