He takes them into the wilderness, despite their having what they felt was pressing business at home. (Damian Dovarganes/The Associated Press)ĭow's favourite episode was one in which the always-ready-to-teach father, Ward Cleaver, played by Hugh Beaumont, wants his boys to know what his childhood was like. After attending an open casting call, he landed his career-defining role as Wally.įrom left, Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley and Tony Dow, and, standing from left, Frank Bank and Ken Osmond, pose for a photo as they are reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Leave it to Beaver in Santa Monica, Calif., Sept. He had done just a little stage acting and appeared in a pair of pilots. A career-defining roleĭow's Wally was an often annoyed but essentially loving big brother who was constantly bailing out the title character, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers, on the show that was synonymous with the sometimes hokey, wholesome image of the 1950s American family.ĭow was born and raised in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles - his mother was a stuntwoman who acted as a double for silent film star Clara Bow - but his parents did not push him into show business. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero."Ī post on Dow's Facebook page on Tuesday prematurely reported that he had died, but his wife and management team later took down the post and explained that it was announced in error. "He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. "Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place," Dow's son Christopher said in a post on his father's official Facebook page. No cause was given, but Dow had been in hospice care and announced in May that he had been diagnosed with prostate and gall bladder cancer. He was 77.įrank Bilotta, who represented Dow in his work as a sculptor, confirmed his death in an email to The Associated Press. Tony Dow, who as Wally Cleaver on the sitcom Leave It to Beaver helped create the popular and lasting image of the American teenager of the 1950s and 60s, died Wednesday.
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