Many people have wondered if Ken Osmond, the actor who played Eddie Haskell on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver, was related to Donny Osmond, the singer and entertainer who rose to fame as a teen idol in the 1970s. The two share a last name and a similar appearance, but are they really family? Let’s find out!
Who is Ken Osmond?
Ken Osmond was born in Glendale, California, on June 7, 1943. He started his acting career at the age of four, appearing in commercials and movies. He became famous for his role as Eddie Haskell, the mischievous and sarcastic friend of Wally Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver, which ran from 1957 to 1963. He reprised his role in the 1980s revival series The New Leave It to Beaver.
Osmond had trouble finding other acting roles after Leave It to Beaver, as he was typecast by his iconic character. He joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1970 and served as a police officer until 1988. He was shot in the line of duty in 1980, but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest. He retired from the police force due to injuries and resumed his acting career.
Osmond died on May 18, 2020, at the age of 76. He was married to Sandra Purdy since 1969 and had two sons, Eric and Christian.
Who is Donny Osmond?
Donny Osmond was born in Ogden, Utah, on December 9, 1957. He was one of nine children of George and Olive Osmond, who were devout members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his singing career at the age of five, joining his older brothers in The Osmonds, a vocal group that performed on various TV shows and toured around the world.
Donny became a solo star in the early 1970s, with hits such as “Go Away Little Girl”, “Puppy Love”, and “One Bad Apple”. He also hosted a variety show with his sister Marie Osmond, called Donny & Marie, from 1976 to 1979. He faced a decline in popularity in the 1980s, as he struggled to shed his teen idol image and appeal to a more mature audience.
Donny made a comeback in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with songs such as “Soldier of Love” and “Sacred Emotion”. He also starred in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Beauty and the Beast. He continued to perform with his sister Marie in Las Vegas and on TV. He also won the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2009.
Donny is married to Debra Glenn since 1978 and has five sons, Donald Jr., Jeremy, Brandon, Christopher, and Joshua.
Is Ken Osmond Related to Donny Osmond?
The short answer is no. Ken Osmond and Donny Osmond are not related by blood or marriage. They have different parents, different backgrounds, and different careers. They just happen to share a common surname and a resemblance.
The rumor that Ken Osmond was related to Donny Osmond started in the early 1970s, when some people speculated that Ken had changed his name and identity to become Alice Cooper, the shock rock singer known for his dark and theatrical stage persona. Alice Cooper denied this rumor and said that it originated from a joke he made in an interview, when he said that he was “a real Eddie Haskell” as a child.
The rumor was further fueled by the fact that Alice Cooper’s real name is Vincent Damon Furnier, which sounds similar to Donny’s middle name Clark. However, there is no evidence that Alice Cooper is related to Donny Osmond either.
