Tony Dow Dead: Wally Cleaver on ‘Leave It to Beaver’ Was 77

Tony Dow the actor and director best notable for taking part in the stalwart older brother sap knife to Hun Mathers’ Beaver within the picture series “Leave It to Beaver,” died Wednesday when it absolutely was incorrectly proclaimed Tues that he had died. He was 77.

“We have received confirmation from St. Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed on to the great beyond earlier this morning, along with his amatory family at his facet to envision him through this journey. we all know that the planet is conjointly saddened by the loss of this unimaginable man,” browse the statement on his official Facebook page.

His son Christopher aforementioned within the Facebook statement, “Although this can be a really unhappy day, I actually have comfort and peace that he’s in an exceedingly higher place. He was the most effective male parent anyone may enkindle. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my supporter, my groomsman in my wedding, and my hero. My adult female aforementioned one thing powerful and shows the sort of man he was. She said: ‘Tony was such a form man. He had such a large heart and I’ve ne’er detected Tony say a foul or negative issue regarding anyone.’”

Dow and his partner Lauren proclaimed in might that his cancer, that he had been diagnosed with years before, had came back.

Mathers remembered Dow on Facebook, writing “He wasn’t solely my brother on TV, however in many ways in life still. Tony leaves associate empty place in my heart that won’t be stuffed. He was continuously the kindest, most generous, gentle, loving, sincere, and humble man, that it had been my honor and privilege to be ready to share recollection sat the side of for 65 years.”

Dow was born in Hollywood Associate in Nursingd his mother was an early fill-in and double for Clara Bow. He was a Junior Olympic Games diving champion, however didn’t have a lot of showbiz expertiseonce he labelledtogether witha disciple and all over up auditioning for and winning the role of Wally. “Leave it to Beaver” began airing in 1957 and ran till 1963. the popular black-and-white broadcast, targetedround the typical perfect family of the time, followed the adventures of mischievous young Beaver, his sensible brother Wally, their devious friend Eddie Haskell, and their long-suffering however understanding folkscompete by Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont.

The show’s writers, Bob Mosher and Joe Connelly, primarily based the characters on their own youngsters, incorporating such details as Wally’s constant hair-combing they discovered in their own teenagers. because the show came to Associate in Nursing finish, Wally was on the brink of to|on the point of} begin faculty whereas Beaver was ready for top faculty.

Dow camewithin theEighties for the TV show “Still the Beaver” and series “The New Leave It to Beaver,” that he conjointly directed 5 episodes and wrote one.

He rapt into writing, manufacturing and guiding where as continued to act, and helmed many episodes of “Harry and therefore the Hendersons,” “Coach,” “Babylon five,” “Honey I shrunken the Kids” ANd an episode of “Star Trek: region9.”

After “Leave It to Beaver,” Dow appeared on series as well as “General Hospital,” “Mr. Novak,” “Never Too Young,” “Lassie,” “Love, yankvogue,” “Square Pegs” and “The Love Boat,” on that he contend himself. He conjointlycontend himself within the 2003 comedy “Dickie Roberts: Former kid Star,” that featured cameos of dozens of former young actors, and appeared within the John Landis performing comedy feature “The Kentuckydeep-friedshow.”

Dow battled depression in his 20s, creating the help video “Beating the Blues” to assist others, and later survived 2 bouts of cancer. He additionally became a sculptor and began a construction company.

He is survived by his married woman Lauren, son Saint Christopher, brother Dion and a progeny.