Tony Dow, Who Played Wally Cleaver on ‘Leave It to Beaver,’ Dies at 77
variety.comPat Saperstein Deputy EditorTony Dow, the actor and director best known for playing the stalwart older brother Wally Cleaver to Jerry Mathers’ Beaver in the iconic series “Leave It to Beaver,” has died.
He was 77.His official Facebook page posted that he died Tuesday morning. “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our beloved Tony this morning.
Tony was a beautiful soul – kind, compassionate, funny and humble,” read the message from his management team.Dow was born in Hollywood and his mother was an early stunt woman and double for Clara Bow.
He was a Junior Olympics diving champion, but didn’t have much showbiz experience when he tagged along with a friend and ended up auditioning for and winning the role of Wally. “Leave it to Beaver” began airing in 1957 and ran until 1963.
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