Tony Dow
Tony Lee Dow (born April 13, 1945) is an American film producer, director, sculptor, and television actor. He is best known for his role in the television sitcom "Leave It to Beaver", which ran in primetime from 1957 to 1963. Dow played Wally Cleaver, the older son of June (played by Barbara Billingsley) and Ward (played by Hugh Beaumont) Cleaver, and the brother of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (played by Jerry Mathers). Early life and career. Dow was born in Hollywood, California, to John Stevens Dow, Jr. (1908–1987), a designer and general contractor, and Muriel Virginia Dow (née Montrose ) (May 27, 1906 – April 30, 2001), a stunt woman in early Westerns and Clara Bow's movie double in Hollywood. In his youth, Dow trained as a swimmer and was a Junior Olympics diving champion. He won the role of Wally Cleaver in "Leave It to Beaver" in a casting call with almost no acting experience. Dow continued to perform on "Leave It to Beaver" for six years, until the series ended in 1963. After that, he appeared on other television shows, including "My Three Sons", "Dr. Kildare", "The Greatest Show on Earth", "Never Too Young", and on five episodes  of "Mr. Novak" in three different roles. Then, from 1965 to 1968, he served in the National Guard, interrupting his acting career. On his return to acting, he was a guest star in the television series "Adam-12", "Love American Style", "Knight Rider", "Square Pegs", "The Mod Squad", "The Hardy Boys", and "Emergency!" During the 1970s, Dow continued acting while working in the construction industry and studying journalism and filmmaking. From 1983 to 1989, Dow reprised his role as Wally Cleaver in a reunion television movie and in a subsequent series "The New Leave It to Beaver". In 1987, he was  honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award for his role as Wally Cleaver. Dow's most recent screen appearance was in the 2003 film "". In April 2019, Dow was seen promoting the "Leave It To Beaver" television series and other classic television series on the MeTV television network. Behind the camera. In 1986, he wrote an episode of "The New Leave It to Beaver". In 1989, he made his debut as a director with an episode of "The New Lassie", followed by episodes of "Get a Life", "Harry and the Hendersons", "Coach", "Babylon  5", "Crusade", and "". He served as the visual effects supervisor for "Babylon 5". In 1996, he provided visual effects for the Fox television movie "Doctor Who". Personal life. Dow married Lauren Shulkind in June 1980. In the 1990s, Dow revealed that he has suffered from clinical depression. He has since starred in self-help videos chronicling this battle, including the 1998 "Beating the Blues". Dow has become a sculptor, creating abstract bronze sculptures. He said about his work, "The figures are abstract and not meant to represent reality but rather the truth of the interactions as I see and feel  them. I find the wood in the hills of Topanga Canyon and each piece evolves from my subconscious. I produce limited editions of nine bronzes using the lost wax process from molds of the original burl sculpture." One of his bronze pieces was on display in the backyard garden of Barbara Billingsley, who played his mother on "Leave It to Beaver". He was chosen as one of three sculptors to show at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition, in the Carrousel du Louvre, in Paris, France, in December 2008. He represented the United States delegation, which was composed of  artists from the Karen Lynne Gallery. His abstract shown at the Louvre was titled "Unarmed Warrior", a bronze figure of a woman holding a shield.