Beverly Lunsford


Beverly Lunsford was an American actress best known as the annoying female character, Shirley Fletcher, on the situation comedy television series, Leave it to Beaver, starring Jerry Mathers.

Early life

Lunsford was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

Career

Lunsford's early career encompassed several stage performances as well as television and movies. She first appeared at the age of twelve in the 1957 Broadway production of The Rope Dancers starring Siobhán McKenna and Art Carney. Lunsford's big-screen work started soon after. She appeared in several anthology dramas, then progressed onto guest-starring role on television series like National Velvet, My Three Sons, and Leave It to Beaver. 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.. She had previously played a role on The Edge of Night
Lunsford's starring role came in 1961 when she played in Roger Corman's topical drama The Intruder. The film dealt with race relations in the American South in the wake of the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling.
In 1963, Lunsford was cast in Herbert L. Strock's horror film, The Crawling Hand. Lunsford made her last screen appearance in 1969, although she still attended various public celebrity-oriented events until her death in 2019.

Filmography

YearTitleRole
1957That Night!Betsy Bowden
1962The IntruderElla McDaniel
1963The Crawling HandPatsy Townsen
1968Jennie: Wife/ChildJennie Pekingpraw

Television