Barbara Billingsley

Actress

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her three-hour interview, Barbara Billingsley (1915-2010) discusses her early film career at MGM. She then talks about her eventual television roles on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Four Star Playhouse, and Matinee Theatre. She also speaks in detail about her work on the series Professional Father and The Brothers – two parts she played before her defining role as "June Cleaver" on the series Leave it to Beaver and The New Leave it to Beaver. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 14, 2000 in Santa Monica, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"People stopped me on the street and said 'I can't live up to you.' Of course, they're referring to 'June Cleaver.' Barbara Billingsley is more apt to wear jeans and things like that."

People Talking About ...

Barbara Billingsley

Highlights

Barbara Billingsley on well-known aspects of Leave it to Beaver and her character, "June Cleaver"

10:41

Barbara Billingsley on some classic episodes of Leave it to Beaver

06:08

Barbara Billingsley on "June Cleaver's" high heels and pearls

01:07

Barbara Billingsley on her role in "Airplane" as the jive-speaking woman

02:59

Barbara Billinglsey on how she would like to be remembered

03:39

Barbara Billingsley on being cast for the pilot of Leave it to Beaver, "It's A Small World" which aired as a teleplay on the anthology series Studio 57

04:29

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early years growing up in Los Angeles; on her education and interest in theater

On being signed to a contract with MGM and her early impressions of television

On her first television work on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and Four Star Theater

Chapter 2

On her early television roles on Four Star Playhouse, Matinee Theatre, and Climax!

On her regular role on Professional Father

On her role on The Brothers and her tryout for a permanent role on Make Room for Daddy

On being cast for the pilot of Leave it to Beaver, "It's A Small World" which aired as a teleplay on the anthology series Studio 57

Chapter 3

On playing June Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver, including many production and cast details

On working with the young actors on Leave it to Beaver

Chapter 4

On working with Richard Deacon, and Leave it to Beaver producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

On Leave it to Beaver storylines, the town of "Mayfield," and some of the shows writers and producers

On some classic episodes of Leave it to Beaver

Chapter 5

On the first episode of Leave it to Beaver and having the distinction of being in every episode of the series; on the show going off the air; on her role in "Airplane" as the jive-speaking woman

On starring on The New Leave it to Beaver; on guest-starring on the Mork & Mindy episode "Cheerleader in Chains"; on voicing "Nanny" on Jim Henson's Muppet Babies; on guest-starring on the Amazing Stories episode "The Remote Control Man"

Chapter 6

On some of her guest appearances in films and television series and her thoughts on the Leave it to Beaver feature film

On her advice to aspiring actors; her family; on the legacy of Leave it to Beaver; on how she would like to be remembered

Chapter 7

On b-roll photos from her career

Shows

Amazing Stories

Barbara Billingsley on guest-starring on the Amazing Stories episode "The Remote Control Man"

00:58

Climax!

Barbara Billingsley on working on a Climax! teleplay "The Thirteenth Chair" with Ethel Barrymore

01:29

Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy

Barbara Billingsley on guesting on Make Room for Daddy in the episode "Danny's Date" (airdate: January 14, 1957) as a tryout for the role of his new wife

01:00

Empty Nest

Barbara Billingsley on her guest appearance on Empty Nest episode "My Nurse is Back and There's Gonna Be Trouble" (airdate: December 14, 1991)

01:03

Four Star Playhouse

Barbara Billingsley on her work on Four Star Playhouse

01:48

Jim Henson's Muppet Babies

Barbara Billingsley on voicing "Nanny" on Jim Henson's Muppet Babies

03:23

Leave it to Beaver

Barbara Billingsley on being cast for the pilot of Leave it to Beaver, "It's A Small World" which aired as a teleplay on the anthology series Studio 57

04:25

Barbara Billingsley on well-known aspects of Leave it to Beaver and her character, "June Cleaver"

10:41

Barbara Billingsley on working with Hugh Beaumont on Leave it to Beaver

03:20

Barbara Billingsley on the character of "Beaver Cleaver" and working with Jerry Mathers on Leave it to Beaver

03:29

Barbara Billingsley on working with some of the younger actors on Leave it to Beaver

09:09

Barbara Billingsley on Leave it to Beaver producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

06:39

Barbara Billingsley on Leave it to Beaver storylines, the town of "Mayfield," and some of the shows writers and producers

14:50

Barbara Billingsley on some classic episodes of Leave it to Beaver

06:07

Barbara Billingsley on the first episode of Leave it to Beaver and having the distinction of being in every episode of the series

08:53

Mork & Mindy

Barbara Billingsley on guest starring on the Mork & Mindy episode "Cheerleader in Chains"

00:34

Murphy Brown

Barbara Billingsley on her guest appearance on the Murphy Brown episode "Crime Story"

00:45

NBC Matinee Theater

Barbara Billingsley on appearing on Matinee Theatre live broadcasts

03:04

New Leave it to Beaver, The

Barbara Billingsley on reprising her role as "June Cleaver" on The New Leave it to Beaver (aka Still the Beaver)

08:27

Professional Father

Barbara Billingsley on co-starring on Professional Father, her first series role

03:27

Roseanne

Barbara Billingsley on guesting on the Roseanne episode "All About Rose"

01:29

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse

Barbara Billingsley on her work on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

06:39

Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The

Barbara Billingsley on guesting on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

01:12

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

Barbara Billingsley on "June Cleaver's" high heels and pearls

01:06

Hollywood Blacklist

Barbara Billingsley on the Hollywood Blacklist

01:35

Industry Crossroads

Barbara Billingsley on the Hollywood Blacklist

01:35

Pop Culture

Barbara Billingsley on "June Cleaver's" high heels and pearls

01:06

Television Industry

Barbara Billingsley on the Hollywood Blacklist

01:35

Professions

Performer

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Barbara Billingsley on her advice to aspiring performers

02:37

Performers

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Barbara Billingsley on her advice to aspiring performers

02:37

Genres

Animation

Barbara Billingsley on voicing "Nanny" on Jim Henson's Muppet Babies

03:23

Comedy Series

Barbara Billingsley on the legacy of Leave it to Beaver

03:10

People

Frank Bank

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Barbara Billingsley on working with the young actors on Leave it to Beaver

08:09

Ethel Barrymore

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Barbara Billingsley on working on a Climax! teleplay "The Thirteenth Chair" with Ethel Barrymore

01:29

Hugh Beaumont

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Barbara Billingsley on being cast for the pilot of Leave it to Beaver, "It's A Small World" which aired as a teleplay on the anthology series Studio 57

04:25

Barbara Billingsley on working with Hugh Beaumont on Leave it to Beaver

03:19

Candice Bergen

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Barbara Billingsley on her guest appearance on the Murphy Brown episode "Crime Story"

00:45

Joe Connelly

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Barbara Billingsley on Leave it to Beaver producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

06:39

Richard Deacon

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Barbara Billingsley on Leave it to Beaver castmember Richard Deacon

00:40

Tony Dow

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Barbara Billingsley on working with the young actors on Leave it to Beaver

08:09

Stanley Fafara

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Barbara Billingsley on working with the young actors on Leave it to Beaver

08:09

Katharine Hepburn

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Barbara Billingsley on working with Katharine Hepburn while under contract with MGM

01:07

Jay Leno

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Barbara Billingsley on guesting on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

01:14

Jerry Mathers

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Barbara Billingsley on being cast for the pilot of Leave it to Beaver, "It's A Small World" which aired as a teleplay on the anthology series Studio 57

04:25

Barbara Billingsley on the character of "Beaver Cleaver" and working with Jerry Mathers on Leave it to Beaver

03:29

Bob Mosher

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Barbara Billingsley on Leave it to Beaver producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

06:39

Ken Osmond

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Barbara Billingsley on working with the young actors on Leave it to Beaver

08:09

William Self

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Barbara Billingsley on her work on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, produced by William Self

06:48

Rod Serling

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Barbara Billingsley briefly on her friendship with Rod Serling

01:14

Max Showalter

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Barbara Billingsley on being cast for the pilot of Leave it to Beaver, "It's A Small World" which aired as a teleplay on the anthology series Studio 57

04:25