“Leave it to Beaver” star Jerry Mathers speaks at Luminary Luncheon for the Coachella Valley Repertory Theater

“Leave it to Beaver" star, Jerry Mathers came in town to speak at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theater’s Luminary Luncheon.

News Channel 3’s Caitlin Thropay got the chance to catch up with “the Beav” to hear what he’s up to today and why he believes local theater is so important.

“Leave it to Beaver” entered the hearts and homes of America in 1957.

Since then, Jerry Mathers has been an icon for more than 60 years.

Many “Beaver” fans came to hear Mathers speak at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theater’s Luminary Luncheon.

“It just throws me back to my childhood," Board Member of the Coachella Valley Repertory Theater, Atma Wiseman told News Channel 3. "I think it does that for everyone and to a time that was simpler and really joyful,” she added.

Wiseman says the Luminary Luncheons give people an intimate opportunity to meet with some of the people we’ve held dear for a long time.

We got an exclusive interview with Mathers before the luncheon began where he shared his love for local theater.

“Local theater gives people the chance to see children or adults in their own neighborhood and you’ll find someone maybe your grocer, your cleaner or the guy at the car wash and suddenly you see them in a whole different light,” Mathers said.

Mathers spent some of his career performing at dinner theatres and on Broadway.

Following the luncheon, fans got to ask Mathers their questions.

“I’d really like to know what happened to his life after the show,” Beaver fan, Roger Belair said.

Mathers told us what he’s up to today.

“I work as an actor but I also have diabetes,” he shared.

Today, he told us he does a lot of public speaking to raise awareness of diabetes.

Above all, he’ll always be the “Beaver” we all know and love.

“I’m very thankful for all of my fans and I hope they keep watching ‘Leave it to Beaver” which is the longest-running show in history,” Mathers said.

If you are interested in attending the next Luminary Luncheon, it's on March 19 with designer Bob Mackie. You can find more information on Coachella Valley Repertory Theater's website here: https://cvrep.org/