I miss MADGE BLAKE... Not only did she play Larry Mondello's mother, but she was my wonderful GRANDMOTHER in REAL LIFE...🙏🙏

Any episode with Larry Mondello is a classic. Nobody got into trouble with the regularity and hilarity that Larry Mondello did.

The interactions between Larry and Beaver were priceless. Funny as hell.

I’m 71 and I still love Leave it to Beaver.

Larry and Beaver got into trouble on every episode. They really complemented each other. Great show!

The first three seasons of Leave It to Beaver are by far the best episodes, in large part because of Larry Mondello (Rusty Stevens). He was the perfect child actor to cast as Beaver's best friend. What great chemistry they had-always getting into mischief together! And Rusty was so natural and credible/believable in that role, which is very surprising when you consider that he had zero acting experience before he was "discovered" by the show's casting director! The Larry Mondello character reminds me of several kids I was friends with, especially during my elementary-school years. As others have said, Leave It to Beaver was never the same after he just up and vanished after the early episodes of season 4 (a.k.a. "the season when everything changed," from Larry's departure to Beaver's voice to mean old Judy Hensler being replaced by Penny Woods). While I'm certainly happy for Rusty that God spared him from the devastating effects that show business has on most child actors, I only wish he had completed all six seasons of Leave It to Beaver, which he could have done, seeing as how his family didn't leave California/Hollywood until after the series ended in 1963.

I liked Larry a lot. He was quite the character and I am pleased to hear he's happy today with his family.

When Larry invited Beaver to the carnival but he didn’t have any money because he already used up his allowance so he stole money from his mother’s sewing box and tossed it out the window and then convinced Beaver upon finding the money that it fell out of a pilot’s pocket while flying upside down over the area. 😂😂😂

I loved the show. It was so natural and true to things kids would say and do. Some people say these old shows weren’t realistic, but I think they were very accurate in many ways.

Such a natural child actor. Looking back at his work on the show now must seem almost like watching home movies for Rusty these days. It must make him feel really good to know how much the fans love Larry Mondello.

Thank you for telling the real story. As one who grew up with "Leave It To Beaver" from its start (and who still enjoys an occasional episode), I'm glad Rusty/"Larry" lived a relatively normal life and apparently has found a measure of happiness. Great memories! Thanks again

I still watch “ Leave it to Beaver” in the mornings on “METV”… Larry is so funny. I love the show.

Larry was certainly one of the best characters on the show.

The show was never the same after Larry left as a character. None of his replacements came close. He truly was one of a kind.

Leave it to Larry....to be the smart one and escape the evils of Hollywood

I totally believe him and his parents did the right thing look how great his life turned out and he is happy unlike most child stars.

Sometimes we all need a break from things. Glad to hear he is doing well. I wish him all the best.

For Fans Of Entertainment Trivia ~ This Channel IS Right On!!

Being a kid in the 60's and watching Larry Mondello interacting with Theodore Cleaver was a good day.

There isn't a day goes by my hubby & I don't watch at least 3 or 4 episodes. I'll never stop watching. Love all the characters.😁❤️

He was such a great character. I love watching LITB, and especially the episodes with Larry. He was always talking Beaver into stupid stuff ! So funny.

I loved little Larry Mondelo...to me, he kind of made the show! Always wondered what happened to him, now I know. Great video, thank you for sharing!!

When you have a friend like Larry life is good.

I grew up watching this show and Larry was I think my favorite character. It cracked me up because a lot of times he'd say his mother hit him because he called his sister an ugly toad. LOL!

larry had perfect comedic timing he was a natural.

Loved that show.Miss the old shows so bad They were so much better than what is out there now.😞

Just loved the show….born in 1954, it was a part of my “childhood TV friends.”…Wally, The Beaver, Eddie Haskell, Lumpy, Larry, Gilbert….Barbara Billingsley was everybody’s favorite mom……I still watch it today….”Best Era in America.”….. Ken Ormond playing “Eddie Haskell” was probably the greatest character actor in TV history…he never received the recognition he truly deserved…..

I loved the comedy between Rusty and Madge Blake. They were both hilarious. I wanted more episodes with those two in them.

Larry was quite a pal to the Beav. A true and genuine friend. Out of all of Beavers other chums good ol, Larry Mondello, played by Rusty Stevens, will always be number 1 with me. Great to hang out with and goof around with.

The show I liked best, was when Larry needed some money, so he tossed the coin jar out into the front yard, so that he and Beaver could "find it". Larry's explanation to Beaver: an airplane dude must have been flying upside down, and the money fell out of his pockets, and onto Larry's yard.

Larry was very funny on the show. he and his really old mom always talked about Larry would get it when his dad came home from Cincinnati. one of the episodes i like is when Larry ran away from home and ended up hiding in Beaver's bathtub and comedy ensues.

What a nice happy ending for a child star. He got to sample the life of a child star, and also experience a real, normal life, and turned out happy and well adjusted. Thanks for the entertainment, Rusty.

One of the weirdest moments I remember is Larry walking down the sidewalk singing the Mills Brothers' "You always Hurt the One You Love" for no apparent reason.

Rusty was lucky to have not remained heavy through adulthood. I was expecting him to look like Chris Farley.

Rusty Stevens was well paired with Madge Blake who played the part of his mother.The two brought the LITB fans great entertainment with their awesome chemistry . Thanks for sharing the Rusty story.

This is a great video because I didn't know any of these insider details. I was only 8-9 when I watched the Beaver afternoon reruns from '65-'66. So I love knowing all these things now, but was happy being blissfully ignorant as a child. Thanks Dave.

He was a hell of an actor. Watch his acting critically and his skills show through. He was outstanding.

Thanks for getting right to the topic posted! So many you-tubers feel the need to chat endlessly about themselves and their channel b4 getting to the point.

Thanks, Dave. I posted to the LTB Facebook group.

Hugh Beaumont met Jerry Matters while shooting a commercial for prepaid funeral homes in which Jerry played his son. Hugh happened to mention to Jerry's mom that he was having a hard time getting work and was about to give up acting. Jerry's mother told him that Jerry had just been hired to shoot a pilot and that they were looking for someone to play the father. Not knowing about this conversation Jerry went home that night and prayed that Hugh would be hired to play his father. Hugh was given an audition and wound up getting the part.

Being a child actor seems like a pretty miserable thing, based on so many stories of so many former child stars. But I’m glad to hear one of them escaped and was not pushed beyond reason by his parents.

Still really enjoy watching reruns of this show on MeTV. Larry Mondello was a hoot! 😀😀😀 I loved the quirky humor he brought to the show!!😀👍👍

My favorite show of all time, makes me wish I lived in that era. They had their problems but the evil didn't show as much as it flaunts itself today. I refuse to watch most everything on tv nowadays and will probably never watch another movie from Hollywood unless it stars or directed by Eastwood :( such a shame :( God help this world!

I still watch that show! I laugh when I do😆

My mother said at the time that he was written out because his talent made everybody else look less stellar. Maybe not the reason but he definitely did a good job. Thanks for the information.

I am glad you bring this topic back for us...

I always loved Madge Blake who played Mrs Mondello. Great story about her. Later she played the housekeeper on the Batman tv show. When the producers wanted to let her go Adam West convinced them to let her stay. When he came to work the next day there was a chocolate cake waiting for him that she baked as a thank you!!!’

Good job, Rusty, and thank you for your contribution to making LITB so great.

That kid I remember when I was little got Beaver in trouble all the time! I am Very Happy that he has a normal life and he’s Very Special I think Thank You for serving our country!You Really did do the Right and bet you made many buddies in the service and hope you keep in touch with them My Dad was in WW2 and kept in touch with his until he died in 2004 at 87!

I've seen Rusty in a late 1962 appearance as an orphan on WAGON TRAIN. Billy Mumy & Tommy Nolan played other orphans with him, Art Linkletter played the man taking care of them, and Nancy Davis Reagan, about 4 years from becoming CA First Lady, played a woman who opts to help take care of the brood at the end. Rusty also appeared on a RIFLEMAN episode from early 1963, so he was still acting on occasion, even if not as Larry anymore.

I loved Larry, and loved getting mad at him for getting the Beav in trouble. He left a hole in that show that was never quite filled. Glad he grew up happy and am thankful to him for serving our country as well.

LITB is the best of "the good stuff!" My all-time fav TV show. Thank you Dave for your many interesting vids about LITB, and also for your kind way of presenting them.🙂

What a natural...real witty character...seemed so lifelike!

Just discovered your videos! Love this one a LOT, along with lots of other nostalgic shows (especially from the 50s and 60s). I even got my kids watching Leave it to Beaver about this six or seven years ago when they were in their early teens and they actually loved it! Larry...probably the best character outside the Cleaver family! (Well, and his mom, Mrs. Mondello!) You're right, he was SO real, and every time he shows up, I smile. Just watched part of the reunion movie this evening, Still the Beaver, made in 1983 and Rusty (Larry) actually made an appearance! Looking forward to catching up with some of your other nostalgic videos!

Interesting story. I have just started watching the show's reruns with my mom. Larry's mom was played by Madge Blake, who, in the same period of time, also played Amos McCoy's friend Flora McMichael on The Real McCoys

Great video. Always the best way to get the true story is form the own persons mouth. Thanks so much For doing this on your channel. All of your fans love the history and knowledge

Larry and his mother. Were my two favorite characters on the show.

Thank you for your service “Rusty”

Thanks, Dave, wonderful update on a character I liked and forgot about thru the years!

my family and i started watching the show from the beginning in the late 50's and all through it's run. i still watch it today and it has really held up. a couple of years ago we took my nephew to a comicon fest in the boston area and i met the beaver and wally who are now in their 70's like me and they were really friendly and nice nice to talk to.

God bless you, Rusty. You certainly made me laugh -- a whole lot. No better contribution made to life than that!

Rusty Stevens....what a natural....an incredible child actor...one of the best!

As a 70's kid growing up, I watched reruns and loved the show! I think of you as an American legend! And Thank You for your service!

He always used to say " I almost got hurt where I was gonna have my operation"!!! LOL 😆 🤣 😂 😹

Thanks for the TRUE story Mr. Dave! I think when it came right down to it, Rusty like so many other actors, just couldn't handle the Hollywood treadmill. It's totally understandable, especially for a child actor. I think the same could be said for Patty Duke. Except her mom MADE her stay, while Rusty's mom let him go. He just wanted to be Rusty, not Larry!

Larry Mondello played by Rusty Stevens. His first appearance is Beaver’s Short Pants (season 1, episode 11) in January 1958, and his last appearance is Mother’s Day Competition (Season 3, episode 31) in May 1960.

We love you Rusty 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 I used to watch the reruns there was not another show like it ever in my view 😎🙏🏾

I thought Larry was a great sidekick for Beaver. They got each other in and out of trouble just like real kids. His last word to his pal: "Boy, are you gonna get it, Beaver!"

Wasn't his father always away on business in Ohio? He also always had an apple in his pocket in case he was hungry!

Rusty certainly played the character well. His facial expressions, mannerisms and reactions to situations he would get himself into as a silly kid were so natural and spot on. The show really did have an outstanding supporting cast. Larry, Lumpy, Eddie, Whitey, Gilbert, Richard and Fred Rutherford. They were all great! 😂

Good for his parents to put their sons happiness ahead of the money he was making

YESSSS THANK YOU. THIS FAN IS SO VERY HAPPY TO FINALLY KNOW MR. ROBERT “RUSTY” STEVENS IS WELL AND ENJOYING HIS LIFE. I TOTALLY GET WHY AS A KID HE HAD HAD ENOUGH. Like Larry once said in an episode about a stolen row boat at Friend’s Lake “Why go where there’s trouble?” Thumbs Up 👍 of course.

I always felt a little sorry for Larry. I knew a kid in elementary school like Larry, a little overweight, socially awkward, and I was probably his only friend. The teacher didn't like him either. He spent most of the year in the back corner of the classroom making weird noises. Funny how some TV characters can reflect real life.

Larry was my favorite on the show. I loved his personality.

😷😷 Practicing safe commenting....Rusty was in an episode of the Rifleman doing Halloween pranks with Johnny Crawford

Rusty did Ok when he decided to leave Holly wood because most child actors don't live a normal life. He did what was right for him because child actors at times miss school because of their job. He saw what was the most important thing in his life.

I loved the episode where Larry convinced the Beaver to climb that Billboard to see if there was real soup in the imaginary pot.

Awesome. You have a great inflection in describing the show I still love.

We love these shows. In fact we ordered a box set of all the seasons on dvd.

I'm glad to hear that he is doing great !

I still love this show and watch it daily on MeTV and Peacock.

I liked the fact that Larry's father was always out of town. I lived in one neighborhood for six years and one guy's father was out of town so much that I never saw him----not once!

Great information - I saw an interview with the actor (Robert) who played Larry Mondello. He did say he told his parents he missed being at a public school, along with his family & friends....Which was the reason he left the show.....

Thanks for info Dave. Everyone Stay Safe ‼️

Thank you for you service Rusty.

Larry and his mom should have had their own show. That boy could get into some shit and drive his poor mom crazy. The plots would be limitless.

Larry is what is known in the acting world as "a survivor." He gained great fame but got out young enough so he could live a real life.

I liked leave it to beaver but I wasn't a huge fan. But I remember it was a great wholesome family show we need more of those today

Ty so much for this feel good video

Having grown up and being just a little older than the beaver himself I can attest that this show was pretty accurate at least concerning the way I grew up the neighborhoods I lived it and the things we did. There are even mothers that were pearls when they did housework. This all seem to change after John Kennedy was killed. Society really fluxed and I moved on. It was a Halcyon time and I’m glad I lived it. Thanks for posting this day I always loved Larry.

We still injoy the show to this day. Thank you for this 😎

This was very enjoyable! Thank you!

My mother grew up with this show. I too watched this show in the eighties on KTLA channel five. It now comes on Coze along with some other old shows.

There was a rumor, not long after the movie "Animal House" came out, that Stephen Furst, the actor who played Flounder, was the same actor that played Larry Mondello on LiTB. This was long before the internet, so it was much harder to verify, but it seemed plausible at the time.

My fave episodes were the ones with Eddie and Larry.

One of the FUNNIEST episodes was when Larry convinced little Benji from across the street that he turned Beaver into a rock! I would loved to have been present when the writers pitched that idea!

Thanks for your service Rusty.👍

Had to come back and watch, this. Larry Mondelo was a great character on the show.

I’ve been watching Leave it to Beaver a lot these past couple of weeks and I’m really enjoying it. It brings back such fond memories for me. Larry was adorable in the series and Beaver always gave in, lol. I heard all of those stories too about his leaving. I will never believe that Barbara Billingsley lied about why he left the show but as you say, you never know what his parents did to get him out of his contract and the truth may have been distorted. All in all, he did a great job on the show and I am so happy to hear that he is leading a happy life! Thanks for a great video Dave! No onto whatever happened to Judy Hensley! She was such a character!😂

Thanks for this, I am watching the series right now and really wondered where he went!