Portrayed by: Ken Osmond
TV series: Leave It to Beaver (1957-63); The New Leave It to Beaver (aka Still the Beaver) (1984-85; 1986-89)
Occupation: Teenage troublemaker; held various jobs as a teen (e.g., worked at a car garage and pet store). He became a building contractor as an adult.
Family and Friends: Best friends were Wally Cleaver and Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford. His parents were George and Agnes, though his father's name has sparked a minor controversy. Eddie called himself Edward Clark Haskell, Jr. in one episode--implying Dad's name was Edward. In another episode, Eddie referred to his father as Frank. In The New Leave It to Beaver, the grown-up Eddie's sons were Freddie and Bomber (played by Ken Osmond's real-life kids). As a child, Eddie had a dog named Wolf. Eddie's girlfriends included Christine Staples (played by Marta Kristen from Lost in Space), Caroline Schuster (who actually thought Eddie was a creep), and Cindy Andrews (Eddie punched Wally for "seeing" Cindy--Wally was actually serving as a model for a sweater that Cindy was making for Eddie).
Trademarks: Called everyone "Sam." Played mean tricks on Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (e.g., changed his D- in math to a B+).
Classic quotes: "That's a lovely dress you're wearing, Mrs. Cleaver" and "Look, Sam, if you can make the other guy feel like a goon first, then you don't feel like so much of a goon."
Classic episodes: "Eddie Quits School" (after getting into trouble at school, Eddie quits and goes to work at a garage--a surprising look at Eddie's vulnerability); "Eddie Spends the Night" (at the Cleavers!); and "Eddie's Double-Cross" (the Caroline Schuster episode).
Now you're talking! Eddie H. was a hoot. My favorite episode with him was when the boys rode a roller coaster. Eddie kept kidding Beaver, saying he'd get sick. Of course, Beave loved it and Eddie was the one to get the queasy stomach.
ReplyDeleteEddie was a lot more sensitive (in many ways) than he'd ever admit. I think that's one reason why he remains such a memorable character.
DeleteEddie was the quintessential suck-up. His character was very believable, thanks to Ken Osmond. He added a whole new dimension to a very strong show. Great addition to your 15 great TV characters of the 60s!
ReplyDeleteToto, Eddie may have the best suck-up in the history of American television!
DeleteEddie Haskell was a great character, so smooth and always egging Wally on - 'let's give em the business' and you knew that trouble would follow, heh... thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteHow could I have omitted Eddie's classic quote about "giving them the business"? Thank you for including it!
DeleteEddie Haskel is one those characters you can never forget. You don't really like him, but he's still admirable in some odd way.
ReplyDeleteEd had his moments as a friend...but he did cause a lot of trouble.
DeleteKen Osmond was perfection as "Eddie". I can't imagine anyone else making it work half as well.
ReplyDeleteI can hear Wally explaining apologetically to Ward about Eddie, "Gee Dad, everybody has to have a best friend."
Eddie hid behind his trouble maker facade, but deep down he had a heart. Who could forget that episode where he talks Wally out of wearing a sport coat he knew the Beaver ruined. At the end, Beaver told Ward about it and said he wanted to tell everyone what a nice thing Eddie did Ward said "Look Beaver, you know Edddie did something nice and Eddie knows he did something nice, let's just leave it at that". Touching stuff.
ReplyDeleteFabulous characterization by Ken Osmond. Eddie had a tough exterior covering his weak, uncertain inner self. Osmond's portrayal was hilarious, believable, and with just enough pathos to make you feel sorry for Eddie and not detract from the humor. My favorite portrayal of all TV characters.
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