Film producer and Leave it to Beaver star Tony Dow died at the age of 77 on Wednesday.
While there was a miscommunication Tuesday surrounding his death, this was confirmed by his son, Christopher Dow. The actor was last reported to be in hospice care but alive.
“Our heart goes out to Tony’s wife, Lauren, who will miss her soulmate of 42 years …To his son, Christopher, who will dearly miss his father, who was also his best friend … to his daughter-in-law, Melissa, who loved him like her own father … To his Granddaughter, Tyla, who will undoubtedly carry on her Grandfather’s kind soul, To his Brother Dion and Sister-in-Law, Judy, and to all of his extended family and friends,” a Facebook post from his official page read.
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“Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place,” Christopher was quoted in the post. “He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero.”
“Tony was such a kind man,” said Christopher’s wife, Melissa Dow. “He had such a huge heart and I’ve never heard Tony say a bad or negative thing about anyone.”
Lauren Shulkind, Dow’s 75-year-old wife, had prematurely announced his death per an earlier Facebook post.
Dow starred as Wally, the older brother of Beaver, for a total of six seasons from 1957 to 1963. He would go on to reprise his role in the sitcom’s 1983 sequel, The New Leave It to Beaver, which aired for four seasons until 1989. Then, he starred in My Three Sons, Dr. Kildare, Lassie, The Greatest Show on Earth, and Mr. Novak.
By the ’90s, Dow would add some directorial work to his repertoire, including episodes of Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
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Dow had previously been diagnosed with cancer and suffered a case of pneumonia last year.
