Jerry Mathers Reflects on His Infamous ‘Leave It to Beaver’ Audition

Jerry Mathers was everyone’s favorite kid brother in Leave It to Beaver, playing Theodore Cleaver — the Beaver — in 235 episodes between 1957 and 1963.

After the show’s run, Jerry finished school and then served in the California Air National Guard. In the years after, he continued to make television appearances on shows like The Love Boat and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, as well as playing the grownup version of the Beaver in The New Leave It to Beaver (1983-89). In 1997, Jerry was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, lost 55 lbs. on the advice of his doctor, and became the first male spokesperson for Jenny Craig.