Cherishing the LITB Cast

[MichaelMartinD]

Tony Dow’s passing has made me ever more appreciative of the living links to LITB that remain. First of all, Jerry Mathers—a living legend and national treasure. Also, Stephen Talbot. I saw a video discussion that he and Jerry did last year and was very impressed by Talbot’s contribution. He seems completely gotten over his supposed aversion to LITB and spoke like someone with a genuine love and appreciation for the show (to be honest, I don’t know if his earlier aversion was real or just a misinterpretation on the part of some readers). Plus, Talbot seems like a genuinely intelligent guy. I wonder if Mathers and Talbot and perhaps some of the other surviving cast members could team up to do LITB events, commentaries, video Q&A’s where audience members could ask questions, or the like? Maybe even team up with a Hollywood historian to produce a definitive behind-the-scenes book about the show? There have to be ways to keep LITB interest and passion alive among fans young and old besides this site and the FB pages. There is also the ever-mysterious Rusty Stevens. What about Jeri Weil, who played Judy? What about the girl who played Penny? Perhaps they could be coaxed out to participate?

I’d like to end by expressing my sadness for Tony and his family and confidence that he is at peace. It was particularly sad for me as my screenplay paying homage to the ’50s family sitcom is now in development and I had always hoped Tony would be able to see the movie when it came out. If I can find some way to dedicate it to him, I will.

[Stepperry40]

Are any of the ladies who played Wally’s girl friends on Leave it to Beaver still living?

[MichaelMartinD]

I have no doubt that some or all of them are still around - especially considering how many girlfriends he had on the show!

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Stepperry40

Are any of the ladies who played Wally’s girl friends on Leave it to Beaver still living?

Cheryl Holdridge (Gloria Cusick/Julie Foster) died a few years ago. Pamela Beaird (Mary Ellen Rogers/Myra) is still with us. I don't know about the other one-shot girlfriends but I'll check...there are quite a few.

Edit: Beverly Lunsford (Shirley Fletcher in two season 6 episodes--first one, the girl who razzed Wally from the back seat while they were taking school-sponsored driving lessons; the other, when Wally has an accident while leave a school dance--driving Ward's new car) died in 2019.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by MichaelMartinD

Tony Dow’s passing has made me ever more appreciative of the living links to LITB that remain. First of all, Jerry Mathers—a living legend and national treasure. Also, Stephen Talbot. I saw a video discussion that he and Jerry did last year and was very impressed by Talbot’s contribution. He seems completely gotten over his supposed aversion to LITB and spoke like someone with a genuine love and appreciation for the show (to be honest, I don’t know if his earlier aversion was real or just a misinterpretation on the part of some readers). Plus, Talbot seems like a genuinely intelligent guy. I wonder if Mathers and Talbot and perhaps some of the other surviving cast members could team up to do LITB events, commentaries, video Q&A’s where audience members could ask questions, or the like? Maybe even team up with a Hollywood historian to produce a definitive behind-the-scenes book about the show? There have to be ways to keep LITB interest and passion alive among fans young and old besides this site and the FB pages. There is also the ever-mysterious Rusty Stevens. What about Jeri Weil, who played Judy? What about the girl who played Penny? Perhaps they could be coaxed out to participate?

I’d like to end by expressing my sadness for Tony and his family and confidence that he is at peace. It was particularly sad for me as my screenplay paying homage to the ’50s family sitcom is now in development and I had always hoped Tony would be able to see the movie when it came out. If I can find some way to dedicate it to him, I will.

You and I might have seen the same interview--Steve Talbot seemed very comfortable with his LITB past in the one I saw too. Maybe he saw a few episodes and said, hey, i was pretty good!

Actually, he and Mathers seemed like they hadn't been estranged over the years--in the past I think his supposed aversion may have been mis-characterized.

Jeri Weil (Judy Hensler) is still alive, but I heard someplace she might have some resentments toward the show. The producers insisted on doing some taping to try and hide her blossoming figure. This is a common practice (evidently) but she possibly carries some ill feelings about that and her eventual parting of ways early in the fourth season.

I just read now that Karen Sue Trent (Penny Woods) died earlier in 2022, per IMDb.

I'm not quite sure I understand this, but she married Richard Trent in 1970, and was billed as Karen Sue Trent on LITB.

[Howard]

I, too am sad of his passing. I really did think all the other families except mine were like the Cleavers! What an idiot I was! The closest we ever got was having dinner every night together but it was never calm and peaceful, more of yelling and what we did wrong!

[MichaelMartinD]

Lucas "Tiger" Fafara, who played Tooey, is still living.

It is strange that so many members of the cast passed away relatively early by today's standards - Stanley Fafara, Frank Bank, Ken Osmond, and now Tony Dow.

[Tankeryanker]

This death is hitting me pretty hard too. I shed tears over it. I am watching Family right now and almost done with the fifth season. I guess I will watch Beaver afterward.

[stevea]

I welled up during the Wally episodes they aired this morning, and probably will on Sunday's Block Party. A couple of his LITB girlfriends are already gone, Cheryl Holdridge and Beverly Lunsford. I'm going to research the rest of them, for better or worse.

Remarkably, one of the adult cast members (I posted this on another thread too) is still alive--Phyllis Coates, who was on the episode New Neighbors, is now 95.

[MichaelMartinD]

Another one who is still alive as far as I know: Richard Correll, who played Richard Rickover. This was a fairly obvious one that slipped my mind. Plus, Correll as I understand continued in Hollywood as a director or producer, so he could have interesting things to contribute to the LITB conversation.

[GentlemanJim]

Let's not overlook TV Tommy Ivo (Duke Hathaway) is still very much alive as well.

[stevea]

Yes, Ivo, who appeared twice as "The Duke," a full of himself senior basketball player.

The second time, Ward asked him if the Mayfield High team was going to do well next year. He replied no, since he was graduating this year.