Frank Bank, 'Lumpy' Rutherford on 'Leave It To Beaver,' Dies at 71

Actor Frank Bank, known for his role as Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the 1957-1963 television series "Leave It to Beaver," died Saturday, one day after celebrating his 71st birthday.

"I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank," Beaver star Jerry Mathers, 64, wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday. "He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank's family."

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Mathers told the Los Angeles Times that Bank had a number of illnesses and was hospitalized recently in Rancho Mirage.

"Lumpy was the ultimate bully, but Frank was a very, very kind and gentle person and a very good actor to play it so well," Mathers told the Times this week. "The show was about all the people you knew growing up and throughout your life, and Frank brought that perspective to the show."

Bank, who first appeared on television in the 1952 Warner Brothers biopic "The Will Rogers Story," where he played a very young Will Rogers, landed several TV roles throughout the decade.

Other '50s shows Frank Bank guest-starred included "Father Knows Best" and "Cimarron City," People Magazine reported.

In 1983, Bank reprised his role in the TV movie "Still the Beaver" and the 1980s series "The New Leave It to Beaver."

Throughout the 1980s, Bank also appeared on several game shows, such as "Hollywood Squares" and "Family Feud."

Bank's 1997 memoir, "Call Me Lumpy," drew limited attention when it was published.

In the book, Bank claims to have slept with more than 1,000 women, detailing his "perpetual sexfest" during the '60s in Hollywood.

After acting, Bank went on to assist his family with its meat packing business before settling into a career as a stock and bond broker in Los Angeles. Among his clients were former co-stars Mathers and Barbara Billingsley, who had played Mrs. Cleaver.

By the mid-'70s he was earning a six-figure income.

Bank is survived by his wife, Rebecca; daughters Julie Bank, Kelly Lightner, Michelle Randall, and Joanne Littman; and five grandchildren.

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