TLDR: Yes, Jerry Mathers is alive. He turned 78 on June 2, 2026, and he still appears at fan conventions. Last checked October 14, 2026.
Jerry Mathers is alive. He is also the last surviving star of Leave It to Beaver.
His 78th Birthday
Mathers turned 78 on June 2, 2026. Hello! marked the day with a photo of him and his 98-year-old mother, and said he remains active on the convention circuit.
Parade reported that he also runs an online shop selling Leave It to Beaver merchandise.
Where He Appears
In February 2026, Parade reported that Mathers announced on Facebook that he would attend the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri, on April 23 to 26. He was scheduled for the Nostalgia Fest Autograph Show on April 24 and 25, his third visit to the festival.
In June 2025, Fox News covered his reunion with surviving castmates Stephen Talbot, Jeri Weil, Luke Tiger Fafara and Veronica Cartwright at The Hollywood Show in Burbank.
In that interview he said he has no urgency to return to acting, enjoys a life outside the spotlight, and sometimes babysits his grandchildren.
How He Became the Beaver
Mathers told KTLA 5 in 2017 that he had acted professionally since age two, according to Parade. His first audition for the role fell on the day of his first Cub Scout meeting, so his mother sent him in his uniform.
The producers told him he got the part because he was always there and always the same.
Working With Alfred Hitchcock
Before Leave It to Beaver, Alfred Hitchcock picked a 7-year-old Mathers for the 1955 dark comedy The Trouble with Harry, Fox News reported. He told Fox that Hitchcock was very nice, though he would not call him a friend because of the age gap.
Mathers also said he helped the makeup supervisor Robert Dawn build special effects for Mrs. Bates’ skull in Psycho.
His Diabetes Advocacy
Fox reported that Mathers was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1997. He now gives lectures around the country to raise awareness of the disease.
He also earned a philosophy degree from UC Berkeley and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, according to Hello!.
Life on the Set
The show ran from 1957 to 1963, and Mathers was 9 when it started. Tony Dow, who played his big brother Wally, told Fox News in 2019 that producers asked the child actors’ parents not to let them watch the show, Parade reported.
Dow said the set was family-friendly and the cast was close. He and Mathers also recalled having lunch with Cary Grant on the Universal backlot.
Who Else From the Cast Is Alive
Parade calls Mathers the show’s last surviving star. Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont and Tony Dow have died, and Dow was 77 when he died in 2022.
Former child castmates Stephen Talbot, Jeri Weil and Luke Tiger Fafara, plus guest actor Veronica Cartwright, joined him at the 2025 reunion.
More Classic TV Check-Ins
We keep similar updates for Shirley Jones and Marlo Thomas. Each page notes the date we last checked.
Jerry Mathers: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jerry Mathers still alive?
Yes. He turned 78 on June 2, 2026. We last checked on October 14, 2026.
How old is Jerry Mathers?
He was born on June 2, 1948, so he is 78.
Who is still alive from Leave It to Beaver?
Mathers is the last surviving star. Former child castmates such as Stephen Talbot, Jeri Weil and Luke Tiger Fafara are also alive, according to Fox News.
What is Jerry Mathers doing now?
He appears at fan conventions and autograph shows, sells show merchandise online and speaks about diabetes awareness.
Did Jerry Mathers work with Alfred Hitchcock?
Yes. Hitchcock cast him at age 7 in The Trouble with Harry in 1955.
Does Jerry Mathers have diabetes?
Fox News reported that he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1997 and now speaks publicly about it.
