Fans of the classic 1950s family sitcom “Leave It To Beaver” are in mourning this week after the death of Ken Osmond, who played Eddie Haskell on the iconic television show. He was 76 years-old.
“He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father,” Osmond’s son Eric told Fox News [1] on Monday. “He had his family gathered around him when he passed. He was loved and will be very missed.”
Variety reported [2] that Osmond died on Monday at his home in Los Angeles, California, and no cause of death has been reported at this time. Henry Lane, Osmond’s former partner at the Los Angeles Police Department, came forward after his death to reveal that he had been suffering from respiratory issues.
Osmond was only meant to guest star in a single episode of “Leave It To Beaver” as the troublemaking Eddie Haskell, but he did so well that he ended up appearing in all six seasons of the show. He also appeared on other shows as well, including “Lassie,” “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” “Wagon Train,” “Fury” and “The Loretta Young Show.”
After “Leave It To Beaver” [3] came to an end in 1963, Osmond continued his acting career, but he soon became disheartened with the business when he found himself being typecast in Eddie Haskell-like roles. In 1970, Osmond decided to change careers by joining the Los Angeles Police Department, growing a mustache so that it would be harder for fans to recognize him. He was tragically shot in 1980 during a chase with a suspected car thief, with his life only being saved by his bulletproof vest. He was put on disability after this incident and officially retired from the police force in 1988.
In 2007, Osmond reemerged once again to file a lawsuit against the Screen Actors Guild, claiming that the organization had overstepped its authority in collecting foreign royalties without disclosing the collection agreements until he and Jack Klugman threatened to take legal action. The case was eventually settled in 2010.
Osmond is survived by his beloved wife Sandra and their two sons, as well as by millions of fans who have always remembered him from his “Leave It To Beaver” days.
This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com [4] and is used by permission.
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