Which actor or actress on LITB do you think portrayed the most talent as far as the quality of their acting and their ability to seem like the character they were portraying and why?

I think it was a tie between Barbara Billingsley and Jerry Mathers. Barbara was very talented and went on to do many things after LITB. I also thought Jerry Mathers was extremely talented because he was able to act so well at such a young age.

All the main charaters were good actors but I would say beaver since he seemed to fit his charater really good, and could act good at a young age.

The guy had talent to play such a rascally character. I'm glad they kept him a rascal all the way through, instead of having him leave the rascal role and start being good. Eddie Haskell was meant to be a rascal, and I just couldn't imagine him turning into Mr. Good overnight.

i voted for hugh beaumont because i think he was exceptionally good on the show. he made you feel like he was "dad". there was no doubt about it. i especially like some of the faces he makes, reacting to what the characters are saying. he never seems like he's "acting". it just feels he's ward cleaver.

Another interesting topic. My answer is still the same though.

I feel the poll is right on. I myself voted for Eddie Haskell, but also feel Ward would also be worthy of the nod. But Eddie Haskell's role is so endearing that even today, most everyone knows who Eddie Haskell is, even though they may never of seen the show. This is even more meaningful since he isn't one of the main charactors of LITB. I think this only goes to show the outstanding job done by Ken Osmond.

I always thought Tony Dow did a good job of potraying a kid growing up in a span of six years. I was impressed at how mature he was as Wally by the last season. He was realistic.

I think Rusty Stevens did a great job, even for an adult actor - certainly for a child actor.

Interesting question, I go with Edward.

My vote goes to Ken Osmond as his portrayal of Eddie Haskell! He certainly doesn't have the same personality in real life like he played on the show, and he could turn on his Eddie Haskell personality on a dime. Even many years later (look at his work on the dreadful full-length LITB movie), he could still play the part of Eddie like he never forgot. :)

Ward was a many faceted character. He played the wisened dad, or the befuddled dad. His dry sense of humor was always fun. When the script leaned towards sappy, which it rarely ever quite did, he played that well, and always had just the right amount of sentiment and humor to make it touching without being corny.

I would say Jerry Mathers was super in the earlier episodes when he was really young. Tony Dow was better when he got older. I thought the actor that played Fred Rutherford was very good, he went on to do more,,,,like Mel on The Dick Van Dyke Show. But my all-time is Ken Osmond as Eddie, so convincing! He was the quintessential smart-aleck,,,,,or the Sultan of Suck-ups as someone else called him.....

I vote for Tony Dow. He's very believable as teenager Wally in every respect. He does "popular with both the guys and the girls" well... he's very believable as a good athlete (just look at that bod, ladies!!!) :grineyes: :grineyes: :loveya:.... he's the perfect big bother/foil type playing with/against Jerry Mathers... he's the nervous son (check out the adorable nose-rub action!!) when he's done something wrong... Like all teenagers, he can both be easily persuaded by his peers, yet at times refuses to take their BS (take note, Eddie and Lumpy)... His reactions to all other LITB characters around him is consistently believable. In fact, I cannot remember a time when I ever thought his portrayal of Wally rang false. I think that's a big testament not only to the direction, but to Dow's great work as an actor, and his obvious understanding/grasp of the character.

In case that's reading into it all too much.... He's one sexy muther besides!

Happy Holidays, everyone! :snowman: :tree: :snowman:

Eddie!

Ken Osmond played that role to perfection.