Jerry Mathers net worth is estimated to be around $3 million dollars. He is a Veteran American actor who gained worldwide fame and recognition when he portrayed the lovable Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver. He was born on June 2, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, and began his career at the age of 4 when he made a television commercial for a bank.
Mathers has made several cameo appearances on television shows, including The Drew Carey Show, Roseanne, and The Twilight Zone. He also wrote an autobiography titled “And Jerry Mathers as ‘The Beaver’.”
Childhood and The Begining of Acting
Jerry Mathers born Gerald Patrick Mathers had his beginnings in 1948 when he was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and raised in the San Fernando Valley aka the Valley in Los Angeles, California. He has a sister and two brothers; his father was a secondary school principal. One of his brothers is Jimmy Mathers- an American cinematographer and director of photography and a former child actor.
When Jerry was age 2 his parents, unfortunately, split up. Rather than selecting who to stay with, Jerry left the residence to dwell at his grandfather’s and mother’s place. Not long after, he discovered how to play ukulele which was taught by his grandfather.
At around the same age, he started his working life by appearing as a child model in an advertisement for a department store. He then starred in an advert for PET Milk alongside vaudevillian and comedian Ed Wynn.
At the age of 4, Mathers had a slight role in the Western comedy movie “Son of Paleface,” later he had a role in “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”. Soon, he had parts in films such as “The Seven Little Foys” a Dan Duryea; Bob Hope’s film; the dark comedy “The Trouble with Harry” by Alfred Hitchcock in which he played a lad who discovers a corpse close to his home, “This is My Love,” with Linda Darnellomedy “The Trouble with Harry,” in which he played a lad who discovers a corpse. As well as he, in the crime film “The Shadow on the Window,” where he represented a frightened kid who observes his mother being terrified.
Leave it to Beaver Success
In 1957, Mathers was cast as Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver in the CBS sitcom “Leave it to Beaver.” Mathers revealed that he was offered the iconic role of Beaver Cleaver after informing the show’s producers that he would rather attend his Cub Scout meeting than audition.
This tv show ran until 1963 and made him an international star. It earned him multiple Emmy nominations for his work on the series. The role earned him a young artist award for the lifetime achievement category.
Mathers is best remembered for his performance of Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, but aside from acting, he is an accomplished musician. He played the ukulele and guitar on the show, as well as being a singer-songwriter who has released several albums throughout his career.
Jerry continues to receive royalties from the rerun of “Leave it to Beaver” which has contributed significantly to his net worth.
After Leave it to Beaver
Upon transitioning to a teenager, Mathers decided to pause his acting career in order to give full focus on completing high school. He attended Notre Dame High School located in Sherman Oaks, California, and became the frontman of a musical band titled Beaver and the Trappers.
In 1966 whilst still studying there he joined the United States Air Force Reserve eventually achieving Sergeant rank by graduation. Subsequently, 1973 saw him enroll at the University of California Berkeley whereupon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in philosophy he left academia behind.
Return to Acting
In the mid-seventies, Mathers as well as his former co-star Tony Dow began making guest appearances on TV shows. His first appearance was in an episode of “The Love Boat” broadcasted on ABC. Subsequently, he had a brief cameo role-playing himself in an episode of “Goodnight Beantown.”
He made his return in 1985 as co-writer for “The New Leave it to Beaver,” which was broadcasted between 1983 and 1989. The tv show was under Disney Channel and he earned a generous $45,000 weekly.
Mathers also made guest appearances on shows such as “The Drew Carey Show,” “Roseanne” and a TV movie based on his life titled Still the Beaver. He did an episode of The Twilight Zone in 2003 playing himself, and he wrote an autobiography titled “And Jerry Mathers as ‘The Beaver’” in 2006.
Today, Mathers continues to make guest appearances on TV shows and makes regular public appearances for movie screenings of “Leave it to Beaver” and autograph signings. His net worth is estimated to be around $3 million dollars.
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Personal Life
Mathers tied the knot with Diana Platt in 74, she was his collegemate, though eventually, the couple separated after seven years of marriage. He subsequently married Rhonda Gehring, a woman he met on tour for “So Long, Stanley,” and with who he had three children- Gretchen Mathers, Noah Mathers, and Mercedes Mathers. This marriage too ended in divorce in 1997. Finally, Jerry married Teresa Modnick in 2011.
Jerry has had Type ii Diabetes since the mid-90s and this has influenced he joined a Jenny Craig weight loss program and shed more than 40 pounds to pursue a healthy lifestyle not only for himself but others, Jerry is also the official and first male spokesperson for Jenny Graig Pharmaceutical Research.
What Does Jerry Mather Do Now?
Nowadays, Jerry Mathers is living in California with his wife. He has toured the country on a variety of projects including an autograph signing tour and speaking engagements with students.
He still makes public appearances at screenings of “Leave it to Beaver” and other movies appearances. He also appears regularly on television panel discussions, talk shows, and interviews.
Currently, Jerry Mather’s net worth is estimated at $3 million dollars.
