Ken Osmond, the talented actor, was forever remembered as the mischievous and troublesome Eddie Haskell on the iconic 1950s family show Leave It to Beaver.
Born on June 7, 1943, in Glendale, California, to Pearl (Hand) and Thurman Osmond, a studio carpenter and propmaker, Ken started his acting career at a young age, making his film debut as a child extra in Plymouth Adventure (1952) alongside Spencer Tracy.
Before landing the role of Eddie Haskell at age 14, Ken appeared in several minor film roles, including So Big (1953),Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955),and Everything But the Truth (1956). He also made guest appearances on popular TV shows such as "Circus Boy," "Annie Oakley," and "Lassie."
As Eddie Haskell, Ken's character became an instant sensation, delightfully smudging up the squeaky-clean Cleaver name with his nasty antics. With his curly blond locks, ugly sneer, and intimidating stance, he became a scene-stealer for six seasons until the show's demise in 1963.
After the show, Ken struggled to find his footing in the acting world, appearing in a few TV shows and films, including "The Munsters" and "Petticoat Junction." However, he eventually called it quits and joined the Los Angeles Police Department, where he became a member of the vice squad and was wounded three times during his service.
Ken made a comeback to TV in the 1980s with a reunion mini-movie and a cable-revived version of Leave It to Beaver, entitled The New Leave It to Beaver (1983). He also appeared in a full-length film version of Leave It to Beaver (1997) and made personal appearances at film festivals and nostalgia conventions.
Married to his wife Sandy since 1970, Ken kept busy handling rental properties in the Los Angeles area. His brother Dayton later became a special effects supervisor for the TV show "Babylon 5."
Ken passed away on May 18, 2020, at the age of 76, due to cardiac arrest.
