Why did Larry leave the show?

[nancy77]

just wondering what happen to him

[Cincy Guy]

I've heard that the mother of Rusty Stevens (who played Larry Mundello) was kind of a pushy stage-mother type and officials from the show finally became tired of her and her demands. As a result, Larry was out of the series by the time the fourth season (1960-61) began. I can't recall any references to the character in the series after that, such as...."Larry and his family moved away......". I've read one source that the Stevens family actually moved from California to Philadelphia after that third season.

Beginning with that fourth season, other characters filled in the role of Beaver's friends like: Whitey, Richard, Gilbert, etc. and it seemed Eddie (Ken Osmond) was used in more episodes. There was a character named "Harry" (played by Keith Taylor) who was in some episodes in the 1960-61 season, but he was only seen in scenes at Beaver's school and apparently never caught on as a possible replacement for "Larry".

In the "Still The Beaver" made-for-TV movie in 1983, another actor was used to portray "Larry" as a grown-up and I read that Rusty Stevens' whereabouts at tht time were unknown. However, some sources maintain that it was, indeed, Stevens who played that part - which was just a brief scene in that program.

[MickeyMac]

Originally Posted by Cincy Guy

I've heard that the mother of Rusty Stevens (who played Larry Mundello) was kind of a pushy stage-mother type and officials from the show finally became tired of her and her demands. As a result, Larry was out of the series by the time the fourth season (1960-61) began. I can't recall any references to the character in the series after that, such as...."Larry and his family moved away......". I've read one source that the Stevens family actually moved from California to Philadelphia after that third season.

Beginning with that fourth season, other characters filled in the role of Beaver's friends like: Whitey, Richard, Gilbert, etc. and it seemed Eddie (Ken Osmond) was used in more episodes. There was a character named "Harry" (played by Keith Taylor) who was in some episodes in the 1960-61 season, but he was only seen in scenes at Beaver's school and apparently never caught on as a possible replacement for "Larry".

In the "Still The Beaver" made-for-TV movie in 1983, another actor was used to portray "Larry" as a grown-up and I read that Rusty Stevens' whereabouts at tht time were unknown. However, some sources maintain that it was, indeed, Stevens who played that part - which was just a brief scene in that program.

I forget what season it is, but on the Shout Factory series they have various audio interviews with the cast. In one of them Ken Osmond and Frank Bank are talking about the reunion movie, and according to them it was indeed Rusty Stevens who came back to play Larry. Apperently the producers had to put on quite a search to find him. In fact his wife had no idea he had even played Larry.

[tdr]

Yes, it was he who played Larry in the reunion movie-- some kind mystic character who had given up on living "normally" [or worldly, I suppose] and dressed in a robe seemed removed from his past realities (I dont' remember, though, why, in spite of that, he came to the Cleaver house).

I also seem to remember reading an interview with Frank Bank, in which the question of why Stevens left was brought up, with the interviewer repeating the oft-told story of his family moving away to New Jersey(?), so he had to give up his role. Bank replied, "That's what he said, is it? Well, we'll just leave it at that." So that, plus the fact that his younger brother still played television roles, including the role on Beaver of Chucky Murdock, gives the idea that the moving away story was made up or it was misleading in some way.

[LUNCH]

2 more things about Rusty Stevens(Larry).On the last "Leave It To Beaver" episode that he appeared on, he just had a small role in the background almost as if he was not playing Larry but just one of the kids.Plus a few years after he left LITB he guest starred on an episode of The Rifleman.The whole thing about him leaving the show makes little sense especially since he was such a good child actor and so good in the show.There is obviously something that went on behind the scenes that for some reason has been kept quiet.

[Jack1000]

Different sources say different things about Rusty leaving the show:

In an interview Barbara did say that Mrs. Stevens was very domineering and over time, this was noticed and upset the other actors. Everyone LOVED Rusty though.

Early on in the 4th season, the producers had no choice but to let him go. Whether by coincidence or other reasons, around that time Rusty and his family moved away, some say to Philadelphia, some say New Jersey.

Jack

[tdr]

I have to admit that I don't think it's really right to do all this speculation, and skepticism about the 'official' word on it. And even actors (and certainly former actors who do not wish to be recognized) have a right to keep their own private affairs private. But the human flaw of curiosity-- like Beaver trying to find out if there really is a 'spanking machine' in Mrs. Rayburn's office, as Larry told him-- compels us to do these things.

1. Rusty did leave the show, obviously. But apparently not that suddenly, as he did appear in just 2 season #4 episodes, but almost like an anonymous friend intead of good ol' Larry.
2. Near the end of season #3 (spring 1960) there seemed to be preparations for casting changes, as Richard and Penny entered the show and Larry's appearances got rarer, while the mostly absent Chester and Tooey made one last appearance near the end in "Wally the Businessman," in which also Rusty's little brother, Rory Stevens, made his first appearance, as the kid who claimed he couldn't remember Wally sold him some Igloo Bars on credit.
3. While the reason given for Rusty's departure (while Larry's permenent absence was never explained) was that he had to move with his family to NJ or Philadelphia. However, he still appeared after 1960 on television, on Perry Mason, Wagon Train, My Three Sons, The Rifleman and National Velvet . And Rory also made TV appearances, including 3 after 1960, as "Chuckie Murdock" on LITB.
4. If the Stevens boys moved to the east about 1960, they were obviously available to do those TV roles, which presumably were made in Hollywood. I suppose it's only an assumption that they had the same mother, who sources say was a real pain on the set, and they wanted to get rid of her enough to write out Beaver's best friend and foil; though apparently not so much they wouldn't put up with her for just a few eps in 3 more years (supposing she was the mother of both boys, and with the same demeanor).
5. While it's a documented fact the Stevens boys appeared on TV roles, it's not such a fact that the Stevens family moved to the east, even though there may be some truth in that... the parents split; there was a temporary acting job in a different media, so they 'moved' there for a month or so; the move was thought to be permanent, but rather quickly something happened to change those plans...or maybe (for all I know) they actually lived there and yearly made a trip or 2 back to California and had the contacts to do a few roles when they came.
6. Since Rusty was available to do TV roles, on whatever time basis, but he did not appear on LITB after early season 4, the possible reasons are: if not available to do Larry more regularly, Larry would cease being in the show; his continuing the role led to conflict on the set they wanted to be rid of; budgetary or other problems in production.
7. Of those possible reasons, his role leading to conflict(s) seems the most likely. But that could be because of his mother, himself, or some other person(s). And since Barbara Billingsley, for one, has said that everyone else liked Rusty, but his mother was very difficult, that inevitably leads to his mother being the reason-- except that she was probably there also on a much limited basis for another acting son. So that may not have been the only reason.
8. [My conclusion] Connelly and Mosher, or others in the production end, did want to get Rusty's mother away from the set, where she apparently caused conflict, but there is more to it than that. I have also read that Rusty, as he grew into adolescence, became more self-conscious about being kidded as chubby, the fat kid, et al. So it's my induction here that he would have wanted to end a regular series role that continued to portray that. They may have even told him they wanted him to stay fat for the role-- something a few other actors have dealt with. But he wanted to grow up, not still be the fat kid, which LITB may have wanted. Jeri Weil, in a more limited role, faced something similar, as they wanted her to conceal her 'development.' So I think Rusty himself made the decision to end the role, whether there is any truth or not to the story about having to move away. Perhaps he wanted to go to high school and be normal, as much as he could be. I know nothing about his finances, whether his money had been put in savings or squandered by parents, or whatever. But regardless of his domineering stage mother, where he lived, or how popular he was, he wanted out of a troubling kid role. If he was still going to act, it would be in one-shot appearances.

I could be quite wrong, and/or there might be something more everyone has kept secret for all these decades... scandalous, criminal, revenge, threats. But I tend to think Larry is remembered as a more endearing character because he left when he did, and a mystery was left about him.

[LUNCH]

I can understand he may want to remain out of the public eye.However why did he not even let his wife know he played Larry.That makes no sense.Whether he likes it or not he appeared on a very popular and well liked show.

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by Cincy Guy

In the "Still The Beaver" made-for-TV movie in 1983, another actor was used to portray "Larry" as a grown-up and I read that Rusty Stevens' whereabouts at tht time were unknown. However, some sources maintain that it was, indeed, Stevens who played that part - which was just a brief scene in that program.

Rusty Stevens played Larry in both "Still the Beaver", where he had joined a cult, and the later New LitB, where he had apparently given up the cult. It was actually another actor, Ed Begley Jr., who took over the role as Tooey/Whitey. I list both names, which were played by the Fafara brothers on the sitcom, because the character was called Tooey, but in the flashback scene to LitB that appeared right before he was on, and to which he was looking back and laughing hysterically, was from "In the Soup", where Whitey, not Tooey, dared Beaver to climb up into the soup bowl on the billboard.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by jehobden

Rusty Stevens played Larry in both "Still the Beaver", where he had joined a cult, and the later New LitB, where he had apparently given up the cult. It was actually another actor, Ed Begley Jr., who took over the role as Tooey/Whitey. I list both names, which were played by the Fafara brothers on the sitcom, because the character was called Tooey, but in the flashback scene to LitB that appeared right before he was on, and to which he was looking back and laughing hysterically, was from "In the Soup", where Whitey, not Tooey, dared Beaver to climb up into the soup bowl on the billboard.

Rusty Stevens did make an appearance in the Still the Beaver movie. Tiger Fafara was back playing Tooey Brown, who was Wally and Eddie's age. Ed Begley played Whitey Whitney in the movie, replacing Stanley Fafara who was deceased. Although Tiger and Stanley were real life brothers, they were not brothers on the series. Rusty Stevens (as Larry) and Tiger Fafara (as Tooey) each appeared in 3 episodes of The New Leave It To Beaver. Ed Begley only appeared in Still The Beaver.

[Coffeecup]

I thought the actor who played Whitey died within the last 10 years.

[JudgeGarth]

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

I thought the actor who played Whitey died within the last 10 years.

You're right. And in an interview before he died he said something to the effect that he though Ed Begley Jr. did a fine job as Whitey.

[Coffeecup]

I would like to see Still the Beaver again just to re see the actors and to see Ed in the part of Whitey.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

I thought the actor who played Whitey died within the last 10 years.

My mistake about Stanley Fafara. Interesting that he made a comment about Ed Begley playing Whitey.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

I would like to see Still the Beaver again just to re see the actors and to see Ed in the part of Whitey.

I have a bootleg dvd set of The New Leave it to Beaver, which includes the Still The Beaver reunion movie. It was interesting to see it again.