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RIP, Tony. Cancer’s a bitch. :mad:

Liver cancer got my mom at age 77 too.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/entertainment/tony-dow-obit/index.html

(CNN)Tony Dow, an actor and director best known for his role as older brother Wally Cleaver on "Leave It to Beaver," died Tuesday, according to his representatives. He was 77.

"It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our beloved Tony this morning," Frank Bilotta and Renee James, Dow's managers, announced in a statement. "Tony was a beautiful soul - kind, compassionate, funny and humble. It was truly a joy to just be around him. His gentle voice and unpretentious manner was immediately comforting and you could not help but love him.
No cause of death was shared, but Dow revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Dow was thrust into stardom at age 12, when he was cast on the soon-to-be-smash sitcom "Leave It to Beaver." In the role, Dow helped create the archetype of a suburban nuclear family and became a household name to millions of viewers. The show ran from 1957 to 1963.
In a January interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Dow recalled learning over a hamburger and malt that he was offered the part after auditioning on a whim.
"There went my life," he said.
Wally Cleaver, the straight-arrow teenage son, star athlete and Boy Scout, became inextricably tied to Dow, who said he struggled to stand on his own.
"It's sad to be famous at 12 years old or something, and then you grow up and become a real person, and nothing's happened for you," he told CBS.
Dow, who said he experienced undiagnosed depression from age 20 to age 40, spoke out for decades about his mental health challenges, long before it was common for celebrities to disclose that information publicly. In 1993, he was an honorary speaker at a convention for the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association.
"I realize there's a perceived irony about this," he told the Baltimore Sun of his depression in 1993. "You know, the fact that I was in a TV program that epitomized the supposed ideal world of the '50s, and here I'm suffering from depression. But I'm just one of millions."
Dow told CBS that once he accepted his diagnosis and began treatment, he found hope. He channeled that hope into art, too, sculpting ornate pieces at his home studio.
"I think people should take the leap of faith that they can feel better," he said.
Dow continued to work in Hollywood, taking parts in TV series and even reprising his role in "The New Leave It to Beaver" in the 1980s. He also directed episodes of series like "Harry and the Hendersons," "Coach" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."
Jerry Mathers, who starred opposite Dow as Beaver on their hit sitcom, told fans earlier this month that he'd been in contact with Dow, whose managers said had been "in and out of the hospital with various complications and treatments."
Bilotta and James, Dow's management team, thanked their client for his work, "for the reflections of a simpler time, the laughter, the friendship and for the feeling that you were a big brother to us all."

It seems like a celeb death is announced daily and my mind wanders for the more reasons since early 2020.....

Rest in Peace, Tony.

Just hearing on my radio, Tony is not dead but in hospice...continue to hear this, and he has
battled cancer for years.

Well, I still hope that he is able to be in peace, dead or alive.

TVLegend said it best!!

We love you Wally!!!!!!!

I feel deeply scared by this "Wally's Dead" hoax. It felt like a piece was cut right out of me.

Evidently his wife, Lauren, thought he had passed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/leave-it-to-beaver-s-tony-dow-in-hospice-not-dead-as-previously-reported/ar-AAZZNDV

I feel deeply scared by this "Wally's Dead" hoax. It felt like a piece was cut right out of me.

Not really a " hoax" per se'! Tony really does have late stage cancer and most likely ( sadly) won't be here much longer! :(

What is strange is why his wife reported his death ?, maybe she is so distraught she really thought he had passed away and was just sleeping ?! He must be in really bad shape for her to think that! So very sad !! :(

Evidently his wife, Lauren, thought he had passed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/leave-it-to-beaver-s-tony-dow-in-hospice-not-dead-as-previously-reported/ar-AAZZNDV

It has been a really sad eerie day for me upon hearing of Tony's death and than that he hasn't passed but is very ill! I think we all are feeling this right now !:(

Not really a " hoax" per se'!


Typically, the aggrieved gets to set the bar on whether or not we feel violated. :(

(you know the drill)

It has been a really sad eerie day for me upon hearing of Tony's death and than that he hasn't passed but is very ill! I think we all are feeling this right now !:(

Yes, so true.

Wow he really didnt die??

I hope your gonna be ok Wally :)

Latest word is that he died today. RIP, Wally!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/leave-it-to-beaver-star-tony-dow-has-died-at-age-77-he-had-such-a-huge-heart/ar-AA102pdw

RIP. Cancer still remains to be a bitch. :(

Very sad........... She knew he was gonna die :(

Sad day today !!:( Rest in peace Tony !

I think everything points to that Tony was as good a person in real life as Wally was on the show. They were very much the same. A very good guy.

MeTV will be having a marathon of Leave It To Beaver episodes on Sunday in honor of Tony Dow from noon to 5 PM.

Rest in peace.

I think everything points to that Tony was as good a person in real life as Wally was on the show. They were very much the same. A very good guy.

I totally agree! :wave:

MeTV will be having a marathon of Leave It To Beaver episodes on Sunday in honor of Tony Dow from noon to 5 PM.

I was hoping they would have Leave it to Beaver on this Sunday " Summer of me" in honor of Tony . It was going to be the Brady Bunch , so that will be postponed !;)

Tony seemed like a cool guy. He even had the haircut that still is popular with the kids of today. Last time I saw him on an interview he was talking about his cars that he enjoyed working on.

Sad that he is no longer present. Although his legacy will live forever. Prayers go to his Family and Friends.

I was hoping they would have Leave it to Beaver on this Sunday " Summer of me" in honor of Tony . It was going to be the Brady Bunch , so that will be postponed !;)

There are only 4 weeks left of the Block Party, so they could either show it or not show it.

Snowpeck's schedule, on the Summer of Me thread (post 104), starting Sept. 4 (where Collector's Call season is over and TAGS is returning) shows Block Party is continuing. There are no other changes other than a minor change early Sunday morning

I totally agree! :wave:

Thanks, Bonnie.