Rusty Stevens was the child actor who played the Beave’s best buddy, Larry Mondello. Larry was a bit of a dimwit, but fans missed him when he was let go in the fourth season.
According to Barbara Billingsley, the actress who played Beaver’s mom, Rusty Stevens’ mother complained and harassed the producers about her kid so much that they finally just wrote him off the show.
Tragedy Marked Hugh Beaumont’s Life
When Beaumont got the role of Ward, he decided to move his family out to Hollywood. He had been commuting from Minnesota, but a weekly series would require him to be in California.
When his wife, son, and mother-in-law were driving out west, a terrible crash killed his mother-in-law and badly injured his son. He said the tragic accident made work difficult and as if he was just going through the motions.
Actor Frank Bank Took It to the Bank
Lumpy Rutherford was great as a dense bully, so it's surprising to learn that he became a successful banker later in life. He was a smart financial planner. He took his earnings and invested it, earning $300,000 per year.
Making a name for himself as a successful stockbroker, he managed the accounts of costars Dow, Mathers, and Billingsley.
Co-creator Joe Connelly Shared His Inspiration for Leave It to Beaver
Joe Connelly basically framed the entire show around his own family. The adventures of Wally and Beaver were based on his own two sons.
Listening to the conversations of his boys, Ricky and Jay, he developed the brotherly relationship of the Cleaver household.
The Show’s Working Title Was "Wally and the Beaver"
When the creators were coming up with a name, they wanted one that put the spotlight on the Cleaver boys.
They had just about decided on "Wally and the Beaver," but then they had second thoughts. It sounded like some kind of nature show, so they changed it to "Leave it to Beaver."