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Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers' real-life brotherly bond behind-the-scenes
Discover the friendship that made Leave It to Beaver feel like home!
After spending six seasons and six years together, it’s not surprising that actors Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers developed a brotherly bond while filming Leave It to Beaver. However, you might be surprised to learn just how early that brotherly love began.
In a 1959 article with The Morning Call, Norman Tokar, who directed many early episodes of Leave It to Beaver, described the pair’s relationship, saying, "It’s almost as if they were real brothers."
"Tony is a younger brother in real life, but to see him and Jerry off-camera, you’d think he was born to the role of protector rather than that of the protected youngster," Tokar continued.
Watch Leave It to Beaver on MeTV!
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*available in most MeTV marketsIn a later interview with The Reporter Dispatch, an older Tony Dow offered a different perspective.
"I’m a younger brother instead of an older brother," Dow said. "Wally is so much more conservative, more solid. I live in a small place with my wife. We don’t have dinner at the same time every night. I don’t fit into the stereotypical father type of role. I’m more of a friend with my son."
In the same interview, Mathers added: "It’s funny because Tony, in a lot of ways, might be closer to The Beaver."
Mathers also apparently turned to Dow for brotherly guidance in more serious matters, including his professional life. Tokar recalled that the young actor sought Dow’s advice "about scouting."
Despite their success on the show, Mathers and Dow were still able to enjoy a typical childhood friendship. The article noted: "Jerry, who is just getting out of the cub ranks, relied on Tony’s tips on what merit badges to try for, what to take on hikes, and so on."
For Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers, playing brothers on Leave It to Beaver was only the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
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