What Was Ken Osmond's Net Worth When He Died?
Leave It to Beaver star Ken Osmond died at age 76 on May 18, 2020, The New York Times reported. One of his two sons, Eric, said the cause of death was due to "complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and peripheral arterial disease," according to the outlet.
Osmond, who played the character of Eddie Haskell, Wally Cleaver's (Tony Dow) mischievous friend, joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1970 after struggling to find work after Leave It to Beaver ended in 1963, citing typecasting as the issue. However, he did pick up a few roles during this time, starring on shows like Lassie and The Munsters, to name a few projects.
After 18 years in the police force and a life-threatening incident in which he survived being shot three times, Osmond retired in 1988. "After his successful run on one of the most popular shows of all time, he chose to protect and to serve the residents of Los Angeles, and I'm proud to have been able to call him a law enforcement partner," LAPD Chief Michel Moore told The Hollywood Reporter.
Not only did Osmond serve the LA community after his successful stint as Eddie, but he also co-authored a book and revived his acting career midway through his life. The California native's impressive work ethic earned him a sizable net worth, which we explore below.
Ken Osmond never stopped working
Ken Osmond was a family man, doing whatever he could to support his family. It's why he left acting, telling radio host Stu Shostak in an interview (via The Los Angeles Times), "It's a death sentence. In Hollywood, you get typecast. I'm not complaining because Eddie's been too good to me, but I found work hard to come by. In 1968, I bought my first house, in '69 I got married, and we were going to start a family and I needed a job, so I went out and signed up for the LAPD."
Osmond's hard work paid off, as he had amassed $1.5 million in the bank, per Celebrity Net Worth. Some of Osmond's accomplishments include his 2014 memoir, Eddie: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy, and reprising his role of Eddie for the made-for-television movie, Still the Beaver. The film led to the sitcom, The New Leave It to Beaver, which ran from 1984 to 1989. It followed the lives of Wally, Eddie, and Theodore as adults with families of their own. Osmond's real-life sons played his kids on the series.
Osmond was proud of how his life turned out, stating, per THR, "So much of the industry, you read about ex-child actors who got into dope, or he was arrested trying to rob a liquor store. You've never read anything about anyone associated with Leave It to Beaver in a negative light. We just had a real family."
Ken Osmond didn't waste his money
Not only was Ken Osmond an incredibly hard worker, but he also had a practical approach to finances. Osmond discussed this trait in a 2015 interview with Hartford Books Examiner, explaining (via Genesis Creations Entertainment), "What kept me from falling into the 'dark side' of the industry as you say, came down to what it always does for people: I had great parents, and they trained me well and instilled great values in me. They also taught me common sense about money and that I couldn't count on the good fortune of doing a show forever." He added, "Therefore, I never spent money I didn't have and didn't end up destitute like other child actors."
The actor also debunked the idea that he made a ton of money off Leave It to Beaver. "These were the days when we got residuals for only six reruns – then we were done," he said. "By 1966, none of us were getting a dime more for doing the series. It's also not glamorous. Sure, you have moments where you do appearances and people recognize you and you get fan letters, but that's after you've put in long days rehearsing, filming, and for us kids – going to school on the set."
It sounds like Osmond understood the value of a dollar, which can be rare in Hollywood.
Ken Osmond deeply loved the life he had created for himself
After years of hard work, Ken Osmond spent the latter part of his life enjoying the beautiful life had built for himself. "I like being retired," he told the Los Angeles Daily News in 2009. Osmond revealed that he spent a lot of his time at the American Legion Post 520 in Sun Valley, Calif. "It's something structured for me," he told the outlet. "I love this place and the guys in it. It's a social club that does a lot of good work for other vets down on their luck or sick and lonely ones over at Sepulveda VA."
When asked about his two sons, he gushed, "They're great kids, never get in any trouble like Eddie did."
Osmond's eldest child, Eric, had nothing but great things to say about his late dad. "He was incredibly kind and [a] wonderful father," Eric said in a statement obtained by Variety. "He had his family gathered around him when he passed. He was loved and will be very missed."