Actor Benny Baker
Everybody who loves Leave it to Beaver find some seasons more appealing than others. For those of you who love the young Beaver seen in seasons 1 and 2, what are your thoughts about “The Haircut” episode? This is when that mean barber wouldn’t give him a haircut. Well, some of us might think that barber was mean, but really, he couldn’t do anything because the owner Stanley wouldn’t let him give a haircut for free or the barbers’ union wouldn’t allow the barter system. Poor Beaver.
But who is this guy, this barber and have you ever seen him on any other classic TV shows? Maybe he was in some movies you’ve checked out over the years. I did a quick search on the man and his name is Benny Baker. He began acting in 1934 in bit parts, some uncredited, many short films, and his final appearance was in 1991, three years before his death. Prior to working in film, actor Benny Baker worked on the vaudeville circuit.
Before his appearance on Leave it to Beaver, actor Benny Baker appeared in some popular shows but in very small roles such as an audience member on I Love Lucy, and other TV shows in which he has bit parts included The Milton Berle Show, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Life of Riley, Maverick and The Real McCoys. He also played an extra as a baseball player in the William Bendix film, The Babe Ruth Story.
Then came his few minutes on Leave it to Beaver. He played his role perfectly. He plays a great straight man for Beaver, especially with the line, “After all, anyone can lose money.” That set Beaver up perfectly with the reply, “Yeah, but not as good as I can.” In his role, Baker looked like a real barber, but of course, he was no Floyd the Barber from The Andy Griffith Show, even though Floyd does make an appearance on Leave it to Beaver in “The Shave” episode from season 2 episode 8 as a barber named Andy. I do admit, I was not the biggest Benny Baker fan when I first watched and even when I last watched “The Haircut” episode. I wanted him to give in to Beaver’s plea for a haircut. But then again, if he had, the rest of the episode would’ve been a bit boring, right?
After his appearance on Leave it to Beaver, Benny Baker went on to make 63 more appearances as an actor in Hollywood. A laundry list of TV show appearances include bit parts on Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Surfside 6, The Jack Benny Program, The Farmer’s Daughter, F Troop, Green Acres, Laverne & Shirley, Cagney & Lacey, Sledgehammer!, and He’s the Mayor. Benny Baker also appeared in many movies including No Time for Sergeants, Papa’s Delicate Condition, Boy Did I Get a Wrong Number and The Sting II. He also filmed scenes for the movie Car Wash, but unfortunately, those scenes were deleted.
Like many actors who appeared on Leave it to Beaver, Benny Baker had a long career in Hollywood, both before LITB and after LITB. Benny passed away in 1994 at the age of 87.
