(PatriotWise.com)- Tony Dow, who portrayed Wally Cleaver on “Leave It to Beaver,” died at 77 from liver cancer.
Dow’s death was announced Tuesday. Lauren Shulkind notified Dow’s management team that the actor had died because she was “extremely disturbed,” according to the New York Post.
Christopher Dow stated his father was in “his dying hours.”
Tony Dow’s Facebook page announced his death on Wednesday.
The message said Tony’s son Christopher confirmed that Dow died that morning with his loving family by his side.
“We know the world is heartbroken by his death. He was loved by many for his generosity. “It’s uncommon to find someone so widely liked as Tony,” observed one devotee.
The son Christopher said that although today is sad, he is in a better place. He said he was a great dad. He was his coach, mentor, the voice of reason, greatest friend, and hero. His wife said that Tony was kind. She never heard Tony say anything terrible about anyone.
According to reports, Dow died of liver cancer. He died in California.
Dow played Wally Cleaver, “The Beaver’s” older brother, from 1957 until 1963.
Dow was 12 and Mathers 8 when the program debuted. The first season was on CBS, then five on ABC.
Dow and Mathers returned to “Leave It to Beaver” from 1986-89.
Dow remarked in a 1988 interview with the Houston Chronicle that when he sees a drug program, it can be entertaining, and he can become interested, but it doesn’t have the same connection as when Beaver grabbed his father’s electric drill and cut a hole in the garage door.
“Stories like this,” Dow said, “are part of growing up.” “It wasn’t all milk and cookies.”
Dow said he couldn’t comprehend people’s attitude toward Jerry Mathers and himself. On an aircraft, he saw a man who seemed familiar. He asked the stewardess, “Who’s that guy?”
“Oh, that’s Meadowlark Lemon,” she remarked. And I smiled.”
Dow said, “Suddenly, I understood.” “I don’t know what happened to me. I grinned and thought, that’s cool.”
Dow appeared in “My Three Sons,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Lassie,” and “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
He directed “Coach,” “Harry and the Hendersons,” and “Babylon 5” episodes.
