![]() In 1993, he was an honorary speaker at a convention for the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association. "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.ĭow, 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. 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. 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. "He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero.No cause of death was shared, but Dow revealed in May he had been diagnosed with cancer.ĭow 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. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for," Christopher Dow said in Wednesday's Facebook post. "Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. He is survived by his son Christopher, wife Lauren, daughter-in-law Melissa, granddaughter Tyla, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law. He was a painter and sculptor too, with work once displayed in the Louvre in Paris. The actor also dabbled in visual effects work, receiving credits for "Babylon 5" and "Doctor Who: The Movie," according to IMDb. In 1988 the Young Artists Awards honored Dow with the Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award for his performance as Cleaver. ![]() During his time on the revival, Dow debuted his directing chops, helming episodes for both "The New Leave It to Beaver" and "The New Lassie." ![]() In June 1980, Dow married Lauren Shulkind.ĭow reprised the role of Wally when the Cleaver family returned to television for the reunion movie "Still Beaver" and the sequel series "The New Leave It to Beaver," which ran from 19. During his service, he also studied journalism and photography.ĭow returned to acting in the late '60s and early '70s, appearing in "Lassie," "A Great American Tragedy" and "Death Scream." In 1969, he married Carol Marlow, with whom he shares son Christopher Dow. He was assigned to Special Services and served as a photographer in the Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 40th Armored Division, according to the Camp Roberts Historical Museum. The actor took a break from acting to join the California Guard in 1965. I think he's kind of suspected it for years."Īfter the series concluded in 1963, Dow appeared in additional television shows, including "The Greatest Show on Earth," "Mr. When best friend Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmond) asked Wally to tell his father that he's a "big, stupid dope," Wally playfully scoffed: "Don't worry about it, Eddie. Together with Mathers, Dow fostered a relatable brotherly chemistry as Wally, Dow helped younger brother Beaver understand the ways of the world and charmed viewers with memorable one-liners. Wally was the older brother to Jerry Mathers' titular Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. In 1957, the actor, who at the time possessed little acting experience, made his Tinseltown debut as the whip-smart, pompadoured Wally Cleaver in the beloved sitcom "Leave It to Beaver." ![]() Dow was born and raised in Hollywood on April 13, 1945.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |