| Fred Rutherford | |
|---|---|
Richard Deacon as Fred Rutherford. |
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| First appearance | "The Black Eye" (October 18, 1957) |
| Last appearance | "Wally's Practical Joke" (May 23, 1963) (Deacon reprised the character again in the 1983 reunion TV-movie Still the Beaver). |
| Portrayed by | Richard Deacon |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Spouse(s) | Gwendolyn (Geraldine, first season) Rutherford (wife) |
| Children | Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford (son) Unknown (son) Violet Rutherford (daughter) |
Frederick "Fred" Rutherford is a fictional character in the television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. The show aired October 4, 1957 to June 20, 1963. Fred is portrayed by Richard Deacon. Alan Rachins played the character in the 1997 film adaptation of the series, Leave It to Beaver.
Fred is the head of the "Rancho Rutherford" household and is married to Geraldine/Gwendolyn. He is the father of a son named Clarence, who is nicknamed "Lumpy" by everyone in town, and a daughter named Violet. Fred thinks Clarence is a model son and defends him when he is blamed for troublesome activities. He is shocked if "his boy" misbehaves. Privately, however, Fred calls his son a "big boob." Clarence initially bullies both Wally and Beaver but eventually becomes one of Wally's pals. In the show's third episode, "The Black Eye", Fred is the father of two sons, both nominated for football scholarships.
Fred is Ward's suit-wearing office co-worker. He often gets on Ward's nerves, but Ward usually takes it well. Fred and Ward work for a "big company" with offices in New York City. Fred drops over to the Cleaver house occasionally on work matters or social calls. In one episode, the Cleavers have the Rutherfords in for cards. Fred plays golf at a local country club.
In the pilot episode "It's a Small World", Richard Deacon plays a character named "Mr. Baxter", an employee for the "Franklin Milk Co."
Beginning in Leave It To Beaver's fifth season which launched in September 1961, Fred Rutherford began appearing less often in episodes as Richard Deacon began appearing as a regular on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He reprised the role in the 1983 reunion television movie, Still the Beaver, but Deacon died before the spinoff television series The New Leave It to Beaver was launched in 1985.
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