Hugh Beaumont Explained

Hugh Beaumont
Birthname:Eugene Hugh Beaumont
Birth Date:February 16, 1910[1] [2]
Birth Place:Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
Death Date:May 14, 1982 (aged 72)
Education:University of Chattanooga (Bachelor of Arts)
University of Southern California (Master of Theology)
Death Place:Munich, West Germany
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1940–1972
Children:3

Eugene Hugh Beaumont (February 16, 1910 – May 14, 1982) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal 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 in 1946 and 1947.[3]

Early life

Beaumont was born in Lawrence, Kansas,[4] to 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.[5] He later studied at the University of Southern California and graduated with a master's degree in theology in 1946.[6]

Career

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 actor William Bendix; they had prominent roles in the 1946 film noir The Blue Dahlia, playing the friends of star Alan Ladd's character. In 1946–1947, Beaumont starred in five films as private detective Michael Shayne, assuming the role from Lloyd Nolan. In 1950, he narrated the short film A Date with Your Family. He also starred in The Mole People in 1956. [7]

In the early 1950s, Beaumont secured television work, often with 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, he narrated the Reed Hadley series Racket Squad, based on the cases of fictional detective Captain John Braddock in San Francisco. In 1954 and 1955, Beaumont appeared in The Public Defender, Hadley's second series, appearing in three episodes as Ed McGrath. That year, he guest-starred in the Lassie episode "The Well", one of two episodes filmed as pilots for the 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, who had appeared as Ward Cleaver in "It's a Small World", the original pilot for the sitcom Leave It to Beaver, in the role of wise small-town father Ward Cleaver. After initially airing to tepid ratings on CBS, the series moved to ABC for its second season, where it achieved more solid ratings. Beginning with the third season, Beaumont began directing several episodes; including the series' final episode "Family Scrapbook", often considered the first series finale.

In 2014, TV Guide ranked Beaumont's portrayal of Ward Cleaver at number 28 on its list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time".[8]

In 1959, before production on the third season of Leave It to Beaver began, Beaumont's wife, son, and mother-in-law were driving from Minnesota to Hollywood to visit when a car accident killed Beaumont's mother-in-law and severely injured his son.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  2. News: Today's Birthdays . 19 May 2023 . The Capital Times . February 16, 2002 . 13 . en.
  3. https://catalog.afi.com/Person/71645-Hugh-Beaumont?isMiscCredit=False "Hugh Beaumont"
  4. Web site: Google News Archive. Lawrence Journal World 2/9/1937.
  5. Web site: Remembering Some Famous Chattanoogans. chattanoogan.com. 2009-01-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20090201235603/http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article_116529.asp. 2009-02-01. dead.
  6. Web site: Murray . Noel . Leave It To Beaver, "The Last Day Of School" . The A.V. Club . 9 June 2011 . G/O Media . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204231113/https://www.avclub.com/leave-it-to-beaver-the-last-day-of-school-1798226148 . 4 February 2023.
  7. Book: Weiner, Robert G.. Barba, Shelley E. . In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000: Essays on Film, Fandom, Technology and the Culture of Riffing. 4 March 2011. McFarland. 978-0-7864-8572-7. 148–.
  8. Web site: TV Guide's '50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time'. TVWeek. Dexter Canfield Media, Inc.. Sherman Oaks, California. January 3, 2014. January 8, 2019.
  9. Book: Mathers, Jerry. Jerry Mathers

    . Jerry Mathers. ...And Jerry Mathers as The Beaver. Berkley Boulevard Books. New York City. 1998. 0425163709.)

  10. News: Hugh Beaumont, Actor Dies. UPI. The New York Times. May 16, 1982. December 5, 2017.
  11. News: News Briefs. The Daily Reporter. International News Service. April 14, 1941. Indiana, Greenfield. 4. Newspapers.com. October 29, 2016.
  12. "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984", Kathryn E. [Hohn] from Eugene H. Beaumont, May 1974, Los Angeles, California; Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. FamilySearch, archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  13. News: HUGH BEAUMONT, ACTOR, DIES . 23 October 2022 . New York Times . May 16, 1982 . Section 1, page 44.
  14. Book: Applebaum, Irwyn . The World According to Beaver . 1998 . . 978-1-57500-052-7 . 18, 312.
  15. Web site: Mathers. Jerry. My wonderful friend and mentor, Hugh Beaumont. September 23, 2020. February 14, 2016. "Hugh Beaumont, because of his religious views as an ordained Methodist minister, was a conscientious objector. However, he did serve in WW II as an army medic.".
  16. Urazbakieva . S. V. . 1975 . [Determination of lysozyme in blood serum by the method of diffusion in agar] ]. Zdravookhranenie Kirgizii . 5 . 42–44 . 0132-8867 . 1941.
  17. "Minnesota, Brown County, Obituaries, 1855-1990", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B35S-3SBY?cc=4328761 : 18 July 2022), > image 1 of 1. Jerry Mathers later stated that the tragedy seriously affected Beaumont's participation in the production, with Beaumont often just "walking through" his part.[9]

    After Leave It to Beaver ended production in 1963, Beaumont appeared in many community theater productions and played a few guest roles on television series such as Marcus Welby, M.D., Mannix, Petticoat Junction, The Virginian, and Wagon Train. In February 1966, he made another appearance on Lassie, 11 years after his first.

    He also continued to have success as a writer, selling several television screenplays and radio scripts as well as short stories to various magazines.[10] He gradually left the entertainment business, launching a second career as a Christmas-tree farmer in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. After suffering a debilitating stroke in 1970, Beaumont officially retired from acting in 1972. In 1980, he did appear in a Beaver reunion with the rest of the cast that was conducted by a local Los Angeles TV station.

    Personal life and death

    On April 13, 1941, Beaumont wed actress Kathryn Adams (née Hohn) at the Hollywood Congregational Church.[11] They had sons Hunter and Mark, and daughter Kristy. Their union lasted 33 years, until their divorce in 1974.[12]

    Beaumont was a lay minister in the Methodist Church.[13] During World War II, he was a conscientious objector and served as a medic.[14] [15]

    On May 14, 1982, Beaumont died of a heart attack while visiting his son Hunter, a psychologist, in Munich, West Germany. He was 72 years old. His body was cremated, and the ashes scattered on the then family-owned Balgillo Island (informally known when Beaumont owned it as "Beaumont Island") on Lake Wabana, near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The 1983 television film Still the Beaver was dedicated to him.

    Filmography

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1940 Phantom Raiders Seaman uncredited
    Southern Racketeeruncredited
    1941South of Panama Paul Martin
    Sound Manuncredited
    Private Nurse McDonalduncredited
    Unfinished Business Hugh, the Bridegroomuncredited
    Forbidden PassageClementspart of the Crime Does Not Pay series
    Week-End in Havana Clipper Officeruncredited
    1942 Right to the Heart Willie Donovan
    Unseen Enemy Narrator
    Young America G-Man
    Canal ZoneRadio Operatoruncredited
    To the Shores of Tripoli Orderlyuncredited
    Officeruncredited
    Gang BustersAnnouncer and voice on office radiouncredited
    Top SergeantRadio Newscaster[16] uncredited voice
    Flight Lieutenant John McGinnisuncredited
    Wake IslandCaptainuncredited
    Northwest Rangers Warren - Mountie who finds Fowler's bodyuncredited
    1943 Flight for Freedom Flight Instructoruncredited
    He Hired the Boss Jordan
    Bombardier Soldieruncredited
    Du Barry Was a Lady Footmanuncredited
    Good Luck, Mr. Yates Adjutantuncredited
    Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event George Sharpe
    Salute to the Marines Sergeant uncredited
    Otto Skaas
    Gregory Ward
    There's Something About a Soldier Lt. Martin
    1944 "Irish" Duffy
    Aide to Admiral Hart in Surabaya
    Song of the Open RoadJohn Moranuncredited
    Mr. Winkle Goes to WarRanger Officeruncredited
    Truck Driveruncredited
    I Love a Soldier John Moranuncredited
    Strange Affair Detective Careyuncredited
    They Live in FearInstructoruncredited
    Practically YoursFilm-Cutteruncredited
    1945 Objective, Burma!Captain Hennesseyuncredited
    Blood on the Sun Johnny Clarke uncredited
    Counter-Attack Russian Lieutenantuncredited
    Larry Craig
    The Blonde from Brooklyn Discharging Lieutenantuncredited
    You Came Along Chaplainuncredited
    Apology for Murder Kenny Blake
    You Came Along Chaplainuncredited
    1946 Murder Is My Business Michael Shayne
    Johnny Comes Flying Home Engineeruncredited
    George Copeland
    Larceny in Her Heart Michael Shayne
    Blonde for a Day
    1947 Frank Merinouncredited
    Three on a Ticket Michael Shayne
    Too Many Winners
    Railroaded! Police Sgt. Mickey Ferguson
    Bury Me Dead Michael Dunn
    1948 Reaching from Heaven Bill Starling
    Money Madness Steve Clark / Freddie Howard
    Phillip Drake
    1949 Tokyo Joe Provost Marshal Majoruncredited
    1950 Second Chance Dr. Emory
    Major Wilson
    1951Target Unknown Coloneluncredited
    Lt. Fenton
    Danger Zone Dennis O'Brien
    Go for Broke! Chaplainuncredited
    Roaring City Denny O'Brien
    Pier 23 Dennis O'Brien
    Home Town Story Bob MacFarlanduncredited
    Savage Drums Bill Fentonuncredited
    Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell Policemanuncredited
    Lost Continent Robert Phillips
    Callaway Went Thataway Mr. Adkins, Attorneyuncredited
    Overland Telegraph Brad Roberts
    1952 Phone Call from a Stranger Dr. Tim Brooks
    Bugles in the Afternoon Lt. Cookeuncredited
    Wild Stallion Capt. Wilmurt
    Washington Story Chaplainuncredited
    Night Without Sleep John Harkness
    Ministeruncredited
    1953Kennerlyuncredited
    225,000 Mile Proving Ground, 1953Narrator/reporter E.D. Gillespie produced by Dudley Pictures for American Association of Railroads
    1955 Hell's HorizonAl Trask
    1956 San Francisco Policemanuncredited
    Dr. Jud Bellamin
    1957 Night Passage Jeff Kurth
    1965 Austin Welles

    Television credits

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1950Harry Hamiltonepisode: "Lady with Ideas"
    1951Harry Hamiltonepisode: "Lady with Ideas"
    1952Dangerous Assignmentvarious rolesepisode: "The Piece of String Story"
    episode: "The Manger Story"
    episode: "The Assassin Ring Story"
    Hopalong CassidyHank Scofieldepisode: "The Feud"
    1952–1953Racket SquadNarrator 33 episodes
    1953Ford TheatreSheriff Burnsepisode: "The Trestle"
    Big TownCarl Kesten / Rodney Mitchellepisode: "The Eliminator"
    Chevron Theatreepisode: "The Worthless Thing"
    The Lone RangerRev. Randy Robertsepisode: "The Godless Men"
    TopperEd Merrillepisode: "The Spinster"
    Adventures of SupermanDan Graysonepisode: "The Big Squeeze"
    Schlitz Playhouse of StarsJohn Harrisepisode: "Vacation for Ginny"
    episode: "Guardian of the Clock"
    The Loretta Young Showwriter
    episode: "The Bronte Story"
    1953–1954Fireside Theatrevarious rolesepisode: "The Traitor"
    episode: "Fight Night"
    1953–1956Four Star Playhousevarious roles6 episodes
    Letter to Lorettavarious roles7 episodes
    1954City Detective Philip Merriamepisode: "The Blonde Orchid"
    WaterfrontRoy Martinepisode: "Backwash"
    Charles Lanskiepisode: "Cop Shooting"
    Studio 57Charles Craneepisode: "Trap Mates"
    Ed McGrathepisode: "Think No Evil"
    Gil Bowmanepisode: "Lost Cause"
    Lux Video TheatreGeorgeepisode: "Call Me Mrs."
    1954–1956Cavalcade of Americavarious rolesepisode: "The Paper Sword"
    episode: "A Time for Courage"
    episode: "The Boy Who Walked to America"
    1955Indian AmericanBrother DavidTV movie
    Ed McGrathepisode: "A Knowledge of Astronomy"
    MedicCol. Will Robertsepisode: "The World So High"
    CrossroadsRev. Clifton R. Pondepisode: "With All My Love"
    Science Fiction TheatreDr. Guy Stantonepisode: "Conversation with an Ape"
    Dr. Porterepisode: "The Walter Carter Story"
    Jeffepisode: "Stake My Life"
    Col. Lander TV movie
    Climax!episode: "The Leaf Out of the Book"
    LassieMr. Saundersepisode: "The Well"
    1956Climax! episode: "Savage Portrait"
    Ford TheatreMarshal Fergusonepisode: "The Silent Strangers"
    Lux Video TheatreLarry episode: "The Unfaithful"
    My Friend FlickaSimmonsepisode: "One Man's Horse"
    episode: "Night Rider"
    G.E. Summer OriginalsMike Herculesepisode: "Alias Mike Hercules" (unsold pilot)
    Matinee Theatre episode: "The 25th Hour"
    Celebrity Playhouseepisode: "Home Is the Soldier"
    1957Meet McGrawClay Farrellepisode: "Border City"
    Tales of Wells Fargo Jesse Jamesepisode: "Jesse James"
    1957–1963Leave It to BeaverWard Cleavermain role; 234 episodes
    directed 23 episodes (1960–63)
    writer of 1 episode (1959)
    1964Wagon TrainJed Halickepisode: "The Pearlie Garnet Story"
    1966LassieJim / Mr. Saundersepisode: "Cradle of the Deep"
    Maguireepisode: "Girl on the Glass Mountain"
    Petticoat JunctionRonnie Beckmanepisode: "Every Bachelor Should Have a Family"
    1967Mr. Donald Elliottepisode: "With This Gown I Thee Wed"
    episode: "Meet the In-Laws"
    1968Maj. James Carltonepisode: "Nora"
    Charles Martinepisode: "With Help from Ulysses"
    MannixFrank Abbottepisode: "To the Swiftest, Death"
    1970Hammondepisode: "The Mouse That Died"
    Mr. Calderepisode: "War of Nerves"
    Medical CenterDr. Simpsonepisode: "Death Grip"
    Marcus Welby, M.D.Jim Wagnerepisode: "The Merely Syndrome"
    1971Dr. Dominickepisode: "The Classic Burial Position"

    Further reading

    • Book: Brooks. Tim. Marsh. Earle. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present. 2007. Ballantine Books. New York, NY. 9780345497734.
    • Book: Mathers, Jerry . Jerry Mathers . And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver . . 1998 . 978-0425163702.

    External links

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