Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ken Osmond’s Net Worth?
Ken Osmond, renowned for his role as Eddie Haskell on “Leave it to Beaver,” accumulated a net worth of $1.5 million during his lifetime. This figure represents the culmination of his earnings from acting, his tenure with the Los Angeles Police Department, and real estate investments.
Early Career and “Leave it to Beaver”
Born on June 7, 1943, in Glendale, California, Kenneth Charles Osmond embarked on his acting journey at a young age. His mother, Pearl, and father, Thurman, encouraged Ken and his brother Dayton to pursue acting careers. This led to auditions and training in various disciplines, including dance, diction, martial arts, and equestrianism.
Osmond’s early acting roles were uncredited parts in films like “Plymouth Adventure” and “So Big” in the early 1950s. He also made appearances in television shows such as “Screen Directors Playhouse,” “Lassie,” “Annie Oakley,” “Circus Boy,” and “Fury.” In 1957, he had guest roles on “Letter to Loretta,” “The Walter Winchell File,” “Telephone Time,” and “Colt .45.”
His breakthrough role came in late 1957 when he was cast as Eddie Haskell on the CBS sitcom “Leave it to Beaver.” Osmond played the character for all six seasons, from 1957 to 1963. Eddie Haskell became a cultural icon, representing the archetype of a sycophantic and scheming individual. This role significantly contributed to Ken Osmond’s overall net worth.
Law Enforcement Career
After “Leave it to Beaver” ended, Osmond found it challenging to secure acting roles due to typecasting. Consequently, in 1970, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). To maintain anonymity, Osmond grew a mustache and worked as a motorcycle officer. In September 1980, he was shot five times while pursuing a suspected car thief. Fortunately, his bulletproof vest saved his life. Osmond applied for a disability pension in 1984, which was initially denied but later granted after an appeal to the Supreme Court in 1988. He subsequently retired from the LAPD.
Return to Acting and Later Career
Before joining the LAPD, Osmond had minor roles in the films “C’mon, Let’s Live a Little” and “With Six You Get Eggroll.” After more than a decade in law enforcement, Osmond returned to acting, reprising his role as Eddie Haskell in the CBS television film “Still the Beaver.” This led to the revival series “The New Leave it to Beaver,” which aired on the Disney Channel and TBS from 1985 to 1989. On this show, Osmond’s real-life sons, Eric and Christian, played the sons of his character Eddie Haskell. The show spanned four seasons, further boosting Osmond’s financial standing.
In 1983, Osmond appeared in the NBC television film “High School U.S.A.” and had guest roles on “Happy Days” and “Rags to Riches.” In the early 1990s, he reprised his role as Eddie Haskell in episodes of “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” and “Hi Honey, I’m Home!” Later, in 1997, he made a cameo appearance as Eddie Sr. in the film adaptation of “Leave it to Beaver.” Osmond’s final acting role was in the 2016 comedy film “Characterz,” where he played Daniel.
Real Estate
In July 1976, Ken Osmond and his wife, Sandra Purdy, purchased a home in Sunland, California, for $20,000. They retained ownership of this property for the remainder of his life. By the time of his death, the home was valued at approximately $1.2 million. This real estate investment was a significant component of Ken Osmond’s overall net worth.
Personal Life and Final Years
Ken Osmond married Sandra Purdy in 1969, and they had two sons, Eric and Christian. He co-authored a memoir with Christopher Lynch titled “Eddie: The Life and Times of America’s Preeminent Bad Boy,” published in 2014. Osmond passed away on May 18, 2020, at his home in Los Angeles due to complications from COPD and peripheral artery disease. He was 76 years old. The combination of his acting career, law enforcement pension, and real estate holdings contributed to his net worth of $1.5 million at the time of his death.
