But he soon realized he had been hopelessly typecast as his Leave It to Beaver character. WhenLeave it to Beaverdebuted on CBS in October 1957, Dow was 12 and Wally was just beginning to take an interest in girls. Dow also received the Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award from the Young Artist Foundation in 1987. (FOX NEWS) -- As a child, Tony Dow helped capture the innocence of America as Wally Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver and it still continues to captivate audiences nearly 60 years since the show ended. ', Aside from portraying Wally Cleaver, the title characters (Jerry Mathers) older and reliable brother, from 1957 to 1963, Dow appeared in many other TV series, including Adam-12, My Three Sons, Mod Squad, Emergency!, The Love Boat, Murder, She Wrote and Knight Rider. He later reprised his iconic sitcom role for 1983s TV reunion movie Still the Beaver and the Disney Channels 1980s sequel series, The New Leave It to Beaver, for which he wrote a 1986 episode. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. It aired on Disney Channel from 1984 to 1985, and then on TBS from 1986 to 1989. It was truly a joy to just be around him. He landed the role of Wally Cleaver in Leave It To Beaver in a casting call with almost no acting experience. Fox News: What was it like working on television at such a young age? Tony Dow 12 languages Read Edit View history Tools Anthony Lee Dow (April 13, 1945 - July 27, 2022) was an American actor, film producer, director and sculptor. I remember the writers would come in with these elaborate pitches. But every actor has that issue People formulate an opinion about you and expect you to be a particular way. The central character on the sitcom was the button-cute, trouble-prone Beaver Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers, but whenever Beaver needed the benefit of counsel from someone older and wiser who was not likely to yell at him, he turned to Wally, his only sibling and most trusted confidant. He moved into writing, producing and directing while continuing to act, and helmed several episodes of Harry and the Hendersons, Coach, Babylon 5, Honey I Shrunk the Kids and an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine., After Leave It to Beaver, Dow appeared on series including General Hospital, Mr. They wanted us to be as much of a family as possible, for Jerry and I to very much be like regular kids. He was later a director, producer and sculptor, but he never shook his association with the sitcom. It starred Jerry Mathers (front), Tony Dow (back), Barbara Billingsley (left) and Hugh Beaumont (right). But that changed, especially in the 80s. Stop pitching us. Can Tony go with me becausewe kind of look alike? He figured maybe that was the only way to get it.. FILE - This Dec. 10, 1982 file photo shows members of the original cast of the "Leave It To Beaver," from left, Ken Osmond, Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley and Jerry Mathers during the filming of their TV special, "Still The Beaver," in Los Angeles. WDRB FCC Applications & Related Materials, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Sadly, Tony Dow died on Tuesday at the age of 77. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble, the message from his management team had read. Image courtesy Tony Dow on Facebook. They actually asked our parents not to let us watch the show on TV so we wouldnt get a big head. The show was called Johnny Wildlife and it wouldve been the first color series on television about a wildlife photographer and his son. The shows writers, Bob Mosher and Joe Connelly, based the characters on their own children, incorporating such details as Wallys constant hair-combing they observed in their own teenagers. Before Dow became Wally Cleaver at age 12, . It was way ahead of its time.. It was truly a joy to just be around him. And, Will you stop being nice to me and just go back to being a little creep?, But when he was talking to his parents, Wally was more thoughtful. What did you go and do that for? hed ask. The popular black-and-white sitcom centered on the typical idealized family of the time, following the adventures of mischievous young Beaver, his practical brother, Wally, their devious friend Eddie Haskell and their long-suffering but understanding parents, played by Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont. I got up in the morning, had breakfast and went to work. Dow previously revealed in May of this year that he. (1972), Square Pegs (1982), and Murder, She Wrote (1987). T ony Dow was born in Hollywood, California in 1945. Leave It to Beaver, which also starred Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as the boys polished, suburban-perfect parents, was on the air from 1957 to 1963, but it endured far longer, in endless reruns and as a pop culture touchstone for the baby boom generation. Kildare (1963), My Three Sons (1964), Lassie (1968), The Mod Squad (1971), Love, American Style (1971) and Emergency (1972). (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images). Prior to show business, he joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 1965 and was a junior Olympics diving champion. We were both swimmers and divers in those days and we shared the same diving coach, Award Winning Olympic Diver, Johnny Riley. Image courtesy Tony Dow on Facebook. in his youth he held numerous diving and swimming titles, including national age-group records. Go write that. So they really tried to keep the show realistic and believable Im a little biased, as all my other friends who are on other shows are. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. R.I.P. Tony Dow, Who Played Wally Cleaver in Leave It To Beaver - Yahoo Dow also played himself in the 2003 comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, which featured cameos of dozens of former young actors, and he appeared in the John Landis skit comedy feature The Kentucky Fried Movie. And thank you for the reflections of a simpler time, the laughter, the friendship and for the feeling that you were a big brother to us all. His family then said that he is still alive and probably in his "last hours" at his home in Topanga, California, where Hospice care is being given. Leave It to Beaver, which aired from 1957 until 1963, chronicled the misadventures of a suburban boy, along with his family and friends. We never had any of that. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. When I wasnt doing the show, I was at school. IE 11 is not supported. He was training to be an Olympic swimmer and diver. Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble. Merchant Marine. Dow returned in the 1980s for the TV movie Still the Beaver and the series The New Leave It to Beaver, for which he also directed five episodes and wrote one. ", ABC Photo Archives / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images, Leave It to Beaver actors Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow on the unlikely success of the iconic sitcom. He was a Junior Olympics diving champion, but didn't have much showbiz . Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.\" He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero. From Screen Gems they hired a guy named Harry Ackerman, who was sort of a classic Hollywood producer. I was working out at the Hollywood athletic club and there was a. Love you Tony!". Dow: Oh yeah, who wouldn't. He was 77. I was working out at the Hollywood athletic club and there was a lifeguard there who was an actor. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Dow was born in Hollywood, California his mother was an early stuntwoman and double for Clara Bow. When the show completed its original run on ABC in June 1963, his character had graduated from Mayfield High School and was headed for college. The actor's son, Christopher Dow, told NBC News in a text message Thursday afternoon that his father is still "on hospice and in his last hours. I was a swimmer back then and a pretty good one, he said. 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In a since-deleted post on his Facebook page, Dow's death was confirmed: It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our beloved Tony this morning. That post was deleted as his son, Christopher Dow, told Fox News Digital that his father was alive but living out his last hours in hospice care, which was later confirmed to CBS News by Dows wife, Lauren. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. We had family vacations during the summers and I had my group of friends. They actually asked our parents not to let us watch the show on TV so we wouldnt get a big head. Tony Dow, an accomplished actor and director, is best known for his time on "Leave It to Beaver. A further Facebook post to Dow's official page from his management team attributed the confusion to miscommunication. As we are sure you can understand, this has been a very trying time for her. We spent a little more money on it than most, I believe, but it was just more realistic. Fox News: Were you ever worried about being typecast? It starred Jerry Mathers (center), Tony Dow (right), Barbara Billingsley (center) and Hugh Beaumont (left). Fox News: How were you discovered at age 11? It was my life, you know? Created by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher,Leave It to Beaverwas a slice-of-life family comedy that told stories not from the parents point-of-view but from the kids. Tony Dow (Getty Images) . He was with his first wife, Carol Marlow, from 1969 until their 1980 divorce. I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)I do not own, nor do I or intend to profit from this content whatsoever. I was working out at the . Throughout his lifetime he has been involved in many forms of creative activity. My parents wanted to make sure it was normal. But I think the show is the most natural and most realistic representation of the late 50s, early 60s that was on the air. Tony Dow, Who Played Wally Cleaver On 'Leave It To Beaver,' Dies The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Mr. Dow said in the end that he was no longer troubled by the outcome of his early success. He has also been a nominee of the same multiple times. Wally aside, Dow was a regular on the teen soap Never Too Young (1965-1966) and also acted on series like Dr. Kildare (1963), My Three Sons (1964), Mr. Novak (1963-1965), Adam-12 (1970), Mod Squad (1971), Emergency! Dow: When I wasnt filming my life was normal. Born April 13, 1945 in Hollywood, California, Tony Dow trained as a swimmer and was a Junior Olympics diving champion. Hey, I just worked with a kid, hes kind of green, you might want to take a look at him.'.