Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jerry Mathers’ Net Worth?
Jerry Mathers, the American television, film, and stage actor, has accumulated a net worth of $3 million. This figure primarily stems from his extensive acting career, most notably his role as Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver on the classic television sitcom “Leave it to Beaver.” Mathers also supplemented his income with appearances in various other television shows and films throughout his career.
Early Career and “Leave it to Beaver”
Born on June 2, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, Jerry Mathers began his journey in the entertainment industry at the young age of two. He initially worked as a child model, appearing in a department store advertisement. Shortly after, he was featured in a commercial for PET Milk, collaborating with the vaudevillian Ed Wynn. When he was four, Mathers had an uncredited role in the comedy Western film “Son of Paleface,” and portrayed a trick-or-treating child in a Halloween episode of the sitcom “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”.
Mathers secured roles in films such as “This is My Love” with Linda Darnell and Dan Duryea, “The Seven Little Foys” with Bob Hope, and Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry,” where he played a boy who discovers a dead body. Jerry was also in “The Shadow on the Window,” portraying a traumatized boy. In 1957, Mathers achieved his breakthrough role in “Leave it to Beaver,” playing the character of Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. Reportedly, Jerry secured the role after telling producers he would prefer to be at his Club Scout meeting than at the audition; this candidness impressed them. Mathers portrayed Beaver in all 234 episodes of the series over its six-year run. He also negotiated a deal giving him a percentage of the merchandising revenue from the show, making him the first child actor to do so. “Leave it to Beaver” has aired in over 80 countries and has been translated into 40 languages.
Education, Military Service, and Return to Entertainment
After “Leave it to Beaver,” Mathers took a break from acting to focus on his high school education. He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he led a musical band named Beaver and the Trappers. In 1966, while still a student, he joined the United States Air Force Reserve. He continued his service after graduating from high school and attained the rank of Sergeant. In 1973, Mathers graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. Following his graduation, Mathers initially pursued careers outside of entertainment, working as a commercial bank loan officer and a real estate developer.
Mathers returned to acting in 1978, appearing in an episode of the television series “Flying High.” He also co-starred with fellow “Leave it to Beaver” alum Tony Dow in a Kansas City production of the play “Boeing, Boeing.” Afterwards, Jerry and Dow toured in a production of “So Long, Stanley” for a year and a half. He worked as a disc jockey in Anaheim, California, in 1981 and appeared in the made-for-television fantasy film “The Girl, the Gold Watch and Dynamite” starring Philip MacHale and Lee Purcell. Mathers reprised his role as Beaver in the 1983 television reunion movie “Still the Beaver,” which featured most of the original cast. This success led to the creation of a new series, initially airing on the Disney Channel in 1984 and later picked up by TBS and broadcast syndication. Renamed “The New Leave It to Beaver,” the series aired for 101 episodes, ending in 1989. During this time, Mathers also appeared as Beaver in an episode of “The Love Boat.”
Later Acting Roles and Career Ventures
In the 1990s, Mathers’ television credits included guest appearances on shows such as “Married… with Children,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “Vengeance Unlimited,” and “Diagnosis: Murder.” In 2001, he participated in a special “Child TV Stars Edition” episode of the game show “The Weakest Link,” where he was voted off in the first round. In 2007, Mathers made his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning musical “Hairspray,” playing the leading role of Wilbur Turnblad at the Neil Simon Theater.
Real Estate Holdings
In October 1985, Jerry Mathers purchased a home in Santa Clarita, California, for $163,000. The current estimated value of this property is around $1 million.
Personal Life and Health Advocacy
Mathers has been married three times. He first married Diana Platt in 1974, whom he met in college. They divorced in 1981. Subsequently, he married Rhonda Gehring, whom he met while touring in “So Long, Stanley.” They had three children – Noah, Mercedes, and Gretchen – before divorcing in 1997. In 2011, Mathers married Teresa Modnick. In 1996, Mathers was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The following year, he enrolled in a Jenny Craig weight loss program and lost more than 40 pounds. As a result, he became the first male spokesperson for the brand. In 2009, he became the national spokesman for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and its Partnership for Prescription Assistance program.
