Ken Osmond
Encyclopedia
Ken Osmond is an American
actor
. Beginning a prolific career as a child actor at the age of four, Osmond is best known for his iconic role as Eddie Haskell
on the 1950s television situation comedy
Leave It to Beaver
, and for reprising the role on the 1980s revival series The New Leave It to Beaver
.
. His father was a carpenter and his mother, a home-maker, whom Osmond has described as "a typical movie mother", with ambitions to get him and his brother, Dayton into show business. Osmond began going on professional auditions at the age of four, and was soon landing work in commercials. Soon, Mrs. Osmond began taking him and his brother to lessons every day after school, where he studied dance
, drama
, diction
, dialect
s, martial arts
, and equestrian riding
.
with Spencer Tracy
and Gene Tierney
. He landed his first speaking role at the age of 9, with a small role in the film So Big
starring Jane Wyman
and Sterling Hayden
. In the following years, he continued to appear in small roles in feature films such as Good Morning Miss Dove
, and Everything But the Truth, as well as making numerous guest-starring appearances on episodic television series, including Lassie
, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
, Fury
, Circus Boy
, and The Loretta Young Show.
best (and worst) friend, Eddie Haskell
on the family sitcom Leave It To Beaver
. After a series of call-backs to narrow down the field, Osmond eventually landed the role. The character of Eddie was originally intended to be a "one shot" guest appearance, but those involved with the show were impressed with Osmond's portrayal, and Eddie Haskell would eventually become one of the most memorable characters on the series throughout its entire six season run.
Osmond's portrayal of Eddie Haskell became a cultural reference, recognized as an archetype
for the "behind-your-back" rebel. Teenager Eddie Haskell would be polite and obsequious to grownups, but derided adults' social conventions behind their backs. He was constantly trying to involve his friends in activities that would get them into trouble. Eddie was the kind of friend parents such as Ward
and June Cleaver
wish their children would limit association with, but need to have to gain learning experiences. Even today, the term "Eddie Haskell" is known to refer to an insincere flatterer or a suck-up.
, The Munsters
, and a return appearance on Lassie
, as well as appearing in the feature films C'mon Let's Live a Little, and With Six You Get Eggroll
, however, he found himself typecast as "Eddie Haskell" and had difficulty finding steady work. In 2008, Osmond told radio host, Stu Shostak in a radio interview - "I was very much typecast. It's a death sentence. In Hollywood you get typecast. I'm not complaining because Eddie's been too good to me, but I found work hard to come by. In 1968 I bought my first house, in '69 I got married, and we were going to start a family and I needed a job, so I went out and signed up for the LAPD."
(LAPD) and grew a mustache to help secure his anonymity. During his time on the force he worked in vice and narcotics, and as a motorcycle officer. On September 20, 1980, Osmond was hit by three bullets while in a foot chase with a suspected car thief. He was protected from two of the bullets by his bulletproof vest
, with the third bullet ricocheting off of his belt buckle. He was placed on disability and eventually retired from the force in 1988. He still receives a medical disability pension from the LAPD.
. According to Cooper, the rumor began when a college newspaper editor asked him what kind of kid he was, to which Cooper replied "I was obnoxious, disgusting, a real Eddie Haskell"; however, the story ended up reporting that Cooper was the real Eddie Haskell. Cooper would later tell the New Times
- "It was the biggest rumor that ever came out about me. Finally, I got a t-shirt that said 'No, I am not Eddie Haskell'. But people still believed it."
Another widely reported urban legend of the 1970s was that Osmond had grown up to become adult film star John Holmes
. The story apparently began when fan magazines falsely reported that Osmond had embarked on such a career. The rumor was dispelled when a Los Angeles movie theater lit up its marquee advertising "Eddie Haskell of TV in 'Behind the Green Door'
- X-rated", prompting Osmond himself, then an LAPD officer, to go into the theater to request that the theater's manager pull the plug on the marquee.
in the CBS
made-for-television movie, Still the Beaver, which followed the adult Cleaver boys, their friends, and their families. The television movie was a success and led to the revival comedy series The New Leave It to Beaver
which premiered the following year. The show ran for four seasons from 1984 to 1989, starting on The Disney Channel, and later moving to the TBS network. On the show, Osmond played Eddie Haskell as a husband and father, while his character's two sons, Freddie Haskell and Edward "Bomber" Haskell Jr., were played by Osmond's two real-life sons, Eric Osmond and Christian Osmond, respectively.
In 1987, Osmond was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award. He continued to make television appearances throughout the 1980s and 1990s on the shows Happy Days
, Rags to Riches and the television movie High School U.S.A.
, as well as cameo appearances in his iconic role as Eddie Haskell on such television shows as Parker Lewis Can't Lose
, and Hi Honey, I'm Home!
. Osmond would once again reprise his role as Eddie Haskell in the 1997 feature film Leave It to Beaver. In the film, Osmond played Eddie Haskell, Sr., and Adam Zolotin played his son Eddie Haskell, Jr.
lawsuit against the Screen Actors Guild
, alleging that SAG had collected $8 million in foreign residuals for U.S. actors, but had not distributed them to the actors. As of October 2011, Osmond appears in TV commercials for St Joseph Aspirin.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. Beginning a prolific career as a child actor at the age of four, Osmond is best known for his iconic role as Eddie Haskell
Eddie Haskell
Edward Clark "Eddie" Haskell is a fictional character on the Leave It to Beaver television situation comedy, which ran on CBS from October 4, 1957 to 1958 and then on ABC from 1958 to June 20, 1963...
on the 1950s television situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
, and for reprising the role on the 1980s revival series The New Leave It to Beaver
The New Leave It to Beaver
The New Leave It to Beaver is an American sitcom sequel to the 1950s and '60s series, Leave It to Beaver. The New Leave It to Beaver began with the 1983 CBS TV movie Still the Beaver, and was picked up in 1984 as a Disney Channel series with the same name; however, it only lasted one season...
.
Early life
Osmond was born Kenneth Charles Osmond on June 7, 1943 in Glendale, CaliforniaGlendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
. His father was a carpenter and his mother, a home-maker, whom Osmond has described as "a typical movie mother", with ambitions to get him and his brother, Dayton into show business. Osmond began going on professional auditions at the age of four, and was soon landing work in commercials. Soon, Mrs. Osmond began taking him and his brother to lessons every day after school, where he studied dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, diction
Diction
Diction , in its original, primary meaning, refers to the writer's or the speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story...
, dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
s, martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, and equestrian riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
.
Early years
Osmond first broke into feature films working as an extra, the first job he remembers being an appearance in the film Plymouth AdventurePlymouth Adventure
Plymouth Adventure is a 1952 drama film with an ensemble cast starring Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, Van Johnson and Leo Genn, made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Clarence Brown, and produced by Dore Schary...
with Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
and Gene Tierney
Gene Tierney
Gene Eliza Tierney was an American film and stage actress. Acclaimed as one of the great beauties of her day, she is best remembered for her performance in the title role of Laura and her Academy Award-nominated performance for Best Actress in Leave Her to Heaven .Other notable roles include...
. He landed his first speaking role at the age of 9, with a small role in the film So Big
So Big (1953 film)
So Big is a 1953 American drama film directed by Robert Wise. The screenplay by John Twist is based on the 1924 novel by Edna Ferber. It is the third adaptation of the book, following a 1924 silent film with Colleen Moore and So Big! with Barbara Stanwyck, released in 1932.-Plot:In the late 1890s,...
starring Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman was an American singer, dancer, and character actress of film and television. She began her film career in the 1930s, and was a prolific performer for two decades...
and Sterling Hayden
Sterling Hayden
Sterling Hayden was an American actor and author. For most of his career as a leading man, he specialized in westerns and film noir, such as Johnny Guitar, The Asphalt Jungle and The Killing. Later on he became noted as a character actor for such roles as Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr...
. In the following years, he continued to appear in small roles in feature films such as Good Morning Miss Dove
Good Morning Miss Dove
Good Morning, Miss Dove is a 1955 film which tells the sentimental story of a beloved schoolteacher who reflects back on her life and former students when she is hospitalized...
, and Everything But the Truth, as well as making numerous guest-starring appearances on episodic television series, including Lassie
Lassie (1954 TV series)
Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie named Lassie and her companions, human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973...
, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is an American sitcom, airing on ABC from October 3, 1952 to September 3, 1966, starring the real life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television where it continued its success, running on both radio and TV for a couple of years...
, Fury
Fury (TV series)
Fury is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from 1955–1960, starring Peter Graves as Jim Newton , Bobby Diamond as Jim's adopted son, Joey Clark Newton, and William Fawcett as ranch hand Pete Wilkey...
, Circus Boy
Circus Boy
Circus Boy is an American action/adventure/drama series that aired in prime time on NBC, and then on ABC, from 1956 to 1958. It was then rerun by NBC on Saturday mornings, from 1958 to 1960...
, and The Loretta Young Show.
Leave it to Beaver
In the fall of 1957, 14-year-old Osmond was called in to a typical "cattle call" audition to read for the role for which he would become most identified; that of Wally Cleaver'sWally Cleaver
Wallace "Wally" Cleaver is a fictional character in the iconic American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. Wally is the thirteen-year-old son of archetypal 50s suburban parents, Ward and June Cleaver and the older brother of the seven-year-old title character, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver...
best (and worst) friend, Eddie Haskell
Eddie Haskell
Edward Clark "Eddie" Haskell is a fictional character on the Leave It to Beaver television situation comedy, which ran on CBS from October 4, 1957 to 1958 and then on ABC from 1958 to June 20, 1963...
on the family sitcom Leave It To Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
. After a series of call-backs to narrow down the field, Osmond eventually landed the role. The character of Eddie was originally intended to be a "one shot" guest appearance, but those involved with the show were impressed with Osmond's portrayal, and Eddie Haskell would eventually become one of the most memorable characters on the series throughout its entire six season run.
Osmond's portrayal of Eddie Haskell became a cultural reference, recognized as an archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
for the "behind-your-back" rebel. Teenager Eddie Haskell would be polite and obsequious to grownups, but derided adults' social conventions behind their backs. He was constantly trying to involve his friends in activities that would get them into trouble. Eddie was the kind of friend parents such as Ward
Ward Cleaver
Ward Cleaver is a fictional character in the American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. Ward and his wife, June, are often invoked as archetypal suburban parents of the babyboomer 1950s. The couple are the parents of Wally, a thirteen-year-old in the eighth grade, and seven-year-old ...
and June Cleaver
June Cleaver
June Evelyn Bronson Cleaver is a principal character in the American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. June and her husband, Ward, are often invoked as the archetypal suburban parents of the 1950s. The couple are the parents of two sons, Wally and "Beaver"...
wish their children would limit association with, but need to have to gain learning experiences. Even today, the term "Eddie Haskell" is known to refer to an insincere flatterer or a suck-up.
Typecast
After Leave it to Beaver ended in 1963, Osmond continued to make occasional appearances on such television series as Petticoat JunctionPetticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction is an American situation comedy produced by Filmways which originally aired on CBS from 1963 to 1970. The series is one of three interrelated shows about rural characters created by Paul Henning; the others are The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.The setting for the series...
, The Munsters
The Munsters
The Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
, and a return appearance on Lassie
Lassie (1954 TV series)
Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie named Lassie and her companions, human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973...
, as well as appearing in the feature films C'mon Let's Live a Little, and With Six You Get Eggroll
With Six You Get Eggroll
With Six You Get Eggroll is a family comedy, starring Doris Day and Brian Keith. Other cast members include George Carlin, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, Barbara Hershey, Alice Ghostley and Pat Carroll....
, however, he found himself typecast as "Eddie Haskell" and had difficulty finding steady work. In 2008, Osmond told radio host, Stu Shostak in a radio interview - "I was very much typecast. It's a death sentence. In Hollywood you get typecast. I'm not complaining because Eddie's been too good to me, but I found work hard to come by. In 1968 I bought my first house, in '69 I got married, and we were going to start a family and I needed a job, so I went out and signed up for the LAPD."
Law enforcement
In 1970 Osmond joined the Los Angeles Police DepartmentLos Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
(LAPD) and grew a mustache to help secure his anonymity. During his time on the force he worked in vice and narcotics, and as a motorcycle officer. On September 20, 1980, Osmond was hit by three bullets while in a foot chase with a suspected car thief. He was protected from two of the bullets by his bulletproof vest
Bulletproof vest
A ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso...
, with the third bullet ricocheting off of his belt buckle. He was placed on disability and eventually retired from the force in 1988. He still receives a medical disability pension from the LAPD.
Urban legends
In the early 1970s, a story was widely reported that Osmond had become rock star, Alice CooperAlice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. According to Cooper, the rumor began when a college newspaper editor asked him what kind of kid he was, to which Cooper replied "I was obnoxious, disgusting, a real Eddie Haskell"; however, the story ended up reporting that Cooper was the real Eddie Haskell. Cooper would later tell the New Times
New Times Magazine
New Times was an American glossy bi-weekly national magazine published from 1973 to 1979 by George A. Hirsch. Hirsch had been publisher of New York magazine, but resigned after conflicts with founder/editor Clay Felker. New Times began as a bridge between the newsweeklies and the more reflective...
- "It was the biggest rumor that ever came out about me. Finally, I got a t-shirt that said 'No, I am not Eddie Haskell'. But people still believed it."
Another widely reported urban legend of the 1970s was that Osmond had grown up to become adult film star John Holmes
John Holmes (actor)
John Curtis Holmes better known as John C. Holmes or Johnny Wadd , was one of the most prolific male porn stars of all time, appearing in about 2,500 adult loops, stag films, and pornographic feature movies in the 1970s and 1980s...
. The story apparently began when fan magazines falsely reported that Osmond had embarked on such a career. The rumor was dispelled when a Los Angeles movie theater lit up its marquee advertising "Eddie Haskell of TV in 'Behind the Green Door'
Behind the Green Door
Behind the Green Door is a 1972 feature-length pornographic film, widely considered one of the genre's "classic" pictures. It was the first hardcore film widely released in the United States. It was the first feature-length film directed by the Mitchell brothers and starred Marilyn Chambers...
- X-rated", prompting Osmond himself, then an LAPD officer, to go into the theater to request that the theater's manager pull the plug on the marquee.
Return to acting
Osmond returned to acting in 1983 reprising his role as Eddie HaskellEddie Haskell
Edward Clark "Eddie" Haskell is a fictional character on the Leave It to Beaver television situation comedy, which ran on CBS from October 4, 1957 to 1958 and then on ABC from 1958 to June 20, 1963...
in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
made-for-television movie, Still the Beaver, which followed the adult Cleaver boys, their friends, and their families. The television movie was a success and led to the revival comedy series The New Leave It to Beaver
The New Leave It to Beaver
The New Leave It to Beaver is an American sitcom sequel to the 1950s and '60s series, Leave It to Beaver. The New Leave It to Beaver began with the 1983 CBS TV movie Still the Beaver, and was picked up in 1984 as a Disney Channel series with the same name; however, it only lasted one season...
which premiered the following year. The show ran for four seasons from 1984 to 1989, starting on The Disney Channel, and later moving to the TBS network. On the show, Osmond played Eddie Haskell as a husband and father, while his character's two sons, Freddie Haskell and Edward "Bomber" Haskell Jr., were played by Osmond's two real-life sons, Eric Osmond and Christian Osmond, respectively.
In 1987, Osmond was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award. He continued to make television appearances throughout the 1980s and 1990s on the shows Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
, Rags to Riches and the television movie High School U.S.A.
High School U.S.A.
"High School U.S.A." is also the title of the biggest pop hit by Tommy Facenda.High School U.S.A. is a 1983 television movie directed by Rodney Amateau. The film originally aired on NBC on October 16, 1983 and features an ensemble cast including Michael J. Fox, Anthony Edwards, and Crispin...
, as well as cameo appearances in his iconic role as Eddie Haskell on such television shows as Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Parker Lewis Can't Lose is an American teen sitcom that originally aired on FOX from September 1990 to June 1993. During the last season, the series sported the simpler title Parker Lewis. The series was produced by Columbia Pictures Television and was strongly influenced by the feature film Ferris...
, and Hi Honey, I'm Home!
Hi Honey, I'm Home!
Hi Honey, I'm Home! is an American television sitcom that ran from July 19, 1991, to July 12, 1992 for thirteen episodes. The series was television's first "instant" rerun. Each week, a new episode of the series aired on ABC as part of their Friday night TGIF lineup. The same episode would re-air...
. Osmond would once again reprise his role as Eddie Haskell in the 1997 feature film Leave It to Beaver. In the film, Osmond played Eddie Haskell, Sr., and Adam Zolotin played his son Eddie Haskell, Jr.
Personal life
In 1969, Osmond married Sandra Purdy. The couple have two sons, Eric E. Osmond (born October 8, 1971) and Christian S. Osmond (born June 12, 1974). Since his retirement from the police force, Osmond handles rental properties in the Los Angeles area, and makes occasional personal appearances at film festivals, collectors' shows and nostalgia conventions. On September 18, 2007, Osmond filed a class actionClass action
In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...
lawsuit against the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
, alleging that SAG had collected $8 million in foreign residuals for U.S. actors, but had not distributed them to the actors. As of October 2011, Osmond appears in TV commercials for St Joseph Aspirin.
External links
- Ken Osmond at TVGuide.comTV GuideTV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
- Ken Osmond at TVLand.comTV LandTV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...