Jerry Mathers

Jerry Mathers began his career at the age of two when he appeared as a child model for a department store ad. Soon after, he starred in a commercial for PET Milk opposite vaudeville comedian Ed Wynn. His early movies included "This is My Love," "Men of the Fighting Lady," "The Seven Little Foys" and "The Trouble with Harry."

Mathers states that he got the role of Beaver Cleaver after telling the show's producers he would rather be at his Cub Scout meeting than auditioning for the part. The producers found his candidness appealing and perfect for the role. Mathers played the Beaver for six years, appearing in all 234 episodes of the series. He was the first child actor ever to make a deal to get a percentage of the merchandising revenue from a television show. The "Leave It to Beaver" show still generates merchandise revenue today, many years after its original production run ended.

In 1962, near the end of the run of "Leave It to Beaver," Mathers recorded two songs for a single 45rpm: "Don't 'Cha Cry," a retread of "Spanish Harlem" and for the flip side, the twist ditty, "Wind-Up Toy." During his high school years, Mathers had a band called Beaver and the Trappers.

In 2009, Mathers became the national spokesman for PhRMA and their Partnership for Prescription Assistance program.