Leave it to Jerry: Mathers Set for Bway's 'Hairspray'

The producers of Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards^® including Best Musical, have announced that television legend Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver Cleaver on the classic sitcom "Leave it to Beaver," will make his Broadway debut as Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy's dad, on Tuesday, June 5 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

 

Jerry Mathers's show business career began at the age of two when he was cast on the "Ed Wynn Television Show."  In 1954, he then co-starred with Linda Darnell in This Is My Love.  He caught the attention of Alfred Hitchcock who signed him for the 1955 film The Trouble with Harry.  The young actor next appeared in two Bob Hope movies, The Seven Little Foys and That Certain Feeling.  Two movies with Alan Ladd followed: The Deep Six and Men of the Fighting Lady.

 

"Leave It to Beaver" debuted October 4, 1957 and was an immediate success.   The show soared to the top of the ratings, gained national attention and ran for six seasons, totaling 234 episodes. Currently shown on TV Land and in countries throughout the world, "Leave It to Beaver" has made Jerry an American Icon. This October marks the 50^th anniversary of the classic sitcom's debut.

 

His television movie, "Still the Beaver," was one of the top ten movies of the week for 1982 and led to the development of a new series entitled "The New Leave It to Beaver."   Jerry successfully completed filming 108 episodes which were syndicated and aired in all major markets.  As well as starring in the series, Jerry also directed multiple episodes.

 

Jerry's television credits also include "Ozzie and Harriet," "Red Skelton Show," "Screen Directors Playhouse," "Ray Bolger Show," "Martin and Lewis," "George Gobel Show," "Lux Theater," "NBC Matinee Theater," "Texaco Theater," "Bob Hope Show," "Four Star Review," "Spike Jones", "Colgate Comedy Hour," "Art Linkletter's House Party," "Lassie," "My Three Sons," "Family Affair," "Batman," "The Love Boat," "Lily Tomlin for President," "Saturday Night Live," "Diagnosis Murder," "The Prodigy," Academy Awards (presenter), "Studs," "Match Game," "Hollywood Squares," "Scattergories," "Married with Children," "Family Feud – celebrity edition," "Howdy Doody Time Reunion," "Dick Clark's Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes," "Parker Lewis Can't Lose," "Hardcastle and McCormick," and "Weakest Link."   He has also had recurring spots on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

 

His film credits include Will to Power, Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Angels with Angles , Better Luck Tomorrow (Sundance Film Festival judges award winner),  Back to the Beach (with Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, and Pee Wee Herman), Bigger Than Life, and The Shadow on the Window .

 

Jerry's stage credits include Boeing, Boeing; Who's on First; and the national debut tour of So Long Stanley, which played to sell-out houses continuously for 18 months.

 

In the early 90's Jerry was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and he is currently one of the leading lecturers on living with and dealing with diabetes.  He is currently the national spokesperson for Johnson and Johnson's OneTouch UltraMini System blood glucose monitoring system and he has spoken to the Congressional Caucus on diabetes.   Jerry currently volunteers for numerous fund-raising activities and events for diabetes organizations such as the American Diabetes Association.  He is also active in the volunteer community with various other charities including Special Olympics, Interval House, AIDS Walk Orange County, Partners in Care Foundation, Los Angeles Retarded Citizens, March of Dimes, and Easter Seals.   He is currently the Honorary Chair for the Evergreen project, a fund raising campaign for Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica.

 

When his schedule permits, Jerry an FCC licensed broadcaster, guest hosts on radio programs from coast to coast and is trained in radio satellite broadcasting.  

 

In Hairspray it's 1962—the '50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore 's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion—to dance.  She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity.   But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do?   Only in Hairspray!  Welcome to the '60s!

 

Hairspray, which celebrates its fifth anniversary on Broadway in August 2007, is the winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards, including best musical, best actor, best actress, best featured actor, best score, best book, best director, and best costume design.   Hairspray also swept every one of the year's best musical awards, winning, in addition to the Tony, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Drama League Award.

 

For ticket information, phone Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100, or for group sales, phone 212-302-7000 or 800-677-1164.  Hairspray offers the ShowTrans system for foreign-speaking audience members in the following languages: French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.   Same-day, lottery tickets are sold at the box office for seats in the first row of the orchestra.   For more information about Hairspray, please consult the Hairspray website at www.hairsprayonbroadway.com.