Depart It to Beaver star Tony Dow dies at 77

Actor Tony Dow, greatest recognized for his function as Wally Cleaver within the Nineteen Fifties American TV sitcom “Depart It to Beaver,” died Wednesday at age 77, his household and administration staff stated on Wednesday, a day after his dying was introduced prematurely.

Dow, whose profession in tv as an actor, director and producer spanned seven many years, died in hospice care together with his household at his aspect, in response to an announcement posted to Fb citing his son Christopher. A reason for dying was not disclosed, although he and his spouse, Lauren, had stated Dow had suffered from a recurrence of most cancers in Could.

“Though it is a very unhappy day, I’ve consolation and peace that he’s in a greater place,” Christopher Dow stated within the assertion. “He was the very best Dad anybody may ask for.”

On Tuesday, Dow’s managers needed to retract a Fb submit saying the gravely unwell actor had already died, explaining that his “distraught” spouse had mistakenly thought he had been declared useless. Whereas gravely unwell, Dow was nonetheless alive, they stated on the time.

In “Depart It to Beaver,” which ran from 1957 to 1963, Dow performed the teenage older brother of the title character, Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. Dow’s function within the present, which depicted an idealized American household dwelling a carefree life in an American suburb, made him a cultural icon.

“We all know that the world is collectively saddened by the lack of this unimaginable man,” his administration staff stated within the social media submit. “He gave a lot to us all and was cherished by so many.”

In late Could, Dow shared a Fb message thanking his followers for his or her well-wishes and detailing his well being progress, together with his expertise with most cancers remedy. One other submit every week earlier than his dying famous that his well being was in decline.

Dow reprised his function as Wally Cleaver within the Eighties for a by-product film, “Nonetheless the Beaver,” and a TV collection, “The New Depart It to Beaver.” He additionally appeared within the daytime collection “Normal Hospital.”

Dow can also be credited as director for greater than a dozen TV reveals, together with “The New Depart it to Beaver” And “Harry and the Hendersons” within the Nineteen Nineties…Reuters