Jerry Mathers is a renowned American television, film, and stage actor whose net worth stands at an impressive $3 million. He is best known for portraying the role of the young Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver in the popular sitcom “Leave it to Beaver”. Additionally, he has appeared in various episodes of other acclaimed shows, such as “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” “General Electric Theater,” “Lassie,” “My Three Sons,” and “The War at Home.” His noteworthy child roles in movies include “This is My Love,” Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry,” and “The Shadow on the Window.” Jerry Mathers Net Worth.
| Name | Gerald Patrick Mathers |
| Birth Date/age | June 2, 1948 |
| Birth Place | Sioux City, Iowa, United States |
| Profession | Actor |
| Wife | Teresa Modnick |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1948 in Sioux City, Iowa, Jerry Mathers grew up in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, among a family of three siblings, including a sister and two brothers. At the age of two, his career commenced with a role as a child model in a department store ad. Subsequently, he acted in a commercial for PET Milk alongside vaudeville star Ed Wynn.
When he was four years old, Mathers made a brief appearance in the Western comedy movie “Son of Paleface.” On an episode of the show “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” he acted as a Halloween trick-or-treater.
Soon after, he was cast in “This is My Love” (starring Linda Darnell and Dan Duryea), “The Seven Little Foys” (featuring Bob Hope), and Alfred Hitchcock’s black comedy “The Trouble with Harry” (as a boy who comes across a dead body near his house). He was also part of the crime movie “The Shadow on the Window” where he portrayed a young boy traumatized by seeing his mother being terrorized.
Leave it to Beaver
In 1957, Mathers secured a major role in “Leave it to Beaver” portraying the titular character “Beaver” Cleaver. He was the young son of suburban couple June and Ward Cleaver, and the brother of Wally. Reports indicate that Mathers earned the role after demonstrating his commitment to attending a Club Scout meeting, rather than the audition, thus charming the producers.
He was featured in all 234 episodes of the show’s six-year-long run. As the first-ever child actor to benefit from a deal where he got a portion of merchandising revenue from the program, his impact is far-reaching.
“Leave it to Beaver” continues to have a broad reach, being shown in over 80 countries and in 40 languages. His strong relationship with Barbara Billingsley, who played his mother on the show, has stood the test of time.
Educating and serving in the military
Once he had entered his teenage years, Mathers paused his acting career in order to focus on his education. Attending Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, he was the leader of a musical band known as Beaver and the Trappers.
Additionally, in 1966, he joined the United States Air Force Reserve, eventually reaching the rank of Sergeant. Then, in 1973, he achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley.
Back to Entertainment
Mathers went back to acting in 1978, having held two prior positions as a bank loan officer and real estate developer. He was part of the TV series “Flying High” and costarred with Tony Dow in the play “Boeing, Boeing” in Kansas City. For the following year and a half, Mathers and Dow toured with the production of “So Long, Stanley.”
He also worked as a disc jockey in Anaheim, California in 1981 and was featured in the made-for-television movie “The Girl, the Gold Watch and Dynamite.”
The success of the 1983 TV movie “Still the Beaver,” which starred the original cast, sparked the creation of a new series, which aired on the Disney Channel in 1984 and then on TBS and broadcast syndication.
Named “The New Leave it to Beaver,” it had 101 episodes before it finished in 1989. Mathers made an appearance as the Beaver in an episode of “The Love Boat” during this period.
Later Acting
In the 1990s, Mathers appeared on television in such shows as “Married… with Children,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “Vengeance Unlimited,” and “Diagnosis: Murder.” In 2001, he competed on a special episode of “The Weakest Link,” called the “Child TV Stars Edition,” but was eliminated in the first round.
He went on to make his Broadway debut in 2007, in the Tony Award-winning musical “Hairspray” at the Neil Simon Theater. He portrayed the leading role of Wilbur Turnblad.
Personal Life
In 1974, Mathers entered into his first marriage with Diana Platt, whom he had met while at college. After they separated in 1981, Mathers wed Rhonda Gehring during his tour of “So Long, Stanley” and had three children with her – Noah, Mercedes, and Gretchen. This union ended in 1997. Then, in 2011, he took his third wedding vows with Teresa Modnick.
In 1996, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and thus, in the subsequent year, Mathers signed up with the Jenny Craig weight loss program and successfully shed more than 40 pounds.
Because of this, he became the first male face of the brand. Moreover, in 2009, he was chosen to be the national spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s Partnership for Prescription Assistance program.