Frank Bank (Lumpy Rutherford) 1942-2013 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 04-13-2013, 08:09 PM

Link

Actor Frank Bank died this morning, one day after he turned 71. Today is his friend and former co-star Tony Dow’s 68th birthday.

Bank was primarily know for his role as Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom in the 1950s and 60s. He reprised his role as Wally Cleaver’s friend in the Still the Beaver TV movie and the 1980s sequel series, The New Leave It to Beaver, joining most of the original sitcom’s surviving cast.

Bank made a brief cameo in the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver as “Frank.”

In addition to Beaver, Bank appeared on several 1950s and 60s TV shows and also played comic book character Archie Andrews in the Life with Archie TV movie in 1962.

His autobiography, Call Me Lumpy: My Leave It To Beaver Days and Other Wild Hollywood Life, was published in 2002 and was currently a bond broker in Los Angeles.

Jack1000 · 04-13-2013, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Link

Actor Frank Bank died this morning, one day after he turned 71. Today is his friend and former co-star Tony Dow’s 68th birthday.

Bank was primarily know for his role as Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom in the 1950s and 60s. He reprised his role as Wally Cleaver’s friend in the Still the Beaver TV movie and the 1980s sequel series, The New Leave It to Beaver, joining most of the original sitcom’s surviving cast.

Bank made a brief cameo in the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver as “Frank.”

In addition to Beaver, Bank appeared on several 1950s and 60s TV shows and also played comic book character Archie Andrews in the Life with Archie TV movie in 1962.

His autobiography, Call Me Lumpy: My Leave It To Beaver Days and Other Wild Hollywood Life, was published in 2002 and was currently a bond broker in Los Angeles.

Oh how tragic! "Lumpy" was one of my favorite recurring characters. This is a shock! Rest in peace, Frank. Thanks for making us laugh for six seasons on Leave it to Beaver, "Lumpy", you will never be forgotten!

Jack

Zoneboy · 04-13-2013, 08:50 PM

I just noticed that JudgeGarth also started a thread a few minutes before mine. Mods please feel free to merge them.

Neutronman67 · 04-14-2013, 09:10 AM

Poor Guy i will always remember him as the fat kid from Leave It To Beaver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31S3563Bcw

Leigh Ann · 04-14-2013, 10:58 AM

So sad to hear this...RIP.

Kabuki · 04-14-2013, 11:10 AM

Sorry to hear this. Lived the character and how his role changed over time.

catlover79 · 04-14-2013, 01:35 PM

NO!!!! This is too sad.

gilligan fanatic · 04-14-2013, 01:46 PM

Aww, too bad

Zoneboy · 04-14-2013, 02:51 PM

New York Daily News

Frank Bank, who played the bumbling bully “Lumpy” Rutherford on the original “Leave It To Beaver” TV show, died Saturday, a day after his 71st birthday.

No cause of death was announced.

Known as “Lumpy” for his size and rather dim intellect, Clarence Rutherford was one of the several caricatures who made “Leave It to Beaver” perhaps the most memorable teenage TV show of the late-‘50s era.

He was introduced in the first season as the local bully who tormented Wally (Tony Dow) and Beaver (Jerry Mathers) Cleaver.

His bullying never caused any real harm, though, mostly because he was so incompetent.

He was also dominated by his father Fred, who called him “Clarence” — possibly an even worse name for a high school kid than “Lumpy.”

Like his colleague Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmond), a would-be con man and hustler, Lumpy never became completely warm and fuzzy.

But over time, the good-hearted Cleaver boys and wise, benevolent adults would always prevent them from doing any real damage.

So even though Lumpy aspired to be a bully, the bad real-life consequences of bullying were never addressed on “Beaver.” Lumpy was more a nuisance than a threat, and it was always clear his real problem was insecurity.

Lumpy eventually became friends with Wally and even graduated from high school, although he apparently had been held back three years along the way.

Bank was born in a Los Angeles hospital corridor during an air raid drill.

One of his first acting jobs was playing the young Will Rogers in a 1952 film biography.

He had guest roles in a number of 1950s shows in addition to his Lumpy gig.

He left acting after “Beaver” ended, becoming a bond broker.

He returned to reprise Lumpy in the 1983 TV movie “Still The Beaver’ and the 1980s TV show “The New Leave It To Beaver.”

This time he and Beaver had gone into business together.

Bank also appeared on “Hollywood Squares” and “Family Feud” in the 1980s.

He wrote an autobiography, “Call Me Lumpy,” that was published in 2002.

Mathers tweeted Sunday that he was “so sad to hear of the passing of my dear friend and business associate.”

Zoneboy · 04-14-2013, 03:05 PM

Died on Tony Dow's birthday.

Frank

catlover79 · 04-14-2013, 03:12 PM

Here's Mr. Bank with the rest of the Leave it to Beaver "family" on Family Feud. I think this was 1984, or maybe 1985.

80sTrivia · 04-14-2013, 03:34 PM

Sad to hear the news of Frank's passing...

AB · 04-14-2013, 04:36 PM

Very sad news, may he rest in peace.

JudgeGarth · 04-14-2013, 06:43 PM

He said in his book "Call Me Lumpy," which came out in 2002, that he'd had a heart attack several years before. Maybe he had another one.

catlover79 · 04-14-2013, 06:45 PM

I thought the book came out in 1998, unless it was updated and reissued in 2002.

04-13-2013, 08:09 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	Frank Bank (Lumpy Rutherford) 1942-2013 Link Actor Frank Bank died this morning, one day after he turned 71. Today is his friend and former co-star Tony Dow’s 68th birthday. Bank was primarily know for his role as Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom in the 1950s and 60s. He reprised his role as Wally Cleaver’s friend in the Still the Beaver TV movie and the 1980s sequel series, The New Leave It to Beaver, joining most of the original sitcom’s surviving cast. Bank made a brief cameo in the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver as “Frank.” In addition to Beaver, Bank appeared on several 1950s and 60s TV shows and also played comic book character Archie Andrews in the Life with Archie TV movie in 1962. His autobiography, Call Me Lumpy: My Leave It To Beaver Days and Other Wild Hollywood Life, was published in 2002 and was currently a bond broker in Los Angeles.
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04-14-2013, 01:35 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	NO!!!! This is too sad.
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04-14-2013, 01:46 PM	#8
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	Aww, too bad
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04-14-2013, 03:12 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Here's Mr. Bank with the rest of the Leave it to Beaver "family" on Family Feud. I think this was 1984, or maybe 1985. Attached Images

04-14-2013, 03:34 PM	#12
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	Sad to hear the news of Frank's passing...
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04-13-2013, 08:50 PM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	I just noticed that JudgeGarth also started a thread a few minutes before mine. Mods please feel free to merge them.

04-14-2013, 09:10 AM	#4
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	Poor Guy i will always remember him as the fat kid from Leave It To Beaver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31S3563Bcw

04-14-2013, 10:58 AM	#5
Leigh Ann Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 2,189	So sad to hear this...RIP.

04-14-2013, 11:10 AM	#6
Kabuki Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 66	Sorry to hear this. Lived the character and how his role changed over time.

04-14-2013, 02:51 PM	#9
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	New York Daily News Frank Bank, who played the bumbling bully “Lumpy” Rutherford on the original “Leave It To Beaver” TV show, died Saturday, a day after his 71st birthday. No cause of death was announced. Known as “Lumpy” for his size and rather dim intellect, Clarence Rutherford was one of the several caricatures who made “Leave It to Beaver” perhaps the most memorable teenage TV show of the late-‘50s era. He was introduced in the first season as the local bully who tormented Wally (Tony Dow) and Beaver (Jerry Mathers) Cleaver. His bullying never caused any real harm, though, mostly because he was so incompetent. He was also dominated by his father Fred, who called him “Clarence” — possibly an even worse name for a high school kid than “Lumpy.” Like his colleague Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmond), a would-be con man and hustler, Lumpy never became completely warm and fuzzy. But over time, the good-hearted Cleaver boys and wise, benevolent adults would always prevent them from doing any real damage. So even though Lumpy aspired to be a bully, the bad real-life consequences of bullying were never addressed on “Beaver.” Lumpy was more a nuisance than a threat, and it was always clear his real problem was insecurity. Lumpy eventually became friends with Wally and even graduated from high school, although he apparently had been held back three years along the way. Bank was born in a Los Angeles hospital corridor during an air raid drill. One of his first acting jobs was playing the young Will Rogers in a 1952 film biography. He had guest roles in a number of 1950s shows in addition to his Lumpy gig. He left acting after “Beaver” ended, becoming a bond broker. He returned to reprise Lumpy in the 1983 TV movie “Still The Beaver’ and the 1980s TV show “The New Leave It To Beaver.” This time he and Beaver had gone into business together. Bank also appeared on “Hollywood Squares” and “Family Feud” in the 1980s. He wrote an autobiography, “Call Me Lumpy,” that was published in 2002. Mathers tweeted Sunday that he was “so sad to hear of the passing of my dear friend and business associate.”

04-14-2013, 03:05 PM	#10
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	Died on Tony Dow's birthday. Frank

04-14-2013, 04:36 PM	#13
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Very sad news, may he rest in peace.

04-14-2013, 06:43 PM	#14
JudgeGarth Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 07, 2004 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 443	He said in his book "Call Me Lumpy," which came out in 2002, that he'd had a heart attack several years before. Maybe he had another one.

04-14-2013, 06:45 PM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I thought the book came out in 1998, unless it was updated and reissued in 2002.