logo
Getty images
Getty images

Barbara Billingsley of 'Leave It to Beaver' Fame Was Married Three Times

Junie Sihlangu
Aug 02, 2019
06:40 A.M.

If you were already old enough in the 1950s then you probably know the show “Leave it to Beaver.” One of the main stars got married three times before her death.

Advertisement

Barbara Billingsley acted as the matriarch on "Leave it to Beaver." She passed away at the age of 94 in Santa Monica, California after suffering from rheumatoid disease.

On the show, the actress played the role of June Cleaver. The series ran from 1957 to 1963 and Billingsley then focused her energy on raising her two boys with an appearance here and there.

The Cleaver family on "Leave it to Beaver" in 1960 | Photo: Wikipedia/ABC

The Cleaver family on "Leave it to Beaver" in 1960 | Photo: Wikipedia/ABC

The actress was born on December 22, 1915, with the given name Barbara Lillian Combes. She grew up in Los Angeles and attended Los Angeles Junior College before going to New York to pursue an acting career.

Advertisement

On the famous series, Billingsley had an onscreen husband named Ward Cleaver played by Hugh Beaumont. However, in real-life, she got married three times. Meet all her husbands here:

Barbara Billingsley posing with a cast photo. | Photo: Legacy.com

Barbara Billingsley posing with a cast photo. | Photo: Legacy.com

Glenn Andrew Billingsley

He was a successful restaurateur and her first husband. They married on October 11, 1940, and had two sons: Drew (1942) and Glenn Jr. (1945).

He was the nephew of Stork Club owner Sherman Billingsley. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last and they divorced on February 13, 1947.

Advertisement
Barbara Billingsley | Photo: Getty Images

Barbara Billingsley | Photo: Getty Images

Roy Kellino

The director married Billingsley on November 15, 1953. The pair’s marriage was sadly short-lived as he died suddenly on November 18, 1956.

He passed away prematurely from a heart attack a couple of months before she landed the “Leave It to Beaver” role.

Advertisement

Dr. William Mortensen

The Santa Monica physician and widower wed the actress on June 28, 1959. The doctor was an old friend of Billingsley and Kellino while they were still married.

Unfortunately, she out-lived her last husband who died on July 5, 1981.

Billingsley played the part of Cleaver in both the pilot, "It's a Small World," and in the original television series. She appeared as the same character in the show's television reunion movie, “Still the Beaver” in 1983.

The actress also featured in the sequel series “The New Leave It to Beaver” which aired from 1985 to1989. The actress was survived by her sons, a number of stepchildren, and numerous grandchildren.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Related posts

Jane Fonda, 88, Stuns at TCM Gala, Sparks Reactions Over Her Handsome Son — Photos

May 14, 2026

Jamie Lee Curtis Shares Heartbreaking News About Relative & Touching Tradition

May 30, 2026

Inside the Lavish Raffle Prizes and Gifts Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Gave Guests at Their Wedding – From Cartier to a Surprise in a Black Velvet Box

July 06, 2026

Fans Are in Awe of New Photos of 94-Year-Old Barbara Eden – Asking About Her Secret to 'Ageless Beauty'

April 10, 2026

Joe Biden Spotted at Dinner During Recent Public Appearance, Sparking Reactions – Photos

April 09, 2026

Jennifer Garner, 54, Photographed on Set of '13 Going on 30' Reboot — See How She Has Changed from 1999 to 2026 — Photos

July 23, 2026

This Star Returns to the Red Carpet After 11 Years Away – Fans Say She Looks Completely Different

May 29, 2026

This '90s Heartthrob Is Unrecognizable Today – Photos

April 03, 2026

Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber's Decades-Long Marriage Endured Five Major Life Struggles — Photos

July 16, 2026

Mother's Heartbreaking Social Media Post About Son Resurfaces After Pueblo Incident

April 07, 2026

From 'Charmed' to Now: Holly Marie Combs' Life, Her Sons, and the 'Perfect Person' Who Showed Up When She Stopped Looking – Photos

June 26, 2026