But there was another show called Wally and The Beaver. That made the cut. Dow famously played Wally Cleaver, the brother of the titular character, in the classic sitcom. He was a Junior Olympics diving champion, but didnt have much showbiz experience when he tagged along with a friend and ended up auditioning for and winning the role of Wally. (1972), Square Pegs (1982), and Murder, She Wrote (1987). After a Facebook post Tuesday morning that announced his death and another hours later that said he was still alive, he died on Wednesday. Image courtesy Tony Dow on Facebook. He was Wally again in The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), and did a total revisit of the character in the TV movie Still the Beaver (1983). Twenty years after Leave It to Beaver went off the air, it returned in the form of a CBS television movie, Still the Beaver (1983). ", "He has family and friends surrounding him," Christopher Dow said. I was a junior diving champion and held a national record at nine. Exposed to creative parents and a home frequently filled with his parents eccentric and artistic friends, it was no surprise that Tony developed a love for art. Along the way, he also had a contracting business and did visual effects for film. Cleaver dad Hugh Beaumont died in 1982; June Cleaver actor Barbara Billingsley in 2010; and Ken Osmond the actor who portrayed troublemaker Eddie Haskell, died in 2020. But what set Leave It To Beaver apart was its perspective, where the comedy focused on life through the eyes of Jerry Mathers (as Theodore Beaver Cleaver), who was seven years old when the series began, and his older brother Wally (Tony Dow). Clockwise from left: Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow, Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley of Leave It to Beaver. Mr. Dow in 2012. In Dow's later years, he directed for TV and became a successful sculptor, one who specialized in bronze works. The actor's son, Christopher Dow, told NBC News in a text message Thursday afternoon that his father is still "on hospice and in his last hours. I wish I could have tried to get rid of that. Adam Bernstein 7/27/2022. EDITORS NOTE (July 26, 2022, 6:30 p.m. The rest of the time we were shooting or rehearsing. All Rights Reserved. I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)I do not own, nor do I or intend to profit from this content whatsoeve. Throughout his lifetime he has been involved in many forms of creative activity. Wednesdays announcement continued, Our heart goes out to Tonys wife, Lauren, who will miss her soulmate of 42 yearsTo his son, Christopher, who will dearly miss his father, who was also his best friendto his daughter-in-law, Melissa, who loved him like her own fatherTo his Granddaughter, Tyla, who will undoubtedly carry on her Grandfathers kind soul, To his Brother Dion and Sister-in-Law, Judy, and to all of his extended family and friends. He gets As on all his papers. I became 'Chip Douglas' on MY THREE SONS. The popular black-and-white sitcom, centered around the typical idealized family of the time, followed the adventures of mischievous young Beaver, his practical brother Wally, their devious friend Eddie Haskell, and their long-suffering but understanding parents played by Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont. Personal Life: Affair, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids Tony Dow was born in Hollywood on April 13, 1945 to very creative parents. Today, the proud husband and grandfather resides in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California where he continues to create sculptures. His last screen role was on a 2016 episode of the anthology series Suspense.. Instead, he took up diving at an early age, and eventually became a junior Olympic champion and Western states champion. ). As this article explains, Dow is in hospice but is alive. It starred Jerry Mathers (center), Tony Dow (right), Barbara Billingsley (center) and Hugh Beaumont (left). From the warm reminiscences of Wally Cleaver to those of us fortunate enough to know him personally thank you Tony. Having suffered from depression, he spoke out about the illness in a series of self-help videos. A Junior Olympics diving champion, he had the wholesome good looks and easy, graceful attitude to embody the big brother every child wished he or she could have. I would study my lines while on the way and I had three hours of a school a day. I was a junior diving champion and held a national record at nine. Outside of the industry, Dow was a modern-art sculptor, and one of his bronze statues ended up in an annual exhibition at the Louvre in Paris. But fame was part of the problem. But everything was new and interesting. Tony Dow has won two BAFTA TV awards in 1997 and 1989. The world has lost an amazing human being, but we are all richer for the memories that he has left us. In David Spades comedy Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star, Mr. Dow sang in the front row of a glee club of former child stars. Before Dow became Wally Cleaver at age 12, he was first an accomplished athlete, as he told Fox News in 2019. He landed the role of Wally Cleaver in Leave It To Beaver in a casting call with almost no acting experience. Can Tony go with me because we kind of look alike? He figured maybe that was the only way to get it. They wanted to keep it as family-friendly as possible at all times. Dow has family and friends surrounding him, the statement said. Dow and his wife Laurenannounced in Maythat his cancer, which he had been diagnosed with years before, had returned. Fox News: What was it like working on television at such a young age? It was truly a joy to just be around him. 1960 photo by Gene Trindl / Everett Collection. In the early 2000s, Tony began to creating beautiful designs produced from burlwood. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero. Tony Dow 12 languages Read Edit View history Tools Anthony Lee Dow (April 13, 1945 - July 27, 2022) was an American actor, film producer, director and sculptor. They think their shows are the best. Tonys talent in the area of modern sculpture was confirmed when one of his bronzes was chosen for exhibition at the Salon 2008 de la National des Beaux Arts in Paris. Dow died Wednesday morning with his family at his sideat his home in Topanga. . His death came a day after it was announced erroneously. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We never had any of that. So there are probably some episodes I havent seen yet And there was no swearing on set at all, not even from the crew. The pilots we did dealt with Japan going over the quotas of hunted whales and a company dumping toxic waste into the ocean But it didnt work out because the stock footage they were using couldnt be duplicated. My beat is network and cable television, digital and syndication. But he soon realized he had been hopelessly typecast as his Leave It to Beaver character. Hes the champion basketball player, football player. IE 11 is not supported. I felt that way probably from the time I was 20 until I was maybe 40, he said in a 2022 interview on CBS Sunday Morning. At 40, I realized how great the show was., Tony Dow, Big Brother Wally on Leave It to Beaver, Dies at 77, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/26/arts/television/tony-dow-dead.html, Tony Dow in the late 1950s, when he and Jerry Mathers played siblings on the popular suburban sitcom Leave It to Beaver., Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers in an undated episode of Beaver.. But if youre a celebrity, pouting is frowned upon.. When he appeared on camera in movies or television later on, it was often with a healthy dose of amused self-awareness. Adaptation of U.K. Late Night Show Mock the Week for Amazon Freevee, Donald Trump to Return to CNN for Primetime Town Hall Event, Gay U.S. Marine Drama From Norman Lear a Go at Netflix, The Best Gifts for Women Who Love Fashion, Beauty, Tech and More, Channel Your Inner Queen Charlotte with This Star-Loved British Brands Exclusive Skincare Kit, Naomi Watts Just Wore These Under-$100 PJs from Two Star-Loved Brands And Theyre the Perfect Mothers Day Gift for Stylish Travelers, The Best Signet Rings for Adding a Red Carpet-Ready Touch to Your Jewelry Stack, Everyone Is Just Scrambling: Hollywood on Edge as Writers Guild Talks Go Down to the Wire, Succession Director on Filming That Surprise Cameo and Tying Up Her Kendall Trilogy, James Gunns Guardians: How Chris Pratt and His Marvel Castmates Rescued Their Directors Career, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. Leave it to Beaver began airing in 1957 and ran until 1963. Just two months after announcing a terminal cancer diagnosis, TV's Tony Dow has died at 77. Leave It to Beaver, which aired from 1957 until 1963, chronicled the misadventures of a suburban boy, along with his family and friends. T ony Dow was born in Hollywood, California in 1945. It's Derby Week. 'THE OLDER BROTHER WE ALL WISH WE HAD' It aired on Disney Channel from 1984 to 1985, and then on TBS from 1986 to 1989. WhenLeave it to Beaverdebuted on CBS in October 1957, Dow was 12 and Wally was just beginning to take an interest in girls. The popular black-and-white sitcom centered on the typical idealized family of the time, following the adventures of mischievous young Beaver, his practical brother, Wally, their devious friend Eddie Haskell and their long-suffering but understanding parents, played by Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont. . Fox News: What was your relationship like with the cast? Tony Dow, who became a star at 12 as Wally Cleaver, the barely teenage older brother on the popular 1950s and '60s comedy series "Leave It to Beaver," died on Wednesday at his home in Topanga,. Everyone loves him., After six seasons and 234 original episodes incredibly, the show has never been off the air since it started Dow, Mathers and Billingsley returned for the 1983 CBS telefilmStill the Beaver, with Wally now a lawyer. Its hard to say goodbye when youve known someone that long. If you look at him on a lot the shows, hes got his shirt off; I mean he was muscular. I was working out at the Hollywood athletic club and there was a . As most people know, Tony Dow was my big brother on Leave it to Beaver, Mathers said. In May, Mr. Dow said he had been diagnosed with liver cancer. He appeared as a guest star on series like Dr. Working onLeave It to Beaverwas great, Dow said. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, Paul Sorvino, Goodfellas and Law & Order Actor, Dies at 83, Aaron Latham, Screenwriter and Husband of Lesley Stahl, Dies at 78, David Warner, British Actor Known for Titanic and The Omen, Dies at 80. Tony was a beautiful soul - kind, compassionate, funny and humble. Image courtesy Tony Dow on Facebook. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. It starred Jerry Mathers (front), Tony Dow (back), Barbara Billingsley (left) and Hugh Beaumont (right). He portrayed Wally Cleaver in the iconic television sitcom Leave It to Beaver from 1957 to 1963. Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble, the message from his management team had read. His father, John, was a general contractor. But I think the show is the most natural and most realistic representation of the late 50s, early 60s that was on the air. This is a BETA experience. All Rights Reserved. Told primarily through the younger siblings eyes, the show in just about every episode found Beaver seeking help from his wiser, older brother. Hes a huge letterman. And, Will you stop being nice to me and just go back to being a little creep?, But when he was talking to his parents, Wally was more thoughtful. It was way ahead of its time.. I was a swimmer back then and a pretty good one, he said. Ill miss going to the house that he and Lauren built by hand. (FOX NEWS) -- As a child, Tony Dow helped capture the innocence of America as Wally Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver and it still continues to captivate audiences nearly 60 years since the show ended. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images), Suga Ties Jimin For One Of The Most Important Billboard Chart Records Among Korean Solo Musicians, Phone Free Policies Like Dave Chappelles Open Door For Better Comedy, High Vis Singer Graham Sayle Is Making Peace With Himself, Wednesday On Their Indie Rock Success And Latest LP Rat Saw God, Rest In Peace, Chef: MasterChef Australia Judge Jock Zonfrillo Dies At 46, American Idol Viewers Send Judges Message With Top 10 Live Vote, Celebrating 100 Years: Ralph Senensky, TV Director, Reaches The Century Mark, Jennifer Aniston Discusses LolaVies First Retail Partnership With Ulta Beauty: It Is A Huge Step. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I was working out at the Hollywood athletic club and there was a lifeguard there who was an actor. Tony was a beautiful soul kind, compassionate, funny and humble. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Love you Tony!". The son of a Hollywood stuntwoman, Dow was a swimmer and a junior diving champion who had appeared in two pilots for a Tarzan-like show that Ackerman produced but never made it to air. In his later years he was a director and a producer, did visual effects for film, owned a contracting business and had some success as a sculptor. Tony Dow died on July 27, 2022 at the age of 77. Tony became 'Wally Cleaver' in LEAVE IT TO BEAVER'. At an early age, he showed an unusual talent for imaginative abstract composition and drawing. My wife said something powerful and shows the kind of man he was. Wally played Chinese checkers with his brother in their room, sometimes went along with his friend Eddie Haskells misguided pranks and was young enough in the first season to ask, Dad, if I saved up my allowance, could I buy a monkey?. Dow: I don't have any other recollections of doing anything else. 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, Dows managers, announced in a statement. The rest is history. The Diver - Tony Dow The Diver Edition of Nine Bronze 24 X 24 Available, Contact Us if Interested Man/Maiden This piece was originally a commission for the International Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Image courtesy Tony Dow on Facebook. Fox. Dow's official Facebook page posted an announcement of the "passing of our beloved Tony this morning," but the post has since been deleted. Another post a few hours later said that he was still alive: This morning Tonys wife Lauren, who was very distraught, had notified us that Tony had passed and asked that we notify all his fans. They wanted to keep it as family-friendly as possible.. Dow battled depression in his 20s, making the self-help video Beating the Blues to help others. Dow's death was due to complications from liver cancer, according to The Washington Post. Currently his art is being represented by the Bilotta Gallery at 631-875-0859 or contact us here. It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our beloved Tony this morning. As the seasons passed, Wally matured, capturing the attention of adolescent female viewers, but his attitude toward his brother remained largely unchanged. Via @TonyDowOfficial Instagram and Fox News, via @TonyDownOfficial Instagram and Fox News. Novak, Never Too Young, Lassie, Love, American Style, Square Pegs and The Love Boat, on which he played himself. . And most of the stories came from real life. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Dow: Oh yeah, who wouldn't. You may opt-out by. Just two months after announcing a terminal cancer diagnosis, TV's Tony Dow has died at 77. Actor Tony Dow, who played Wally . I on the other hand was the eldest of my four siblings, so I actually was the Wally in my real family.. The show was calledJohnny Wildlife, and it wouldve been the first color series on television about a wildlife photographer and his son. Leave It to Beaver began airing in 1957 and ran until 1963. His gentle voice and unpretentious manner was immediately comforting and you could not help but love him. I met him when I was 6 years old. Tony Dow, who personified the role of America's big brother as the elder sibling Wally Cleaver on classic sitcom 'Leave It To Beaver, has died at 77. . I put on my blue suit and went in. "I was a junior diving champion and held a national record at 9. If you are a fan of classic sitcoms, you no doubt remember Leave It To Beaver, featuring the picture-perfect clan called Cleaver, which exemplified the idealized suburban family we all craved. Barbara Billingsley played the brothers mother. ", Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver, Hugh Beaumont as Ward Cleaver, Jerry Mathers as Beaver (Theodore) Cleaver, and Tony Dow as Wally Cleaver, Leave It To Beaver star Tony Dow dies at 77. But that changed, especially in the 80s. I ended up getting the part and he didnt, so that was unfortunate. And thank you for the reflections of a simpler time, the laughter, the friendship and for the feeling that you were a big brother to us all. The two men keep in touch and appeared on Today in 2017 to mark the shows 60th anniversary. Leave It to Beaver star Tony Dow explains why he wasnt allowed to watch hit series growing up, Pletcher's Forte, Tapit Trice are morning line favorites for Kentucky Derby 149. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. We had family vacations during the summers and I had my group of friends. He was 77. I got up in the morning, had breakfast and went to work. He also played himself in the 2003 comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, which featured cameos of dozens of former young actors, and he appeared in the John Landis skit comedy feature The Kentucky Fried Movie.. Dow: When I wasnt filming my life was normal. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. That was an issue I was faced with. "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,. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. His mother was Muriel Montrose, a Mack Sennett bathing beauty and then a stuntwoman who often doubled for Clara Bow. Our coverage of Derby 149 starts now. Dow hoped to direct the 1997Leave It to Beaverfilm at Universal; when he was turned down, he said he spurned an offer of $1,200 to make a cameo. Image courtesy Tony Dow on Facebook. He also played himself in the 2003 comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, which featured cameos of dozens of former young actors, and appeared in the John Landis skit comedy feature The Kentucky Fried Movie.. Others think its not realistic. One of Dows sculptures was later chosen for an exhibition in Paris. It was truly a joy to just be around him. It reunited the cast, with the exception of Mr. Beaumont, who had died in 1982 at 72. And he would never squeal on the Beav, unless he had to. He told my mom, Im going to this interview for a show where theyre looking for a father and son. Dow also played himself in the 2003 comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, which featured cameos of dozens of former young actors, and he appeared in the John Landis skit comedy feature The Kentucky Fried Movie. In addition to his bronze sculpture and uncast burlwood work, Tonys series of originals: Artifacts, Cityscapes and Assemblages incorporate avariety of materials to contrast natural and man-made objects. "Thank you for keeping us in your prayers during this difficult time.". Diana Dasrath is NBC News entertainment producer and a senior reporter. We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He married Lauren Shulkind, a ceramic artist, in 1980. I was working out at the Hollywood athletic club and there was a lifeguard there who was an actor. In 2008, his sculpture Unarmed Warrior was shown in Paris at the Salon de la Societ Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Carrousel du Louvre. I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)I do not own, nor do I or intend to profit from this content whatsoever. Confirmation of the actors death comes after it was prematurely reported by a since-deleted post on his official Facebook. I was ready to do the other show. I realize theres a perceived irony about this, Mr. Dow told The Chicago Tribune in 1993, acknowledging that his name and face were associated with one of the sunniest series in broadcast history. A further Facebook post to Dow's official page from his management team attributed the confusion to miscommunication. Leave It to Beaver, which also starred Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as the boys polished, suburban-perfect parents, was on the air from 1957 to 1963, but it endured far longer, in endless reruns and as a pop culture touchstone for the baby boom generation. Age, Height, Weight & Body Measurement Tony Dow's age is 78 years old as of today's date 16th April 2023 having been born on 13 April 1945. Now a grandfather, Tony and his wife Lauren, an artist as well, reside in their handcrafted home nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. But he found his passion when, in his 50s, he began doing sculpture, working primarily in burl wood and bronze. Dow was born in Hollywood, California his mother was an early stuntwoman and double for Clara Bow. However, I ended up getting the part and he didnt, so that was unfortunate. Tony Dow recently made the news because his death was wrongly reported in the media on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. As a youngster, Dow took an interest in diving and eventually became a junior Olympic and Western states champion. It was way ahead of its time. Unsurprisingly, a generation crushed on Wally (Image via CBS/ABC) In a since-deleted post on his Facebook page, Dow's death was confirmed: "It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our beloved Tony this morning. Leave It to Beaver, which aired from 1957 until 1963, chronicled the misadventures of a suburban boy, along with his family and friends. In 1957 he was chosen for the . But after starring in the feel-good family sitcom, Dow kept busy in Hollywood making guest appearances on a variety of TV shows. Dow previously revealed in May of this year that he. Even though that was his only acting experience, Dow was hired forLeave It to Beaver(as was Hugh Beaumont as his dad). He was one of only two U.S. sculptors selected to exhibit at this annual juried show at the Carrousel du Louvre. In 1956, at 11, his career path swerved decidedly when a lifeguard at the. An accomplished athlete, in his youth he held numerous diving and swimming titles, including national age-group records. At eleven, Tony landed his first TV role in a pilot, "Johnny Wildlife," followed by the opportunity to create the ever-popular big brother on "Leave it to Beaver", in production for six years. They dont quite understand it. And the studio wanted me to do it. Tonys son Christopher and his daughter-in-law Melissa have also been by his side comforting him, and we will keep you posted on any future updates.. In his 20s, he began to suffer from clinical depression, which he described as a self-absorbing feeling of worthlessness, of hopelessness. Helped by psychotherapy and medication, he became a spokesman for the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association. ", ABC Photo Archives / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images, Leave It to Beaver actors Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow on the unlikely success of the iconic sitcom. They were even going to make a series out of it so I was pretty happy about that because it would move me along. He also played Wally on the 1987 Love Boat finale episode. He was later a director, producer and sculptor, but he never shook his association with the sitcom. They wanted us to be as much of a family as possible, for Jerry and I to very much be like regular kids. He had gone on to a varied adult career, finding mixed success as an actor, a director, a producer and later a sculptor, but he could never quite shake his association with Leave It to Beaver, a dose of early-life fame that may have contributed to his later struggles with depression. a since-deleted post on his Facebook page, Valerie Perrine, Richard Lewis & Michael J. They had already looked at like 8,000 kids from all over the place and knew everyone who was around. Several of the shows cast members have died in the years since the beloved family comedy went off the air. He went on to helm episodes of Get a Life, Harry and the Hendersons, Coach, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5. He also served as the visual effects supervisor for Babylon 5.. As we are sure you can understand, this has been a very trying time for her. So I had to make a choice. One fan said it bestIt is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony. , A statement from Dows son Christopher was also included in the post: Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. They wanted us to be as much of a family as possible, for Jerry and I to very much be like regular kids. One fan said it bestIt is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.'. Hey, I just worked with a kid, hes kind of green, you might want to take a look at him.'. Born April 13, 1945 in Hollywood, California, Tony Dow trained as a swimmer and was a Junior Olympics diving champion. A long-time goal has been to return to sculpting. Dow got his start as a TV director onThe New Leave It to Beaver, and he spent the next dozen years helming episodes of other shows likeHarry and the Hendersons,Coach,Babylon 5andStar Trek: Deep Space Nineand serving as a visual effects supervisor on a 1996Doctor Whotelefilm. Outside of the industry, Dow was a modern-art sculptor Tony was a great friend, an incredible artist, a talented actor and director. Then in the 80s, he launched a career in directing and producing that continued for 20 years. He had virtually no acting experience when he was cast as Wally Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver.. It was my life, you know? You always hear stories about all these arguments on set. So I didnt have trouble with that transition. WDRB FCC Applications & Related Materials, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Fox News: How were you discovered at age 11? A swimmer and diving champion, he was asked by a pool lifeguard to go on an audition. Youre no longer the cute little kid. Dow also received the Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award from the Young Artist Foundation in 1987. Merchant Marine. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. We have since received a call from Tonys daughter-in-law saying that while Tony is not doing well, he has not yet passed. Each was the exact opposite in real life. Tony Dow (Getty Images) . Fox News: How did you manage escaping the so-called child star curse? The lifeguard lost the part, but Dow won a TV pilot role. I dont know. He had such a huge heart and Ive never heard Tony say a bad or negative thing about anyone. . I did High School U.S.A with Michael J. The update came several hours after a since-removed post on Dow's Facebook page stated that he had died at the age of 77. In the days before his death he was accidentally announced as dead by his official Facebook fan page which apparently received bad information.. I was a junior diving champion and held a national record at nine. In the series pilot that was shot in early 1957, Paul Sullivan portrayed Wally opposite Jerry Mathers as his younger brother, Theodore Beaver Cleaver, while Barbara Billingsley and Max Showalter (aka Casey Adams) played the parents, June and Ward Cleaver. Dow was born in Hollywood and his mother was an early stunt woman and double for Clara Bow. Anthony Lee Dow was born in Hollywood on April 13, 1945, the son of John Stevens Dow, a designer and contractor, and Muriel Virginia (Montrose) Dow. The central character on the sitcom was the button-cute, trouble-prone Beaver Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers, but whenever Beaver needed the benefit of counsel from someone older and wiser who was not likely to yell at him, he turned to Wally, his only sibling and most trusted confidant. They shared a bedroom and an en suite bathroom in an immaculately kept two-story house in Mayfield, a fictional, walkable, crime-free and apparently all-white American suburb. Tony Dow played "Wally" Clever on the classic TV show, "Leave it to Beaver." LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, Tony Dow, 1957-63 ca. The pilot fizzled, but Dow got an agent and auditioned for Beaver. Wally was by then a lawyer who had married a high school sweetheart. They actually asked our parents not to let us watch the show on TV so we wouldnt get a big head.