Leave It To Beaver star Jerry Mathers is famous for his role as Theodore Beaver and has won many hearts with his incredible acting skills and charm. Although he’s in his golden years, his smile is enough to lure fans. However, a rumor made fans wonder whether Jerry Mathers died. Amid the death news of fan-favorite Tony Dow, people seemed anxious when Jerry’s news surfaced. Is Jerry Mathers alive? Let’s dig deeper into his personal life to get more details and uncover Jerry Mathers’ net worth.
Early Life
Born in 1948 in Sioux City, Iowa, Jerry Mathers grew up in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. He is the son of a high school principal and has one sister and two brothers. Do you know Jimmy Mathers is Jerry Mathers’s real brother? Sadly his parents were separated when Jerry was just two years old. Instead of deciding with whom he wanted to stay, Jerry left the house to live with his grandparents. Soon he started playing ukulele after his grandfather taught him, and he started acting in school plays at age five.
Jerry Mathers Career
Started His Journey At The Age Of 2
Just when Jerry Mathers was two years old, he appeared in a department store ad as a child model. Soon he started appearing in several commercials like PET Milk opposite comedian Ed Wynn. His popularity reached a great height, and he shortly appeared in various movies as a child actor. These include Men of the Fighting Lady (1954), This Is My Love (1954), Alfred Hitchcock’s black comedy The Trouble With Harry (1955), and The Seven Little Foys (1955). His remarkable acting skills landed him a bigger role than he had ever expected.
Leave It To Beaver
Soon after appearing in limited roles in such great films, Jerry Mathers finally landed on the lead role in Leave It To Beaver, the most-watched sitcom back then. However, you will be surprised to know that Jerry never auditioned for the role of Theodore Beaver. In an interview, Mathers revealed that he told the show’s producers that he went there for his Cub Scout meeting rather than the audition part. But the producers found this appealing and soon signed a contract with Jerry for this role. At that time, he was just six years old.
In fact, Jerry Mathers was the first child actor who made a deal to get a percentage of the merchandising revenue from Leave It To Beaver. Despite being more than a half-century from its original production, the show generates huge revenue. The sitcom has been shown in 40 languages in 80 countries. Mathers noted in Japan, the show’s called “The Happy Boy And His Family,” and people around the globe know him. However, in his 2014’s television interview, he stated he had no clue when signing the show that it would leave a huge impact on his personality. But how much is Jerry Mathers worth? keep reading further to find out.
He never did any other T.V. show as he had no idea whether they would be picked for the next season. However, he appeared in several movies. He also mentioned that every year it was a question of whether they would return for the next year. Jerry also shared it was back-to-back work stuff. They had to shoot and then meet the press to promote the show. As soon as they picked up for the next run, they had to keep going without any break. So this was why he never appeared in any other show.
Jerry Returned After A Huge Break
Jerry Mathers left his acting career after Leave It To Beaver wrapped up. He was focused on his studies, and after graduation, he worked as a commercial loan officer at the bank. Later he used his savings from his acting career and invested in his real estate development. But Jerry Mathers couldn’t stay away from the entertainment industry for long. In 1978, he rejoined the industry and starred in the comedy play Boeing, Boeing with Tony Dow. That ran for ten weeks in Kansas City, Missouri. Soon Jerry got bored and joined KEZY radio in Anaheim, California, where he worked as a disc jockey.
But it seemed he couldn’t drop his acting career, as in 1983, he reprised his role in the reunion film Still The Beaver. All the original cast of the parent series joined the show. Soon after its success, the team returned with another sequel of the same name. The New Leave It To Beaver ran until 1989. Jerry Mathers then guest starred on Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Diagnosis: Murder, Vengeance Unlimited, and as himself on Married… With Children. Soon he launched his memoirs in 1989 titled “And Jerry Mathers As The Beaver.” Later in 2018 and 2019, Jerry promoted some classic T.V. shows like Leave It To Beaver on MeTV. So, how much was Jerry Mathers’ Net Worth?
Education & Military Service
As Jerry Mathers moved into his adolescence, he attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. At that time, he led a band called Beaver And The Trappers. He also recorded two songs- Don’t ‘Cha Cry and Wind-Up Tony. When he was in high school, he joined the U.S. military. Jerry Mathers was also a member of the 146th Airlift Wing from 1966 to 1969. In 1967 he presented the Emmy Award to Gene Kelly with a child actress Angela Cartwright.
Personal Life
Jerry Mathers Has Three Wives
Indeed it’s true Jerry Mathers has three wives. He’s been married three times. When he was in college, he saw his first wife, Diana Platt. Soon the couple married in 1974. But their married life was quite rocky, and they later separated after a few years of being together. Mathers then met Rhonda Gehring, his second wife, while touring in the production of So Long, Stanley with Tony Dow. The couple has three children. They are Noah, Mercedes, and Gretchen. However, they divorced in 1997. After losing faith in love and marriage, his third wife, Teresa Modnick, gave him some hope, and now he’s happily married to her.
Jerry And His Beavers
Mathers and Barbara Billingsley, the actress who played June Cleaver, remained friends even after the show ended. Jerry also remembered her even after her death and called her a better mentor and a good friend. He remained shocked when his on-screen brother, played by Tony Dow, died. He called him brother and a good friend. But never expected that their friendship would end with his on-screen’s brother’s death.
Critical Medical History
At a very young age, Mathers was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. So on his doctor’s advice, he joined the weight loss program with Jenny Craig the next year. To everyone’s surprise, he lost over 40 lbs and soon became the first male spokesperson of the company. Soon Mathers started representing a Type 2 diabetes reversal program. He also spoke about his journey in a T.V. ad.
Is Jerry Mathers Dead?
Jerry stayed away from the entertainment industry while serving in the U.S. military. Soon rumor began in December 1969 that Mathers died in the Vietnam War. However, it remained unclear where the rumors originated. In 1980 when Dow and Mathers appeared on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update segment with Bill Murray, both made fun of his death rumor. So, how old is Jerry Mathers? As of now, Jerry is 74 years old and living a healthy life, and enjoying his success.
Jerry Mathers Net Worth
Mathers is best known for his work in Leave It To Beaver. Apart from his acting career, he enjoyed several different occupations. But despite this, he managed to amass a huge income. Jerry Mathers has a net worth of around $5 million. He worked in several movies and shows and also performed in theatre. Thus it justifies his income.
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