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Christopher J. Lynch
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EDDIE: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy Kindle Edition

by Ken Osmond (Author), Christopher J. Lynch (Author), Jerry Mathers (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 999 ratings
NOTE: ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS BOOK ARE DONATED TO THE LAW ENFORMENT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
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.
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  1. Print length
    235 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 31, 2014
  4. File size
    6.7 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ken Osmond is a former child dancer and actor who is best known for his portrayal of Eddie Haskell from the classic TV comedy, Leave it to Beaver. After the show ended in 1963, Mr. Osmond found himself to be hopelessly typecast and turned to law enforcement to find employment. His career, and his life were nearly cut short when he was shot 3 times at point blank range while on duty one night. Besides his iconic TV role, Mr. Osmond was the subject of urban legends. One was that he was the porn star John Holmes, the second was that he was the outrageous rock star Alice Cooper. Neither of these rumor were true. Mr. Osmond is retired today and manages his collection of rental properties.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00N7YGZZK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (August 31, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 31, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.7 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 235 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 999 ratings

About the author

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Christopher J. Lynch

Christopher J. Lynch

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Christopher Lynch is a Southern California native and freelance writer. His debut novel, One Eyed Jack, a hard-boiled crime thriller about a professional blackmailer, was a 2013 Shamus Award finalist, and a 2014 Writers Digest Honorable Mention for Genre Fiction. Eddie: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy, the memoir of Ken Osmond, the actor who played Eddie Haskell on Leave it to Beaver, is one of the highest rated celebrity biographies on Amazon.

He is also an avid cyclist and a mountain climber with successful summits of Mount Whitney, Mount Shasta, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Kalapatar in Nepal, and has recently completed a trek to Mount Everest Base Camp.

He counts as one of his greatest accomplishments the successful training and leading of nine blind hikers to the summit of 10,000 foot Mount Baldy, the highest point in Los Angeles County, and the third highest peak in Southern California. A documentary film is being made of the adventure and you can view a trailer at: http://www.baldyfortheblind.com

He enjoys giving back to the writing community by offering free Self-Publishing seminars. He also taught creative writing at a maximum security prison north of Los Angeles. You can see more of Christopher J. Lynch’s writing at his website: http://www.christopherjlynch.com/

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
999 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the biography engaging and well-written, with one noting it reads like a conversation with Ken Osmond. The book provides a nostalgic journey back in time, with one customer mentioning it brought back a flood of memories. Customers appreciate the actor's portrayal of his character and the trivia questions at the end of each chapter.

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150 customers mention "Readability"150 positive0 negative

Customers find the book delightful and interesting, with one mentioning how each chapter kept them engaged.

"I really enjoyed this book. Well written, I wasn't bored, and some humor of course! I felt like I personally knew Ken Osmond. Great guy!..." Read more

"...This is a book that will be hard for you to put down. It's enjoyable from the get go, and provides a real feeling of how Ken Osmond dealt with being..." Read more

"...I actually looked up to “the Beav” as an older kid. But the show was fun, and Eddie Haskell was like a highlight reel...." Read more

"...by Ken Osmond and his co-author Christopher Lynch, and opens with a riveting scene from the night a convicted killer tried to end Ken's life...." Read more

53 customers mention "Story quality"53 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories of Ken Osmond's life, describing it as a well-told autobiography.

"...It's enjoyable from the get go, and provides a real feeling of how Ken Osmond dealt with being an out of work child star and than finding a..." Read more

"...well written, to the point, very entertaining and at times it really touched my heart. Thank you for a well written book." Read more

"...I loved reading every inch of it. I enjoyed the many anecdotes of growing up in Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and particularly, stories..." Read more

"Ken Osmond does an outstanding job of describing his background and life outside of his role of Eddie Haskell- from his earliest years to his career..." Read more

41 customers mention "Writing quality"41 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting its easy-to-digest prose and well-crafted content. One customer mentions how the author describes scenes vividly.

"I really enjoyed this book. Well written, I wasn't bored, and some humor of course! I felt like I personally knew Ken Osmond. Great guy!..." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"...The book is skillfully written by Ken Osmond and his co-author Christopher Lynch, and opens with a riveting scene from the night a convicted killer..." Read more

"This was an excellent book. It was very well written, to the point, very entertaining and at times it really touched my heart...." Read more

37 customers mention "Actor"37 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the actor's portrayal in the book, noting his remarkable character and signature roles, with one customer highlighting his successful career as a child actor.

"...I felt like I personally knew Ken Osmond. Great guy! I wished that we were able to purchase the New Leave it to Beaver series on DVD...." Read more

"...This is a simply wonderful book about a really nice guy who has a whole lot to say about his life and adventures. A 5 star read for sure." Read more

"...Through it all, the author comes across as a humble, hard working man who never took himself too seriously, disdained those who did, and appreciated..." Read more

"...Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Osmond comes across as a nice guy and humble human being. You won't find sleazy or tawdry stories here...." Read more

12 customers mention "Nostalgia"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this nostalgic journey back in time, with one mentioning how it brought back a flood of memories, while another notes how it spans several eras.

"Easy to read-in fact, couldn’t put it down once I started Very nostalgic. Author describes scenes so well, I could picture myself right there." Read more

"...This book brought back a flood of memories as Ken Osmond wrote about particular episodes of the great series...." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"Really enjoyed the book. Lot’s of memories of Leave it to Beaver. Thanks Eddie (Ken) for your service and appreciate the memories." Read more

7 customers mention "Look"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book visually appealing, with one describing it as colorful.

"Hmmm, where to start. Ken Osmond had a colorful, wonderful, interesting life. I love reading stories like his...." Read more

"Really nice. Learned some things I didn't know about him. Eddie Haskell is one of the all-time great characters...." Read more

"A well done and interesting look into the man behind the character." Read more

"A very nice, easy to read book that takes me back many years. Ken was a good motor cop and should be very proud of his achievements." Read more

6 customers mention "Content"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the content of the book, with one mentioning that each chapter ends with an Eddie Haskell trivia question, and another noting it's a perfect addition to Mathers and Banks books.

"...of the nice features about the book is that every chapter ends with an Eddie Haskell trivia question and an answer for the question from the..." Read more

"Perfect addition to the Mathers and Banks books...." Read more

"...The book gives so many details about his life. Loved Jerry Mathers intro. I strongly recommend reading this book...." Read more

"...I especially liked the trivia questions and answers at the end of each chapter...." Read more

5 customers mention "Material quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the material quality of the book, describing it as solid and well-lived.

"...watched this series the first time around, do so now, as the material is timeless...." Read more

"...Mr. Osmond's life is not only interesting but shows heroism, integrity and sensitivity...." Read more

"...Bravo to Ken and Christopher for a life well lived and a life well told." Read more

"easy, solid and basic read...fans of the show will enjoy it" Read more

Fun, Enlightening and Easy to Read
5 out of 5 stars
Fun, Enlightening and Easy to Read
If you enjoyed watching "Leave it to Beaver," you'll enjoy reading the bio of Ken Osmond, "Eddie." This book details Osmond's childhood, entrance into the acting industry, work on "Beaver," work as a motorcycle policeman, and his family. The surprising thing is Osmond is nothing like Haskell. He is a decent individual, a stand-up man and a fantastic actor. (Nothing like Hollywood today!) It's a great read - fun, enlightening and easy to read. I highly recommend. THANK YOU KEN FOR THE SMILES!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. Well written, I wasn't bored, and some humor of course! I felt like I personally knew Ken Osmond. Great guy! I wished that we were able to purchase the New Leave it to Beaver series on DVD. I remember watching it on TV and enjoying it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Expressed Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars That's a lovely dress you're wearing, Mrs. Cleaver. Please give my best to Mr. Cleaver, while I visit with Wallace & Theodore.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Leave it to Beaver remains one of the best shows ever broadcast on TV. Without a doubt, Ken Osmond, AKA Eddie Haskell, the iconic character played on this show, was a major contributing factor in its success. Osmond's role has to be one of the funniest of any that I've ever seen on a TV series.

    When this book was released, I knew just by looking at the cover that I had to have it immediately. As a matter of fact, I was so enthralled with the book, that my wife and I just started watching the entire Leave it to Beaver series on Netflix. Eddie Haskell makes his first appearance in episode six.

    The producers of the show never intended for the Eddie Haskell character to be on more than just one episode. Obviously, once they saw the amazing acting abilities of Osmond, they decided that he would become a regular. I laugh out loud every time I see him in an episode. For those too young to have watched this series the first time around, do so now, as the material is timeless.

    As for the book, Christopher J. Lynch does a fantastic job at telling the story of Ken Osmond's life. I knew that he had become an LA police officer, but I didn't know that he had to grow a mustache so that people wouldn't recognize him.

    This is a book that will be hard for you to put down. It's enjoyable from the get go, and provides a real feeling of how Ken Osmond dealt with being an out of work child star and than finding a completely different career in law enforcement. This book provides the reader with a fantastic overview of Ken Osmond's life. It's filled with all sorts of emotion, ranging from happiness to depression and fear, all aspects of life that Ken Osmond encountered. There's also a forward by Jerry Mathers, AKA the Beaver which makes the book even more delightful.

    I enjoyed the Kindle version of this book so much that I just ordered a paperback version as a surprise to my sister. We used to watch the show together and Eddie Haskell was her favorite character. This is a simply wonderful book about a really nice guy who has a whole lot to say about his life and adventures. A 5 star read for sure.
    88 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Gavin J Keenan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done Story of an Intersting Life.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Son of hard scrabble and hard working Great Depression and Dust Bowl parents, child actor, US Army Reservist, ten year veteran of LAPD where he was shot three times at point blank range and survived, loyal husband and father, real estate entrepreneur, Ken Osmond has lived an interesting, event filled life. This work describes all of these events and more. Through it all, the author comes across as a humble, hard working man who never took himself too seriously, disdained those who did, and appreciated the life he was given to live.

    The author(s) have taken great care to describe the child acting world of the 1950's and 60's, where the children were encourage to remain as normal as possible, supported by concerned adults, and allowed to grow up into the wider world beyond Hollywood. Ken Osmond relates the great affection that he has not only for his real family, but his fellow actors from "Leave It To Beaver," the officers he worked with on the LAPD and the many others who have touched his life. The book is skillfully written by Ken Osmond and his co-author Christopher Lynch, and opens with a riveting scene from the night a convicted killer tried to end Ken's life. The reading is never heavy and always entertaining. If you dislike self-promoting celebrity screeds, you will be happy to find such crud absent from this work.
    You don't need to be able to recall the television show to enjoy this book, although it would certainly add richness to the reading experience. If you like to read about decent people living a decent life and being grateful for it, this book is for you. If you are a cop or ex-cop, you will find the chapters involving Ken's time on the job entertaining and very realistic. Pick up a copy of "Eddie" and enjoy a good read.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Detour
    5.0 out of 5 stars Why, you are looking lovely today, Mr. Osmond...
    Reviewed in Canada on October 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    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 has been a helicopter pilot, worked in the aeronautical field and served as an LA police officer, where he 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").

    What I loved reading about was the family atmosphere on the set of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, and later, THE NEW LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. Apparently there were no divas, everyone got along and they are all still close today. It is always refreshing to hear that.

    A fun read and he’s definitely had an interesting life. And like Jerry Mathers says in the foreword: Ken is a great actor, because, in real life, he is nothing like Eddie. After meeting Ken, I can say, “that Eddie is a real swell guy”.

    This is a highly recommended read for fans of the Beav, and/or that rascal, Eddie. Heh, heh heh.
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  • Mark Joseph Lavallee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent easy read
    Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a wonderful look into one of the most iconic characters of the Leave it to Beaver series of the 50's and 60's as well as the personal and professional life of a true hero Ken Osmond.
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  • karaokequeen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eddie Haskell
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Very informative and funny. Answered all my questions about every character. Ken Osmond lived a very interesting life. The end
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  • Catherine Sandberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on October 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    If you like watching Leave it to Beaver, buy this book.
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  • Dave Ball
    2.0 out of 5 stars Was hoping for more !
    Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    You would think and hope that a main cast member would offer more reflections on other cast members. But Osmond provides only scant mention of other actors in small snippets. I grew up with this show and have the box set that I’ve watched countless times. I was anticipating some poignant anecdotes about Hugh Beaumont or Barbra Billingsley but was greatly disappointed. His life outside the show is interesting enough but there would be no book without the major impetus of the LITB years ! And the inclusion of Eddy’s laugh with ‘heh, heh, heh’ was amusing the first time but not after 15 or more ! One would think he was the whole show but he had a limited acting range and consequently few if any offers after the show closed.
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