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'Leave it to Beaver' Before the "Brady Bunch", television's ‘All-American’ family was the Cleavers. The ‘50s sitcom portrayed June (Barbara Billingsley) and Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont) and their two sons' mischievous outings. Wally (Tony Dow), the eldest, and Theodore (Jerry Mathers) - better known as 'the Beaver' - came home daily with new troubles that their middle-class parents would help them solve. Click through for a look back, and to find out where all your favorite characters ended up. (AP)![jerry_mathers_before]()
Then: Jerry Mathers Mathers was just 8 years old when he was cast in the title role that hundreds of kids were vying for. For one of his many auditions, he wore his Cub Scout uniform and told the casting crew that he was in a rush to get to his meeting. Apparently, that innocent demeanor is what set him apart and won him the role. (AP)![Now: Jerry Mathers]()
Now: Jerry Mathers While playing 'the Beaver' in every one of the show's 234 episodes, Mathers received worldwide recognition as the fun-loving young kid. As with most of the cast, he later made a few appearances on "Lassie." He also reprised his role in the reunion-type show, "Still the Beaver" in 1983. Outside of acting, Jerry is a successful businessman who travels around to speak at various conventions. He is also a Federal Communications Commission-licensed broadcaster and appears on national talk-radio programs. (Reuters) Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.![Barbara_Billingsley_then1]()
Then: Barbara Billingsley Barbara played June Cleaver, the quintessential '50s housewife who took care of her home and family. Mrs. Cleaver enjoyed needlepoint, cake decorating, and making sure Wally and the Beav watched their Ps' and Q's! (AP) Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.![Now: Barbara Billingsley]()
Barbara Billingsley: 1915 - 2010 After the show's run ended, the actress had a hard time finding different roles, likely due in part to her being typecast as June's simple and sweet persona. Babs spent almost two decades out of the public eye before returning in "Airplane" in 1980 as the passenger who could "speak jive." She went back to her roots and played Aunt Martha in the film version of "Leave it to Beaver" in 1997. She died of polymyalgia in Oct. 2010. She was 94 years old. (Reuters) Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.![198823]()
Then: Ken Osmond Osmond (pictured here several years after "Leave It to Beaver" ended) played smart-mouthed teen Eddie Haskell, who would turn on the charm when adults were around. Eddie, Wally Cleaver's best friend, boasted a perfectly groomed appearance and falsely polite demeanor, which successfully concealed his sneaky character. The stark contrast between Eddie's persona and his actual character even sparked the use of the term "Eddie Haskell" to describe someone who is insincere. (AP)![Now: Ken Osmond]()
Now: Ken Osmond Rumors circulated for years as to where the actor disappeared after his days as a child-actor were over. Some said he turned to pornography, while others thought he ended up dying in the Vietnam war. Neither is true. After his work on "Beaver" Ken went on to serve 18 years in the Los Angeles Police Department. He retired in 1988 after getting shot three times by a suspected car thief, whom he was pursuing. In August 201, Osmand became a celebrity spokesman for St. Joseph aspirin. (AP)![Then: Tony Dow]()
Then: Tony Dow Dow played Wally Cleaver in every episode of the show except for the pilot, when Paul Sullivan played the Beaver's polite older brother. Dow won the role of Wally in spite of his lack of acting experience. Prior to joining the cast, he was an Olympics diving champion. (AP) Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.![Now: Tony Dow]()
Now: Tony Dow After "Leave it to Beaver," Tony appeared on "My Three Sons," "Dr. Kildare" and "Mr. Novak." He spent some time behind the camera writing and directing as well. The former actor, born in 1945, has become a respected sculptor since leaving the public eye years ago. His work was chosen to be shown in the Louvre in Paris, France. (AP) Follow FOX411.com on Twitter.![Hugh_Beaumont_then1]()
Then: Hugh Beaumont Beaumont portrayed father Ward Cleaver, who regularly dispensed philosophical advice to his boys on an almost daily basis. Beaumont, who began his career acting in theaters and nightclubs, began appearing in movies in 1940. It is said that he was not a fan of the role of Ward, believing it was a stereotype that diminished his other roles. (AP)![Hugh_Beaumont_now2]()
Hugh Beaumont: 1909-1982 Hugh retired from showbiz in the late '60s and launched a career as a Christmas tree farmer in Minnesota. In 1972, he suffered from a stroke that caused him to retire. Ten years later he suffered from a fatal heart attack. He was 73. (AP)![Frank_Bank_AP_660]()
Frank Bank: 1942 - 2013 Bank played the bully "Lumpy" on the iconic show. He later left the acting world and became a stockbroker. Bank died in April 2013. Here, he is seen standing on the left in this photo with Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley and Tony Dow, and Ken Osmond. (AP)Then/Now: The Cast of 'Leave It to Beaver'
Check out where the folks from this '50s sitcom are now that they're not chasing 'the Beaver.'
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- Then/Now: The Cast of 'Leave It to Beaver'
