Beverly Lunsford was an American actress who died on May 22, 2019 at the age of 74 in Canton, Georgia, USA. She was best known for playing Shirley Fletcher on the situation comedy series, Leave it to Beaver. She also appeared in several films and stage performances.
Early Life and Career
Beverly Lunsford was born on January 5, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia. She started her acting career at the age of 12, when she appeared in the 1957 Broadway production of The Rope Dancers, starring Siobhán McKenna and Art Carney. She then moved on to television and movies, appearing in several anthology dramas and guest-starring roles on series such as National Velvet, My Three Sons, and The Secret Storm. She temporarily played the part of Amy Ames Britton Kincaid on the CBS soap opera, The Secret Storm, during which she filled in for the main star, Jada Rowland.
Leave It to Beaver and Other Roles
Lunsford’s most memorable role was as Shirley Fletcher, the annoying girlfriend of Wally Cleaver, on the sitcom Leave It to Beaver. She appeared in four episodes of the show between 1962 and 1963, and was often the source of conflict and humor for Wally and his younger brother, Beaver. Lunsford also starred in two films directed by Roger Corman: The Intruder (1962), a drama about racial tensions in the South, and The Crawling Hand (1963), a horror film about a severed hand that comes to life. Lunsford made her last screen appearance in 1969, in the film Jennie: Wife/Child.
Death and Legacy
Lunsford died from kidney cancer at her home in Rancho Mirage, California on January 21, 2019. She was survived by her husband, James R. Smith, and her two children, James and Jennifer. She was remembered by her fans and co-stars as a talented and charming actress, who brought life and humor to her roles. She was also praised for her courage and grace in facing her illness.