Jerry Mathers Net Worth

Net Worth	$ 6,000,000
Real name	Gerald Patrick Mathers
Source of Wealth	Acting career
Profession	Actor
Spouse/Partner	Married to Teresa Modnick
Date of Birth	Jun 2, 1948
Zodiac	Gemini
Age	75
Gender	Male
Pronoun	He/Him
Height	170 cm / 5 ft 6 inch
Nationality	American
Siblings	3 siblings, including brother James Mathers and sister Susie Mathers

Biography

Jerry Mathers, whose real name is Gerald Patrick Mathers, is an American TV, movie and stage actor. He is most famous for his role as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in the sitcom “Leave It To Beaver” which ran from 1957 until 1963 ^[1] .

He appeared in episodes of other prominent TV shows like “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, “Married... with Children”, “Vengeance Unlimited”, “Diagnosis: Murder” and as a guest in the game show “Weakest Link”.

His name is also linked to roles in many movies in his young and adult actor career. Jerry Mathers’s net worth is estimated at $6 million.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTc3yzWvaWp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Jerry Mathers’s early life and career

Jerry Mathers was born in Sioux City, Iowa. His family later moved to the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, which is where he spent most of his childhood. He is one of 4 children.

His brother James Mathers was popular as a child actor who appeared as "Jimmy Mathers" in many TV shows and movies in the 60s. He later opened a cinematography business. His sister Susie Mathers was also an actress who played This Is My Love (1954) and Wagon Train (1957).

Mathers started his career at two years old when he appeared in a department store ad as a child model. Later, he starred in a PET Milk commercial.

After his humble beginner gigs, Jerry was featured in several movies in his early acting career, including “This is My Love” (1954), “The Seven Little Foys” (1955), “The Trouble with Harry” (1955) - the noir comedy by Hitchcock and the crime movie “The Shadow on the Window” (1957).

Leave It To Beaver

Mathers became a household name in America when he was cast for the “Leave It To Beaver” role in 1957 ^[2] . His character Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, was the younger son of June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley) and Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont). Tony Dow also played “Wally Cleaver”, his older brother.

Mathers’s story about how he got the part is a captivating one. He claims he told the producers he’d rather be at his Club Scout meeting than audition for the part. Enthralled by his sincerity, the show producers decided to give him the role.

Jerry starred in all 234 episodes during the six years of the show airing. He was the first child actor to be paid a percentage of the revenue generated from the TV show’s merchandise.

It’s fascinating that “Leave it with Beaver” is still profitable after more than half a century after being aired on TV. The show has run in more than 80 countries and 40 languages.

Jerry remained a very good friend with actress Barbara Billingsley, who played the character of his mother - June Cleaver. He described her as “the favorite teacher that we all had in school”.

Jerry Mathers’s education and military service

In his teenage years, Mathers took a break from his acting career to focus on school. He went to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.

While still in high school, he joined the military. He was assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing in the California Air National Guard, also known as "The Hollywood Guard". He reached the rank of Sergeant.

In 1969, Mathers was rumored to have been killed in the Vietnam War after a soldier with a similar name appeared on the "KIA" list ^[3] . However, the rumor was discarded. He and Tony Dow went on the Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update and mocked the rumor.

In 1973, Jerry graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMi3h9qHj1X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Later acting career

After graduation, Mathers worked as a bank loan officer and a real estate developer. He returned to acting in 1978, appearing in the “Flying High” episode. Jerry and his “Leave It With Beaver” co-star Dow acted in the comedy play “Boeing, Boeing”.

They toured together in a production of “So Long, Stanley” for a year and a half.

Jerry reclaimed his role as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in the reunion movie “Still the Beaver” in 1983, which included most of the original cast. The movie was a huge success and inspired the creation of a sequel series under the same name, “Leave It With Beaver”, which aired on the Disney Channel in 1984.

The series was later syndicated and picked by TBS. It was renamed “The New Leave it to Beaver" and was aired until 1989.

In the following decade, Mathers appeared as a guest star in several shows ^[4] , including “Vengeance Unlimited”, “Diagnosis: Murder”, “Parker Lewis Can't Lose” and “Married... with Children” where he played himself. He also appeared in an episode of "The Love Boat" in which he played the role of "Beaver" Cleaver. Larry Storch appeared on the same show.

Jerry Mathers also appeared on the special episode of the “Weakest Link” named “Child TV stars edition”. He also had his debut appearance on Broadway in the musical “Hairspray”, in which he played the character of Wilbur Turnblad.

He continued taking on acting engagements until 2015, when he played William in the TV show “Dad Dudes” and Ted in the short movie “Lucky Day”.

Jerry Mathers published his autobiography “Jerry Mathers as The Beaver” in 1998 and won the “Young Artist Award” in the category Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C816szZVB1s

Music career

Apart from acting, Jerry recorded two songs, "Don't 'Cha Cry" and "Wind-Up Toy" for a single 45 rpm.

When he was in high school, he was the frontman of the musical band “Beaver and the Trappers” as a nod to his earlier acting role.

Personal life

Jerry Mathers has had three marriages. He married her in 1974, but they later divorced.

He met Rhonda Gehring during the “So Long, Stanley” tour and married her in 1977. Jerry and Rhonda had three children and divorced in 1997. He married Teresa Modnick, his third wife, in 2011.

In 1996, Jerry was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. After being advised by a doctor, he enrolled in the Jenny Craig weight loss program and lost 55 pounds ^[2] . Later on, he partnered with organizations to bring awareness of diabetes.

In 2010, Mathers became the national spokesperson for PhRMA and their Partnership for Prescription Assistance program.

Conclusion

Jerry Mathers became popular as a child actor in the sitcom “Leave It With Beaver” which ran between 1957–1963. He had a prolific acting career both as a child and an adult. He also appeared in the reunion movie “Still the Beaver” and the sequel series “Leave It With Beaver”, as well as an array of multiple other TV shows and movies.

Jerry also received the “Young Artist Award” for his role as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. His net worth is estimated at $6 million in 2022.

References