'Leave It To Beaver' Star Tony Dow Struggled With Depression: A Look Back After Cancer Took His Life

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It’s been two years since the tragic death of beloved actor Tony Dow, best known as Wally Cleaver on TV’s classic sitcom, Leave it to Beaver (1957–1963). The 77-year-old actor ultimately died from liver cancer. Throughout his adult life, Dow suffered from depression. This is his story.

A Closer Look

Tony Dow was born on April 14, 1945, in Los Angeles. He was only 12 years old when he was hired to play Wally on Leave it to Beaver. After the series ended, the actor felt “typecast,” and resented being associated with the part, despite the other roles he played.

Dow starred in the series with Jerry Mathers (“as The Beaver”), and his TV parents, Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont.

In 1983, Dow and his fellow actors (save for Beaumont, who had died) reprised their roles for the 1983 TV movie Still the Beaver and its sequel series The New Leave It to Beaver, which ran four years.

Dow was originally cast as Wally after joining his swim coach at the audition. The coach failed to win the role, but as Dow explained, “I said: ‘OK.’ And there went my life!”

“You know,” he went on to reveal, “…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 happening for you.”

Beyond Wally and The Beaver

In his later years, Tony Dow was a heralded sculptor and artist. Before that, he was an acclaimed director of films and TV shows, such as Coach.

In his 20s, however, he had developed severe depression and, at one point, considered suicide.

In the early 1990s, the actor began to publicly acknowledge his mental health. He spoke to a congressional committee and said that those suffering from depression are “regular people, I mean, who could be more regular than Wally Cleaver?”

Lasting Impression

Tony Dow was adored by his fans, friends, family members, and colleagues. Shortly after his passing on July 22, 2022, his managers Frank Bilotta and Renee James released the following statement to the press:

“Tony was a beautiful soul — kind, compassionate, funny and humble. It was truly a joy to just be around him. His gentle voice and unpretentious manner was immediately comforting and you could not help but love him.”