Osmond said the entire cast, including the Cleaver parents played by Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont, and crew became close on the set. “It was not supposed to be a recurring role when I did the first show, but apparently there was good feedback and the producers liked the character.” “ It was just another acting job and I did it the best I could and it just worked out,” Osmond said. “ At the time I didn’t realize Van Johnson and Spencer Tracy were such notable people, but looking back at it today, what a great thing to have in your past,” Osmond said.įrom 1955 until he was cast in “Leave it to Beaver,” Osmond had small parts in numerous television series, from “The Loretta Young Show” to “Wagon Train.” When he was sent out to audition for this new show, he was one of the “mob of kids.” Osmond remembered that he was hired after three auditions for what was then a minor role. His first film role was in 1952’s “Plymouth Adventure” starring Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney and Van Johnson. “ My earliest memories, I was around the industry and it was a way of life,” said Osmond, whose father was a prop maker and built sets and his mother was a “stage mom.” Osmond, who was born in Glendale and raised in Hollywood, was 14 years old when he landed the role, but he had already been in the industry for nearly 10 years. “ There’s a little Eddie in everybody and of course I have that much in me, but not any more than most people,” Osmond said. They worked together to write “Eddie: The life and times of America’s preeminent bad boy.” Osmond was recently joined by co-star Tony Dow, who played Wally Cleaver, and Lynch for a panel discussion, question and answer session and book signing at Barnes & Noble. Osmond, who turned 76 years old in June, had little desire to tell his life story because he didn’t feel his life was “extraordinary enough” until he was approached by local writer Christopher J.
#CAST OF LEAVE IT TO BEAVER SERIES#
More than 50 years after the series ended, Haskell is still one of the more popular characters to appear on the show, even with his conniving ways. And everyone in America knew an Eddie Haskell at some point in his or her lives.Įddie Haskell was the trouble-making friend of Wally Cleaver on the iconic “Leave it to Beaver.” Veteran child actor Ken Osmond was cast to play the role after a “cattle call” audition with hundreds of aspiring actors. The poster child for sneaky, rotten kids everywhere, he was the reference point for cautious mothers to warn their children about. When child actor Ken Osmond stepped onto the set of Leave it to Beaver in 1957, he not only entered our living rooms, he homesteaded a permanent place in the American pop culture. Eddie Haskell was the bad kid who never went away.