5/6/22, 10:44 PM Tony Dow, TV’s Wally Cleaver, battling cancer – New York Daily News

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Tony Dow, TV’s Wally Cleaver, battling cancer

By Brian Niemietz
New York Daily News • May 06, 2022 at 9:25 pm

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Former “Leave it to Beaver” actor Tony Dow is thankful for the “caring thoughts”
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5/6/22, 10:44 PM Tony Dow, TV’s Wally Cleaver, battling cancer – New York Daily News
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of friends and fans as he battles cancer.

Dow, 77, and his wife shared the news of his diagnosis Thursday on the actor’s
Facebook page.

Mel Johnson Jr. attends Chiller Theatre Expo 30th Anniversary Fall 2021 at Hilton Parsippany on October 29,
2021 in Parsippany, New Jersey. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

“Dear Friends & Fans of Tony Dow, I have some very sad news to share with
you,” his wife Lauren revealed. “Unfortunately, Tony has once again been
diagnosed with cancer. He is approaching this reality so bravely, but it is truly
heartbreaking. We want to thank you in advance for your caring thoughts.”

The type of cancer Dow has and the severity of it is unclear. It’s also not clear
when and he previously had cancer.

Dow played Wally Cleaver, the elder brother of central character Theodore Privacy - Terms

“B ” Cl i th i f it th t i d f t
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5/6/22, 10:44 PM Tony Dow, TV’s Wally Cleaver, battling cancer – New York Daily News
“Beaver” Cleaver in the coming of age sitcom that aired from 1957 to 1963. He
appeared in 234 episodes of “Leave it to Beaver,” according to his IMDB page.

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Dow told “CBS Sunday Morning” in January that he struggled with depression
and anger after the hit TV program came to an end.

“The fact that I was known for something I did when I was 12, you know, a kid
actually,” he said. “And I’m actually a person now that’s in his 20s and does
things, but never recognized for anything I do.”

He was treated by therapists and took up sculpting, which he said he suspects

helped him get on with his life. As an adult, Dow appeared in several shows and
movie including 2003′s “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”

He also wrote an episode of “The New Leave it to Beaver” in 1986.

Dow thanked his fans on Facebook for their “wonderful Birthday wishes” on
April 14.

Ken Osmond, who famously played Wally Cleaver’s mischievous pal Eddie
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Haskell on “Leave it to Beaver ” died in Los Angeles in 2020 Dow wrote at the
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5/6/22, 10:44 PM Tony Dow, TV’s Wally Cleaver, battling cancer – New York Daily News
Haskell on Leave it to Beaver, died in Los Angeles in 2020. Dow wrote at the
time that he and Osmond had remained friends for 63 years, and added “I’ll miss
you man.”

Jerry Mathers, who played “The Beaver” tweeted in December that he was “sad to
hear” of the passing of fellow 1960s sitcom star Michael Nesmith of “The
Monkees.” The 73-year-old actor has not commented on his TV big brother’s
condition.

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