Eugene Hugh Beaumont (February 16, 1909 â€" May 14, 1982) was an
American actor, television director, and writer. Beaumont is best
known for his portrayals of Ward Cleaver on the television series
Leave It to Beaver, originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963; and as
private detective Michael Shayne in a series of low-budget crime films
between 1946 and 1947.Beaumont was born in Lawrence, Kansas. His
parents were Ethel Adaline Whitney and Edward H. Beaumont, a traveling
salesman whose profession kept the family on the move. After
graduating from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the
class of 1930, he attended the University of Chattanooga, where he
played football. He later studied at the University of Southern
California and graduated with a master of theology degree in
1946.Beaumont began his career in show business in 1931 by performing
in theaters, nightclubs, and radio. He began acting in motion pictures
in 1940, appearing in over three dozen films. Many of those roles were
bit parts and minor roles and were not credited. He often worked with
the actor William Bendix. In 1946â€"47, Beaumont starred in five films
as the private detective Michael Shayne, taking over the role from
Lloyd Nolan. In 1950 he also narrated the short film A Date with Your
Family. In the early 1950s, Beaumont secured work in television, often
playing guest roles on series such as Adventures of Superman, City
Detective, Crossroads, Fireside Theatre, Ford Theatre, The Lone
Ranger, Medic, The Millionaire, and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. From
1951 to 1953, Beaumont was the narrator of the Reed Hadley series
Racket Squad, based on the cases of a fictional detective, Captain
John Braddock, in San Francisco. In 1954 and 1955, Beaumont appeared
in Hadley's second series The Public Defender, appearing in three
episodes as Ed McGrath. That same year, he also was guest starred in
the Lassie episode "The Well", one of the first two episodes filmed as
pilots for the new series. He also portrayed a sympathetic
characterization of the Western bandit Jesse James on the series Tales
of Wells Fargo.In September 1957, Beaumont was selected to replace Max
Showalter in the role of wise small-town father Ward Cleaver on the
sitcom Leave It to Beaver. After initially airing to tepid ratings on
CBS, the series moved to ABC for its second season, where the series
received more solid ratings. Beginning with the third season, Beaumont
began directing several episodes; this included the series' final
episode "Family Scrapbook", often considered the first traditional
series finale. In 2014, TV Guide ranked Beaumont's portrayal of
Cleaver at number 28 on its list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All
Time".
American actor, television director, and writer. Beaumont is best
known for his portrayals of Ward Cleaver on the television series
Leave It to Beaver, originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963; and as
private detective Michael Shayne in a series of low-budget crime films
between 1946 and 1947.Beaumont was born in Lawrence, Kansas. His
parents were Ethel Adaline Whitney and Edward H. Beaumont, a traveling
salesman whose profession kept the family on the move. After
graduating from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the
class of 1930, he attended the University of Chattanooga, where he
played football. He later studied at the University of Southern
California and graduated with a master of theology degree in
1946.Beaumont began his career in show business in 1931 by performing
in theaters, nightclubs, and radio. He began acting in motion pictures
in 1940, appearing in over three dozen films. Many of those roles were
bit parts and minor roles and were not credited. He often worked with
the actor William Bendix. In 1946â€"47, Beaumont starred in five films
as the private detective Michael Shayne, taking over the role from
Lloyd Nolan. In 1950 he also narrated the short film A Date with Your
Family. In the early 1950s, Beaumont secured work in television, often
playing guest roles on series such as Adventures of Superman, City
Detective, Crossroads, Fireside Theatre, Ford Theatre, The Lone
Ranger, Medic, The Millionaire, and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. From
1951 to 1953, Beaumont was the narrator of the Reed Hadley series
Racket Squad, based on the cases of a fictional detective, Captain
John Braddock, in San Francisco. In 1954 and 1955, Beaumont appeared
in Hadley's second series The Public Defender, appearing in three
episodes as Ed McGrath. That same year, he also was guest starred in
the Lassie episode "The Well", one of the first two episodes filmed as
pilots for the new series. He also portrayed a sympathetic
characterization of the Western bandit Jesse James on the series Tales
of Wells Fargo.In September 1957, Beaumont was selected to replace Max
Showalter in the role of wise small-town father Ward Cleaver on the
sitcom Leave It to Beaver. After initially airing to tepid ratings on
CBS, the series moved to ABC for its second season, where the series
received more solid ratings. Beginning with the third season, Beaumont
began directing several episodes; this included the series' final
episode "Family Scrapbook", often considered the first traditional
series finale. In 2014, TV Guide ranked Beaumont's portrayal of
Cleaver at number 28 on its list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All
Time".
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