This ‘Spinal Tap’ Star Was Almost Cast as Eddie Haskell on ‘Leave It to Beaver’

Lauren Novak October 14, 2:24 pm

Leave it to Beaver Tony Dow, Ken Osmond (as Eddie Haskell), 1957-63 — Everett Collection

Leave It to Beaver is so iconic, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing any of the parts. For example, Ken Osmond fit the part of Eddie Haskell so naturally that the role seemed written just for him. However, when the series first shot its pilot, as part of an anthology series called Studio 57, a few roles were different: Ward Cleaver was played by Casey Adams, rather than Hugh Beaumont; Wally was played by Paul Sullivan, not Tony Dow; and perhaps most shockingly, the original version of Eddie Haskell was played by Harry Shearer, who later came to fame as the star of This Is Spinal Tap and as one of the voice acting powerhouses of The Simpsons.

When the Leave It to Beaver pilot aired in 1957 under the title It’s a Small World, the character of Eddie Haskell technically didn’t even exist. Instead, the Cleavers had to deal with a troublemaker named Frankie Bennett, played by a 14-year-old Shearer.

So, why didn’t Shearer end up on the show after it was picked up as a series? According to him, it all came down to his parents. In a 2010 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Shearer explained that his folks didn’t want him tied down to a weekly TV role, since accepting the part would have required him to leave public school and attend a specialized program for young performers in Hollywood. His parents didn’t that wasn’t the right path, even if it meant passing up what could have been a career-making opportunity. Shearer never expressed bitterness about the decision. “My parents were on my side,” he explained, according to MeTV. While Osmond went on to create a timeless sitcom character, Shearer built a career that spanned decades … so it seems it all worked out!

Embassy Pictures/Everett Collection

Shearer’s career blossomed later, as he became one of the comedic secret weapons behind The Simpsons. He became the voice of Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Smithers, Principal Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy and dozens of other Springfield regulars. Many fans also remember him from the cult favorite This Is Spinal Tap, where he transformed into Derek Smalls, the mustached bassist. He also appeared in movies such as A Mighty Wind and The Truman Show.

Where to Watch Leave It To Beaver

Leave It to Beaver airs weekdays at 8:00am and 8:30am and Sundays at 1pm and 1:30pm on MeTV (available in most markets). You can also watch it on Amazon Prime, Peacock and FETV.