KNOWING EDDIE: The recent passing of a television icon leaves one local writer grateful he had the opportunity to know him. By Christopher J. Lynch
KNOWING EDDIE: The recent passing of a television icon
By Christopher J. Lynch
It’s ironic that the impetus for writing the biography of the late Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver) was triggered by the death of another cast member from the show. In April 2013, Frank Banks (Lumpy) passed away. After watching the story trend for several days, I realized that there was still a great interest in the show and the characters. But I also noticed that Ken Osmond, as the memorable and conniving Eddie Haskell, did not have a biography penned.
I sent Ken a pitch letter along with one of my crime novels and within a month received a call from him, saying that he thought “we should get together, have a drink, and talk about writing his life story.” I was thrilled of course, not just because I was getting a chance to write his biography, but because I was going to be drinking with Eddie Haskell!
But how would it be to throw myself into writing the life story of one of the television’s greatest characters? Would he be arrogant like his character? Self-absorbed and aloof? Or would he be hopelessly stuck in the past, like a record needle forever tracing the same groove?
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
That evening, and every day, evening, and hour spent with him since then revealed to me a wonderful, dedicated family man who had his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Ken Osmond and author Christopher J. Lynch at the famous Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake, where the cast members used to eat.
Co-stars Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow are on record as saying that Ken was far and away the best actor on the program for the simple reason that he was nothing like his character. While Eddie was a braggart, Ken Osmond was one of the most humble people I have known. Eddie was a slacker and constantly trying to find ways to get out of work, while Ken had such an incredible work ethic his family were afraid at times that he was working himself to death.
His compassion and generosity were something that was also in sharp contrast to the character he played. He gave regularly and unselfishly to charities, and was equally generous with his time and celebrity status. He was almost always available to make public appearances to help out various charitable organizations and worthy causes, and he was not above doing individual acts of kindness as well.
Once, I received a request for Ken to call the ailing father of a woman I knew. The man was in a nursing home and to occupy his days, watched reruns of Leave it to Beaver and loved the character, Eddie Haskell. Ken didn’t hesitate, called the man and they talked for close to twenty minutes. The woman later told me that her father had tears in his eyes when he hung up, being so proud to have received a phone call from Eddie Haskell!
As a volunteer teaching writing at a prison, I asked Ken if he would be so kind as to visit a veterans group I knew of at the facility. Again, Ken, a veteran himself, didn’t balk. Even though his legs were already failing him and his health was in decline, Ken came along with me. It was a wonderful meeting, warmly punctuated by the moment when Ken hugged an inmate/veteran who was a two-time Bronze Star recipient.
Television and its two dimensional alternative universe knew this man only as Eddie Haskell. I had the privilege of knowing him in all of his facets. Kenneth Charles Osmond; husband, father, patriot, first responder, philanthropist, and all around good guy.
Rest in Peace, Ken. Your friend Chris.
Christopher J. Lynch
Lifelong South Bay resident Christopher J. Lynch is the author of, “Eddie: The Life and Times of America’s Preeminent Bad Boy,” the biography of Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver), who recently passed. He’s also the author of the One Eyed Jack crime novel series about a professional blackmailer who operates in and around the South Bay. The book was a 2013 Shamus Award Finalist, and a 2014 Writer's Digest Honorable Mention for Genre Fiction You can view the One Eyed Jack trailer here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvraVL8dMY0
http://www.christopherjlynch.com/