Tony Dow, big brother in “Leave It To Beaver” dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The man who played big brother to the title character in the old-school sitcom “Leave It to Beaver” has died.

Tony Dow died yesterday at age 77.

His death was announced by a rep and by his family a day after a mistaken announcement was released saying he had died.

No cause of death was given, but Dow had been in hospice care after announcing in May that he had been diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer.

“Leave It to Beaver” was one of the classic sitcoms back in the black-and-white days of TV.

Dow starred as Wally, brother to Beaver, played by Jerry Mathers. He’d often end up bailing out his kid brother, even if it meant shielding him from his parents’ ire or standing up for him with his own peers.

The death of Tony Dow leaves Jerry Mathers as the sole surviving star of “Leave It To Beaver.”

Another cast member, Rusty Stevens, who played Beaver’s friend Larry Mondello, is also still alive.

Hugh Beaumont, who played father Ward Cleaver, died in 1982.

Barbara Billingsley, who played the mother June, died in 2010.

Ken Osmond, who played Wally’s pal Eddie Haskell, died in 2020.