Being a child actor can be difficult, no matter who you are. Most kids might have felt the pressure of having 20 million eyes on them each week—but Leave It to Beaver star Jerry Mathers actually enjoyed the spotlight.

And while most child stars would use the fame to their advantage and move on quickly, he stayed put for about six years and six seasons.

"I'm glad I'm a child star," Mathers said in a 1959 interview with The Saginaw News. "The good things about it outnumber the bad ones."

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Mathers played the role of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, who was notoriously naive, curious, and often found himself getting into a bit of trouble. 

The good things did indeed outnumber the bad times. When you're making money, acting, and getting to hang out with actors and actresses—while gaining fame across the globe—it’s easy to see the upside.

"Sometimes I miss the companionship of boys my own age," Mathers said. "But lots of the adults I work with are boys grown up. They play with me all the time on set. Also, I’m more in contact with the adult world, so I guess I’m more of an adult myself."

He was clearly more mature than his on-screen character. According to the interview, as he answered questions, he had two adults sitting next to him—producers Joseph Connelly and Bob Mosher. Point proven. 

"Being a performer is good for me," Mathers said. "Most boys are self-conscious in groups of adults, but I have self-confidence."

When you're a child star, confidence is everything. That’s one way he and Beaver differed.

Beaver had his moments—like forgetting his homework, falling for playground rumors, or being unsure how to handle a tricky situation—but Mathers was much more brave and self-assured. So, what did the two have in common?

"He’s always getting into trouble, and so do I," Mathers said. "I guess I’m pretty much like Beaver, except he doesn’t work for a living. And maybe he doesn’t have as much fun as I do."

Connelly and Mosher worked closely with Mathers' parents to try to maintain a normal childhood for him—well, as normal as life on a Hollywood set could be. But Mathers had no interest in being an adult actor, just a child one.

"Maybe I’ll miss all the attention of being an actor when I quit," Mathers said. "But I’m not going to let it throw me. If I stop acting, it won’t make any difference to my friends, anyhow."