Why Did Rusty Stevens Get Discontinued in 1960?

[Rob7757]

When Larry Mondello (played by Rusty Stevens) was no longer appearing as one of Beaver's friends I highly missed him and wondered why he was discontinued. I read somewhere that Rusty Stevens moved to Philadelphia in 1963 with his family. This would unlikey explain why the show no longer used him in 1960. For that matter Rusty Stevens has a few acting roles to his credit in other TV shows (a "Perry Mason" episode in 1962, an episode of "The Rifleman" that aired on Feb. 1963.) according to the website www.imbd.com.

If someone can shed any light on this matter please email me at
rcuthbert77@hotmail.com. Of course there were other characters such as Judy (Beaver's classmate) and Chester (Wally's friend) who disappeared but I am especially interested in why Larry was terminated.

Thank you

Rob

rcuthbert77@hotmail.com

[Waterston_Fan]

Originally Posted by Rob7757

When Larry Mondello (played by Rusty Stevens) was no longer appearing as one of Beaver's friends I highly missed him and wondered why he was discontinued. I read somewhere that Rusty Stevens moved to Philadelphia in 1963 with his family. This would unlikey explain why the show no longer used him in 1960. For that matter Rusty Stevens has a few acting roles to his credit in other TV shows (a "Perry Mason" episode in 1962, an episode of "The Rifleman" that aired on Feb. 1963.) according to the website www.imbd.com.

If someone can shed any light on this matter please email me at
rcuthbert77@hotmail.com. Of course there were other characters such as Judy (Beaver's classmate) and Chester (Wally's friend) who disappeared but I am especially interested in why Larry was terminated.

Thank you

Rob
rcuthbert77@hotmail.com

Well, Jerry has written in his book saying it was suspicous that Rusty had to move with his family to New Jersey during the season... But he doesn't disclose what it was...

Maybe Rusty's family had to move to New Jersey then in '63 to Philadelphia... But I did miss Larry even if he did get Beaver in trouble...

I kinda think maybe Rusty's family didn't like what he had to do on the show and protested... I have no idea..

Please change the title to leave instead of discontinued..

[FOL85NatandMrsGRock]

Barbara talks about it in her interview in which i posted on the forum, this is what happened: i guess his mom was the only mother who they had issues with in reference to "stage mothers" (and by barbara's eye rolls during this discussion my idea of it is that she was quite bad) and eventually her "stage mothering" got in the way of the show and the producers had to let him go.... quite sad

[Waterston_Fan]

Originally Posted by FOL85NatandMrsGRock

Barbara talks about it in her interview in which i posted on the forum, this is what happened: i guess his mom was the only mother who they had issues with in reference to "stage mothers" (and by barbara's eye rolls during this discussion my idea of it is that she was quite bad) and eventually her "stage mothering" got in the way of the show and the producers had to let him go.... quite sad

Wow, I guess I missed your post with that interview...

I could see that though... That's too bad the mother was too bossy.. But then Rusty's brother came on.. what happened? Did they ban the mother?

[Jack1000]

Originally Posted by FOL85NatandMrsGRock

Barbara talks about it in her interview in which i posted on the forum, this is what happened: i guess his mom was the only mother who they had issues with in reference to "stage mothers" (and by Barbara's eye rolls during this discussion my idea of it is that she was quite bad) and eventually her "stage mothering" got in the way of the show and the producers had to let him go.... quite sad

Yes,

In reference to the interview video,

For Barbara to even SUGGEST anything bad about a cast member's relative, just shows how controlling and arrogant Mrs. Stevens must have been. Rusty's mother could have been the thorn in the side of the producers, just as Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz despised each other on The Brady Bunch. Reed and Sherwood generally had their battles when the kids had gone home for the day. But if Mrs. Stevens acted that way in front the entire cast on the set, that must have been a great strain for all of the actors. It's too bad that Jerry and Tony had to go through listening to her antics and demands if that is what she did. When you think about that, perhaps it was only Rusty's brilliant acting as Larry Mondello that kept him on the show for such a long time.

Jack

[Jack1000]

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

Wow, I guess I missed your post with that interview...

I could see that though... That's too bad the mother was too bossy.. But then Rusty's brother came on.. what happened? Did they ban the mother?

No, The Fafara brothers were the only brothers on the show. Stanley played Whitey and "Tiger" played Tooey. I guess the producers just couldn't deal with the issues of Mrs. Stevens demands. Very sad. Larry was actually replaced by Richard Correll, who's father helped with the production of Amos and Andy. Richard would go on to become close friends with Jerry to this day. They formed a band where Jerry sang and Richard played drums, called "Beaver and the Trappers."

Jack

[FOL85NatandMrsGRock]

yea, rusty was a great actor as larry, and like everyone said (and i already knew it) you know that rusty's mom was pretty bad... but it DEFINATELY must have been his awesome acting and the love of the larry mondello character that kept him on as long as they did! he does come back a few times for the new leave it to beaver (movie and eps) but he's really weird, not the same at all

[catlover79]

Didn't Rusty Stevens reprise the Larry role in the Still the Beaver reunion movie (1983)? Thanks.

[snl 70s show fan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Didn't Rusty Stevens reprise the Larry role in the Still the Beaver reunion movie (1983)? Thanks.

yes he did and it was explained that larry had grown up changed his name to avishnu and went to live in an ashram

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by snl 70s show fan

yes he did and it was explained that larry had grown up changed his name to avishnu and went to live in an ashram

Thanks!

[Waterston_Fan]

Originally Posted by snl 70s show fan

yes he did and it was explained that larry had grown up changed his name to avishnu and went to live in an ashram

Well, that's weird!!!

[snl 70s show fan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Thanks!

your welcome im glad i could help

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Jack1000

No, The Fafara brothers were the only brothers on the show.

No, Waterston_Fan is correct. Rory Stevens is Rusty's brother. He played Chuckie and appeared on the show as late as 1962, long after Rusty was gone. So if the mother was the reason Rusty was taken off the show, where was she when her other son was appearing?

[Jack1000]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

No, Waterston_Fan is correct. Rory Stevens is Rusty's brother. He played Chuckie and appeared on the show as late as 1962, long after Rusty was gone. So if the mother was the reason Rusty was taken off the show, where was she when her other son was appearing?

Thanks for this correction!

Yes, Rory Steven's Rusty's brother played "Chuckie Murdock." The strange thing is that Rusty is briefly in one or two season four episodes and isn't even mentioned as Larry! It has never been published to my recollection as to why that happened.

Jack