‘Leave It to Beaver’ star Tony Dow is now dead, his son confirms, after premature announcement

A day after ‘Depart It to Beaver’ star Tony Dow was mistakenly pronounced useless, his son launched affirmation on Wednesday saying his father had handed away after a protracted well being battle in hospice care. He was 77 years previous.

The actor and director was finest recognized for his position as older brother Wally Cleaver on the hit collection.

“We all know the world is collectively saddened by the lack of this unimaginable man,” learn a press release posted on the actor’s official Fb web page. “He gave a lot to all of us and was beloved by so many. One fan stated it finest: ‘Hardly ever is there somebody as universally beloved as Tony.'”

Representatives for Dow beforehand launched a press release saying the beloved actor’s passing.

His spouse, Lauren Dow, confirmed to Eyewitness Information on Tuesday that on the time her husband was nonetheless alive and respiratory, however was in hospice care at their residence.

She confirmed it was a miscommunication and regrets inflicting a stir throughout a troublesome time.

The actor – who rose to fame aged 12 when he was solid within the sitcom ‘Depart It to Beaver’ – revealed in Might that he had been recognized with most cancers.

Dow, who stated he suffered from undiagnosed melancholy from his 20s to 40s, spoke for many years about his psychological well being struggles, lengthy earlier than it was frequent for celebrities to go public with such data.

In 1993, he was honorary speaker at a conference of the Nationwide Affiliation of Depressives and Manic-Depressives.

“I understand there is a perceived irony about it,” he instructed the Baltimore Solar of his melancholy in 1993. “You recognize, the truth that I used to be on a TV present who embodied the supposed supreme world of the Nineteen Fifties, and right here I’m affected by melancholy. However I’m just one amongst tens of millions.”

Dow instructed CBS that after he accepted his analysis and started therapy, he discovered hope. He additionally channeled that hope into artwork, carving ornate items in his residence studio.

“I feel folks ought to consider they will really feel higher,” he stated.

Dow continued to work in Hollywood, showing on tv collection and even reprising his position in “The New Depart It to Beaver” within the Nineteen Eighties. He additionally directed episodes of collection comparable to “Harry and the Hendersons”, “Coach and “Star Trek: Deep House 9”.

Jerry Mathers, who starred alongside Dow as Beaver on their hit sitcom, instructed followers earlier this month that he had been in contact with Dow, who officers stated he had been “out and in of the hospital with varied problems and coverings”.

CNN contributed to this report.