Tony Dow, ‘Leave It to Beaver’ star, has died

“Though this can be a very unhappy day, I’ve consolation and peace that he’s in a greater place. He was the most effective Dad anybody may ask for. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of purpose, my greatest buddy, my greatest man in my marriage ceremony, and my hero,” Christopher Dow mentioned, in response to a press release that Bilotta shared on Tony Dow’s official Fb web page.

Information of the actor’s passing comes someday after a untimely announcement of his loss of life. Dow revealed in Might he had been recognized with most cancers and was receiving hospice care this week, in response to his son.

“There went my life,” he mentioned.

Wally Cleaver, the straight-arrow teenage son, star athlete and Boy Scout, turned inextricably tied to Dow, who mentioned he struggled to face on his personal.

“It is unhappy to be well-known at 12 years previous or one thing, and then you definately develop up and grow to be an actual individual, and nothing’s occurred for you,” he instructed CBS.

Dow, who mentioned he skilled undiagnosed despair from age 20 to age 40, spoke out for many years about his psychological well being challenges, lengthy earlier than it was widespread for celebrities to reveal that data publicly. In 1993, he was an honorary speaker at a conference for the Nationwide Depressive and Manic-Depressive Affiliation.

Dow instructed CBS that when he accepted his prognosis and commenced remedy, he discovered hope. He channeled that hope into artwork, too, sculpting ornate items at his house studio.

“I feel folks ought to take the leap of religion that they’ll really feel higher,” he mentioned.

Dow continued to work in Hollywood, taking components in TV collection and even reprising his position in “The New Depart It to Beaver” within the Eighties. He additionally directed episodes of collection like “Harry and the Hendersons,” “Coach” and “Star Trek: Deep Area 9.”