All About ‘Leave It to Beaver’ Star Jerry Mathers’ Mother, Marilyn: Still Alive at 98

Marilyn Mathers may not be a household name, but anyone who grew up watching Leave It to Beaver owes a quiet thanks to the woman who raised its beloved star. While her son, Jerry Mathers, became America’s favorite boy-next-door as Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, Marilyn was the steady presence behind the scenes, guiding him through childhood fame with a grace and calm that’s rare in the world of show business. The Mathers matriarch turned 98 on May 14, and is still very close with her 77-year-old son.

Jerry had his mother on his YouTube Channel to talk about the early days of his acting career, including how she decided to get him started at age two. She said that Jerry was actually discovered at a department store, while she was shopping for clothes.  A woman approached them and asked if she would like to have Jerry model in a Christmas catalog as she thought he was “so cute.”