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Eddie: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy
Eddie Haskell was the bad kid who never went away.
When child actor Ken Osmond stepped onto the set of Leave it to Beaver in 1957, he not only entered our living rooms, he homesteaded a permanent place in the American pop culture. The poster child for sneaky, rotten kids everywhere, he was the reference point for cautious mothers to warn their children about. And everyone in America knew an Eddie Haskell at some point in his or her lives.
The amazing phenomenon of Ken Osmond’s character is still going strong, over half a century after the show’s cancellation. Even today, the name Eddie Haskell remains firmly entrenched in the American lexicon. Political foes from both sides of the ideological spectrum love to accuse their opponents of, “acting like Eddie Haskell,” and when Kobi Bryant argues a referee’s call, tweets go out labeling him as an “Eddie Haskell.” Psychology Today Magazine has published articles about recognizing and treating “Eddie Haskell Syndrome” and Matt Groening created Bart Simpson as his own version of “the son of Eddie Haskell.”
Now it’s time to meet Ken Osmond, the man behind America’s preeminent bad boy. A man who, as co-star Jerry Mathers said, “Was the best actor on the program, because he was so diametrically opposed to the character he played.” A devoted husband, father and patriot, he’s a man who’s been forever shadowed by Eddie Haskell, but whose own life, was even more amazing than the character he portrayed.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2014
130 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 23, 2020
I've always been a huge fan of Ken Osmond as Eddie Haskell one of the funniest characters I've ever seen in my life on a television show. I enjoyed this book because we just lost Mr Ken Osmond and this was fun to read. I just wish the photos were printed in higher quality and the book went into a little more detail. Rest in peace Ken Osmond thank you for all the hilarious laughs your humor will live on forever
January 26, 2016
I was a fan of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, growing up. I can remember racing home every day at lunch to watch an episode. So when I heard that Ken Osmond would be attending last weekend's comic convention in Hamilton (about 40 minutes from where I live), I knew I wanted to meet him and get his autograph for the collection. I always like to check and see if a personality I am going to meet has a biography out, and in this case Ken Osmond did, so I picked it up and read it prior to meeting him on Saturday. Quite the life, besides acting, Ken was an LA police officer and was shot twice (!) in the line of duty. The first time, he was shot three times at point blank range, but his vest and belt buckle saved him. In addition, Ken has been mistaken for John Holmes (the porn star), who Ken unsuccessfully tried to sue for using his name, and been mistaken for Alice Cooper (as Alice was once quoted saying "he was an Eddie Haskell growing up, which was mistaken as "I was Eddie Haskell growing up"). A fun read and an interesting life. And like Jerry Mathers says in the foreword: Ken is a great actor, because he is nothing like Eddie. After meeting him, I can say, Ken is a real swell guy.
May 5, 2021
I read this book because I thought it would be fun to read the book about one of televisions biggest "trouble maker" Eddie Haskell. Ken Osmond writes his memoir of his life. A good part of the book being in Leave it to Beaver as Wally's friend Eddie Haskell. He was a child actor at a young age growing up in California. In between he was also a policeman and even got shot on duty. In the 198os he got to reprise his role of Eddie Haskell in Still the Beaver. One neat part is his real life sons played Eddie Haskell's sons. He describes the good and bad of playing the role. such as not getting many acting jobs because of type casting or a rumor being spread that he became a porn actor {not true}but followed him for decades. Eddie Haskell has taken on a life of it's own by quotes like being compared to the character etc. I enjoyed reading Ken Osmond's book.
August 23, 2024
Eddie
This was an excellent book. It was very well written, to the point, very entertaining and at times it really touched my heart. Thank you for a well written book.
This was an excellent book. It was very well written, to the point, very entertaining and at times it really touched my heart. Thank you for a well written book.
August 2, 2015
I am an unabashed Leave it to Beaver fan, and I am a sucker for any autobiography the cast members have released. I enjoyed this quick read on the life of Ken Osmond. This one will proudly sit alongside ...And Jerry Mathers, as “The Beaver “ and Call Me Lumpy.
Now where is Tony Dow’s autobiography?
Now where is Tony Dow’s autobiography?
September 9, 2020
If you're looking for scandal or backbiting you've picked up the wrong book. Just an interesting story about an man who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons. Someone you'd like as a friend or neighbor I think. Easy reading
December 27, 2020
Sometimes I find that when I read a book about some Hollywood star, it completely changes my view on them to a negative one. thankfully this book does not do that. It takes a (thankfully) chronological tour through the life of Ken and is entertaining throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2024
It’s happened throughout TV history. It is a scourge in the lives of actors and actresses who are so linked with a single role that they can’t find work playing anyone else. From the casts of The Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island to Fred Gwynne of The Munsters, Max Baer Jr. of The Beverly Hillbillies, Jaleel White of Family Matters, Michael Richards of Seinfeld, and Andrea Barber from Full House, these men and women found working post-series to be a monumental task.
It's the Typecasting Curse.
One of the original actors to face this typecasting curse was Ken Osmond, forever known as the scheming, manipulative devil on your shoulder, Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver (1957 to 1963). In his excellent autobiography, Eddie, Osmond gives readers an in-depth look at his life before, during, and after portraying Eddie Haskell and the many ups and downs that came with playing such a well-known fixture in pop culture.
Osmond has the rare distinction of being an actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood who didn’t have a rough and tumultuous childhood—a welcome change from many of the actor biographies and autobiographies I’ve read. His journey from minor roles to Eddie Haskell fame is fun to read about, and his experiences working on Beaver will make any fan of the series seek out an episode or two to watch after reading.
Like many child actors, Osmond struggled to gain a foothold in the industry he had called home for over a decade once adulthood set in; his likeness too closely associated with Eddie Haskell for him to get anything significant after the series ended.
During these difficult years, Osmond struggled to find his way like many of us do, jumping from job to job to find meaning and purpose in his life post-Eddie Haskell. It wasn’t always easy, and he is candid about his struggles and the challenges of dealing with a positive experience in his past that would forever loom over his future.
A quick read, Eddie delivers plenty of classic TV nostalgia, trivia, urban legends, and anecdotes to keep readers engaged and turning the next page. While Ken Osmond passed away in 2020, we’re lucky he took the time to write his life story. While he will always be known to audiences as Eddie Haskell, Osmond’s life and good deeds post-Beaver should not be forgotten, and thanks to this book, they won’t be.
I definitely recommend Eddie: The Life and Times of America’s Preeminent Bad Boy by Ken Osmond for classic TV fans or anyone interested in Hollywood history.
It's the Typecasting Curse.
One of the original actors to face this typecasting curse was Ken Osmond, forever known as the scheming, manipulative devil on your shoulder, Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver (1957 to 1963). In his excellent autobiography, Eddie, Osmond gives readers an in-depth look at his life before, during, and after portraying Eddie Haskell and the many ups and downs that came with playing such a well-known fixture in pop culture.
Osmond has the rare distinction of being an actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood who didn’t have a rough and tumultuous childhood—a welcome change from many of the actor biographies and autobiographies I’ve read. His journey from minor roles to Eddie Haskell fame is fun to read about, and his experiences working on Beaver will make any fan of the series seek out an episode or two to watch after reading.
Like many child actors, Osmond struggled to gain a foothold in the industry he had called home for over a decade once adulthood set in; his likeness too closely associated with Eddie Haskell for him to get anything significant after the series ended.
During these difficult years, Osmond struggled to find his way like many of us do, jumping from job to job to find meaning and purpose in his life post-Eddie Haskell. It wasn’t always easy, and he is candid about his struggles and the challenges of dealing with a positive experience in his past that would forever loom over his future.
A quick read, Eddie delivers plenty of classic TV nostalgia, trivia, urban legends, and anecdotes to keep readers engaged and turning the next page. While Ken Osmond passed away in 2020, we’re lucky he took the time to write his life story. While he will always be known to audiences as Eddie Haskell, Osmond’s life and good deeds post-Beaver should not be forgotten, and thanks to this book, they won’t be.
I definitely recommend Eddie: The Life and Times of America’s Preeminent Bad Boy by Ken Osmond for classic TV fans or anyone interested in Hollywood history.
March 16, 2021
It took a long time to find this book and I ended up buying it at full price which I rarely do, but in this case it was worth it. After watching Leave it to Beaver on a regular basis (thanks to ME-TV), I developed an affection for Eddie, so I was really anxious to read Ken's book.
The book itself was really enjoyable but unfortunately I can't say that I loved it completely. I think my expectations were higher than they should have been. However, it is a really good book. I just didn't love it like I wanted to.
Some people pointed out typos. Well I did find a couple but they weren't at all distracting and not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the book. I put the blame for any errors on the proofreader, however.
Anyway, the book itself was great. It starts out strong, with his description of his near-fatal shooting as a police officer and it really had me intrigued. He discusses his job as a police officer later in the book and's it's pretty interesting. I really enjoyed reading about Ken's life; particularly his childhood and his parents and family. That part of the book was probably the most interesting. I was disappointed with the lack of information about his stint as Eddie, but what he did mention was really entertaining. He mentions Eddie more in the last part of the book when he talks about the shows "Still The Beaver" and "The New Leave it to Beaver"and it made me want to watch that series again.
The book contains trivia questions at the beginning of each chapter and the answers (plus another trivia question) are at the end. It's a great incentive to get through the chapters quickly, although I did enjoy looking at the many pictures that were included.
I liked this book-I really did-and it makes me sad that Ken is no longer with us. I really hoped to meet him in person because I've heard that he was extremely nice and personable. But I'm glad he wrote this book which gave me more insight into his life.
As I said before this book is extremely hard to find at a decent price (I found some on E-Bay for much more than I was willing to pay), but if you're an avid LITB fan or even a fan of Eddie Haskell, it's definitely worth reading.
The book itself was really enjoyable but unfortunately I can't say that I loved it completely. I think my expectations were higher than they should have been. However, it is a really good book. I just didn't love it like I wanted to.
Some people pointed out typos. Well I did find a couple but they weren't at all distracting and not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the book. I put the blame for any errors on the proofreader, however.
Anyway, the book itself was great. It starts out strong, with his description of his near-fatal shooting as a police officer and it really had me intrigued. He discusses his job as a police officer later in the book and's it's pretty interesting. I really enjoyed reading about Ken's life; particularly his childhood and his parents and family. That part of the book was probably the most interesting. I was disappointed with the lack of information about his stint as Eddie, but what he did mention was really entertaining. He mentions Eddie more in the last part of the book when he talks about the shows "Still The Beaver" and "The New Leave it to Beaver"and it made me want to watch that series again.
The book contains trivia questions at the beginning of each chapter and the answers (plus another trivia question) are at the end. It's a great incentive to get through the chapters quickly, although I did enjoy looking at the many pictures that were included.
I liked this book-I really did-and it makes me sad that Ken is no longer with us. I really hoped to meet him in person because I've heard that he was extremely nice and personable. But I'm glad he wrote this book which gave me more insight into his life.
As I said before this book is extremely hard to find at a decent price (I found some on E-Bay for much more than I was willing to pay), but if you're an avid LITB fan or even a fan of Eddie Haskell, it's definitely worth reading.
July 31, 2022
Having been a fan of the show "Leave it to Beaver" as a child, I really enjoyed this book. Being honest, I used one of my credits to listen to Eddie on Audible. Even though someone else narrated, I felt like I was listening to Ken Osmond. The book has a casual, conversational storytelling style that made me feel as if I were at a backyard barbecue listening to Ken share his life stories over a beer. Every time I had to turn the audiobook off, it was a punch to the gut remembering that Ken is no longer with us.
Part of the show's enduring legacy is that all the young actors on that show grew up to be good men. They were never tabloid fodder, they didn't party, womanize, or get drunk in public. They were family men and good fathers who each had to figure out new careers when typecasting made it impossible for them to keep acting. In this book, we see that Ken managed to carve out a new life and land on his feet. It wasn't all smooth sailing, and we learn that Ken was a regular guy who encountered some major life challenges. And it turns out that he was absolutely nothing like Eddie Haskell, the character he played on the show. He was a truly decent human being, and this book left me grief stricken by his loss.
Part of the show's enduring legacy is that all the young actors on that show grew up to be good men. They were never tabloid fodder, they didn't party, womanize, or get drunk in public. They were family men and good fathers who each had to figure out new careers when typecasting made it impossible for them to keep acting. In this book, we see that Ken managed to carve out a new life and land on his feet. It wasn't all smooth sailing, and we learn that Ken was a regular guy who encountered some major life challenges. And it turns out that he was absolutely nothing like Eddie Haskell, the character he played on the show. He was a truly decent human being, and this book left me grief stricken by his loss.
November 23, 2020
Read it in 2014 and in 2020. An okay summary of Osmond's career, but lacking in a lot of details about his TV appearances. He gives more detail to his time as a cop, which is very interesting. And who knew he lived next to Laura Ingalls Wilder when he was 3 years old? But at the end of the book he tacks on a list of famous people he met, including Reagan at the White House, but doesn't tell any stories about them! Frustrating.
It's a must for a Beaver fan but is way too short and poorly formatted into 30 chapters of about 5-6 pages each. There are also some silly questions at the end of chapters that no one will ever be able to guess, another misstep probably by Osmond's co-author (they would have been fun if they were multiple choice). But he was a nice guy who I met once at an appearance, really just saw Beaver as a job, didn't seem that excited to meet fans, and found some fulfillment as a cop but went into depression after two shootings. He was nothing like Eddie but this book doesn't give a full view of who he really was.
It's a must for a Beaver fan but is way too short and poorly formatted into 30 chapters of about 5-6 pages each. There are also some silly questions at the end of chapters that no one will ever be able to guess, another misstep probably by Osmond's co-author (they would have been fun if they were multiple choice). But he was a nice guy who I met once at an appearance, really just saw Beaver as a job, didn't seem that excited to meet fans, and found some fulfillment as a cop but went into depression after two shootings. He was nothing like Eddie but this book doesn't give a full view of who he really was.
April 2, 2022
I grew up watching "Leave it to Beaver" reruns, I was born a couple years after it's final season. TV shows during my early years were comforting, Ken Osmond mentions the importance to many who had a need to watch a happy family life, like the Cleavers. I was one of these kids who needed this in my life. I still watch "Leave it to Beaver"and I personally never get tired of Mayfield. It was interesting reading about Ken Osmond's life and I am especially looking forward to seeing the 1983 made for tv movie, that I have never seen, I was too busy with school and work back then. I am sure there are many who would love to see the remake series from the mid 1980's that had so many of the original cast available on DVD or streaming. It was extremely nice to see that the young actors from the original show grow up to be useful adults and not troubled souls. I especially like hearing of the continual friendship they have had through all these years. I wonder what Ken Osmond would think about today's stance against the police and all the murders of policemen. Truly a tragic time!
August 29, 2020
If you are a fan of "Leave It To Beaver" or "The New Leave It To Beaver," you'll enjoy this autobiography by Ken Osmond, a.k.a. Eddie Haskell. Osmond shares many details from his acting career -- before, during and after -- his stint as Eddie on LITB. In addition, he shares his experiences as a motorcycle cop with the LAPD, including being shot three times at point-blank range. "Eddie Haskell" is a character who has endured over the decades, and Osmond (who recently passed away) helps us realize why we love him. (Note: This seems to be a self-published book, and, even though he has a co-author, it could have benefited from some professional editing in certain places. But the story is so engaging and well told that it doesn't matter.)
January 1, 2023
An enjoyable read
I’ll admit that I watched “Leave it to Beaver” as a kid. In fact, it was one of the first shows that I ever watched because we got our first T.V. in 1958. I actually looked up to “the Beav” as an older kid. But the show was fun, and Eddie Haskell was like a highlight reel. My younger brother, Edwin, became “Haskell Haven” and had the nickname for a long time. One of my close friends still refers to him that way. This book is charming, and more than anything, real. The actors of the late 50’s and early 60’s did not make the millions they make today. It was a blue collar job with union wages and it wasn’t anything but glamorous unless you were a really big star. Ken Osmond tells the true story of that era and I really enjoyed the experiences that he had, warts and all. It was a fun read and I would recommend it.
I’ll admit that I watched “Leave it to Beaver” as a kid. In fact, it was one of the first shows that I ever watched because we got our first T.V. in 1958. I actually looked up to “the Beav” as an older kid. But the show was fun, and Eddie Haskell was like a highlight reel. My younger brother, Edwin, became “Haskell Haven” and had the nickname for a long time. One of my close friends still refers to him that way. This book is charming, and more than anything, real. The actors of the late 50’s and early 60’s did not make the millions they make today. It was a blue collar job with union wages and it wasn’t anything but glamorous unless you were a really big star. Ken Osmond tells the true story of that era and I really enjoyed the experiences that he had, warts and all. It was a fun read and I would recommend it.
February 17, 2023
I truly enjoyed this memoir! Ken Osmond must have been a really great guy, at least he definitely comes across that way as he tells it. Despite his playing Eddie Haskell on Leave it to Beaver, I choose to believe him. I certainly don’t want to typecast him!
What made this memoir stand out from others were the trivia questions he included at the end of each chapter, with the answer at the end of the following chapter and then the next trivia question. He also allowed people from his life to comment on events during his retelling of them, giving a fresh perspective on the events.
If you loved Leave it to Beaver, you’ll definitely enjoy Ken Osmond’s memoir!
What made this memoir stand out from others were the trivia questions he included at the end of each chapter, with the answer at the end of the following chapter and then the next trivia question. He also allowed people from his life to comment on events during his retelling of them, giving a fresh perspective on the events.
If you loved Leave it to Beaver, you’ll definitely enjoy Ken Osmond’s memoir!
January 16, 2018
Amazing American hero
From cop to on screen bad teen he’s been in many hearts with welcoming profession. This is a must read for anyone who loves biographies and most of all any of those leave it to beaver fans out there. Ken Osmond’s life really creates a strong sense of American accomplishment through the simple idea of his pursuit to freedom. The author is crafty with his ability to real the reader into Eddie Haskell’s life along with Ken’s real life. Would highly recommend this book.
From cop to on screen bad teen he’s been in many hearts with welcoming profession. This is a must read for anyone who loves biographies and most of all any of those leave it to beaver fans out there. Ken Osmond’s life really creates a strong sense of American accomplishment through the simple idea of his pursuit to freedom. The author is crafty with his ability to real the reader into Eddie Haskell’s life along with Ken’s real life. Would highly recommend this book.
November 18, 2019
This was an interesting book about the life of a child actor and what happens to him after the show ends. I had heard some of the rumors about him (became a porn star, became Alice Cooper) so it was good to hear the stories behind that. My only complaint is that I wish he would have gone into a little more depth. He covered the highlights of his life, but I bet there are more stories he could have told. This is probably a 3.5 star book for me, but because he seems like such a darn nice guy, I will round up to 4.
December 4, 2021
If you watched Leave It to Beaver, you will enjoy this memoir.
Eddie Haskell - the kid that could make you cringe and laugh at the same time. Ken Osmond shares memories of his fellow cast members and the show. He also shares his life with us. His family was normal. They weren't wealthy. Ken and his older brother were child actors. After LITB ended, Ken found himself typecast. He tried different things until he joined the LAPD. I enjoyed this trip back in time. I was growing up at the same time as Ken and his co stars. I recommend this book.
Eddie Haskell - the kid that could make you cringe and laugh at the same time. Ken Osmond shares memories of his fellow cast members and the show. He also shares his life with us. His family was normal. They weren't wealthy. Ken and his older brother were child actors. After LITB ended, Ken found himself typecast. He tried different things until he joined the LAPD. I enjoyed this trip back in time. I was growing up at the same time as Ken and his co stars. I recommend this book.
May 20, 2021
Very Good Read
I grew up a LITB fan and have enjoyed watching them in reruns. I purchased the book on the first anniversary of Ken’s death and read it the same day. The book gives so many details about his life. Loved Jerry Mathers intro.
I strongly recommend reading this book. Eddie Haskell will live forever because of the great portrayal of Ken Osmond. RIP Ken, a great actor and a great American Hero. From Ed Werneke
I grew up a LITB fan and have enjoyed watching them in reruns. I purchased the book on the first anniversary of Ken’s death and read it the same day. The book gives so many details about his life. Loved Jerry Mathers intro.
I strongly recommend reading this book. Eddie Haskell will live forever because of the great portrayal of Ken Osmond. RIP Ken, a great actor and a great American Hero. From Ed Werneke
June 28, 2020
Eddie's an easy read worth your time. Because I grew up with Beaver in my living room, I found Ken's California upbringing particularly relatable. Like Ken, I was lucky enough to have two good parents and a great family life where a strong love-driven family life was valued over material possessions. Ken Osmond left a footprint on this earth, a very worthwhile one. SAFE ~~ HOME ~~ KEN RIP!
May 6, 2021
A wonderful autobiography by Ken Osmond
Hmmm, where to start. Ken Osmond had a colorful, wonderful, interesting life. I love reading stories like his. I loved how he shared his Leave It To Beaver stories, his life on the LAPD, people he's met. This book was such a joy to read. He's gone now and will be missed.
Hmmm, where to start. Ken Osmond had a colorful, wonderful, interesting life. I love reading stories like his. I loved how he shared his Leave It To Beaver stories, his life on the LAPD, people he's met. This book was such a joy to read. He's gone now and will be missed.
October 3, 2021
A very interesting Biography about the life of Ken Osmond and life after being an actor on "Leave it to Beaver." Ken Osmond lead a very interesting life. I really enjoyed the book and felt like I got to know Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell) a little better. He was a good guy and a good young adult actor.
September 10, 2023
🖋️ ⊱Quite dry reading and somewhat interesting, but interesting enough for me to flip to the black and white photographs. 🗑 Conversely, other readers may find this memoire their cup of tea and right up their alley.
🏮 Kindle Unlimited.
🔲 Excerpt of note:
🔷●▬●🔶●🔶●▬●🔷
🏮 Kindle Unlimited.
🔲 Excerpt of note:
🔹 Eddie, who is the little devil on your shoulder whispering in your ear.
🔷●▬●🔶●🔶●▬●🔷
February 11, 2025
Fascinating account of a man with an interesting life story. Ken Osmond was Eddie Haskell but he was much more than that. Good clean book with exciting life-threatening situations and comic interludes that will bring a tear to your high at one point and a smile to your lips at others [more smiles than tears].
November 14, 2017
Really good insight into the world of child acting and how it has changed over the years -- early on child actors were not necessarily treated all that special - and nice flow to book about Leave it to Beavers' bad boy Eddie Haskell... thoroughly enjoyed this book
July 17, 2019
Good read. Who doesn’t remember Leave It To Beaver and Eddie Haskell’s character. This book brought back good childhood memories of watching the show!
Couldn’t put this book down. Enjoyed reading about Ken’s life including struggles and fame. Highly recommend this book
Couldn’t put this book down. Enjoyed reading about Ken’s life including struggles and fame. Highly recommend this book
June 29, 2020
This was a great read. I love Leave It to Beaver, especially Eddie. When the talented Mr. Osmond died, I ordered this from Amazon. It is really interesting. I especially loved Mr. Osmond's determination to have a full life after his acting career fell apart due to typecasting.
November 16, 2020
A quick read and pretty fun, with some interesting backstory.
You can tell it is a cheaply done self-publish, with some weird spacing and obvious autocorrect errors, but it isn't really a problem.
You can tell it is a cheaply done self-publish, with some weird spacing and obvious autocorrect errors, but it isn't really a problem.
November 2, 2021
Very interesting! Great account of how playing "Eddie" was both a blessing and a curse, and how he overcame the negatives to live a productive, fulfilling life of service. Highly recommend, especially for anyone who grew up with "the Beav."
March 23, 2023
I loved Eddie Haskell
If you are a fan of the "Leave it to Beaver Series" you will enjoy reading this. You will learn what happen to the main characters after the show. Too bad Eddie was typecast. I would enjoyed seeing him do other things. A very good biography on his life.
If you are a fan of the "Leave it to Beaver Series" you will enjoy reading this. You will learn what happen to the main characters after the show. Too bad Eddie was typecast. I would enjoyed seeing him do other things. A very good biography on his life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews