If I say the name "Ken Osmond" to you, chances are you may not know of whom I am speaking. However, if I say the name "Eddie Haskell", then there is a strong chance that just about every American of baby boom age knows exactly who I am talking about.
Ken Osmond
1943 - 2020
Actor and retired Los Angeles Police Officer Ken Osmond died today at the age of 76.
A child actor since the age of nine, Osmond had over a dozen credits in various TV shows and motion pictures when, in 1957, he auditioned for what was originally to be a one shot appearance playing a character named Eddie Haskell for the show "Leave It To Beaver," and television immortality was born. Playing older brother Wally's pal, Haskell was smarmy and odiously obsequious to adults, but the ultimate smartass when with his pals, and particularly mean to the Beav.
To gauge the magnitude of the character's impact, how many of you reading this can recall interacting some jerk that you may have come across over the years of your life in school, the workplace, church, or your neighborhood and saying "That guy is a real Eddie Haskell type."
As Eddie Haskell
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Cleaver. You're
looking specially lovely today."
Instead of the one shot it was originally meant to be, Osmond -as-Eddie appeared in 96 episodes of "Leave It to Beaver" from 1957-63. After the show was done, Osmond tried to stay in show biz, but found himself being hopelessly typecast and "Eddie Haskell", and gave it up for a career as an officer in the LAPD, where he made the news in 1980 when he was shot five times during a chase in the line of duty. This led to a disability retirement from the force in 1988.
LAPD Officer Ken Osmond
He grew the mustache so he wouldn't
be recognized as "Eddie Haskell"
Osmond leaves us just a few weeks before what would have been his 77th birthday, but he leaves behind a character that will probably never be forgotten, and that is a pretty nice legacy to have.
RIP Ken Osmond.
My don't you look lovely Mrs cleaver
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