Tony Lee Dow is an American film producer, director and sculptor, and a television actor.
Dow 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 elder son of June and Ward Cleaver, and the brother of
Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver.
Early life and career Dow was born in Hollywood, California, to
John Stevens, a designer and general contractor, and Muriel Virginia Dow, a stunt woman in
early Westerns and Clara Bow's movie double in Hollywood.
In his youth Dow was a Junior Olympics diving champion.
He won the role of Wally Cleaver in a casting call with almost no previous acting experience.
Dow remained on the series until it ended in 1963.
After the run of Leave It to Beaver, he appeared on My Three Sons, Dr. Kildare, Mr. Novak,
The Greatest Show on Earth, and Never Too Young.
From 1965 to 1968 Dow served in the National Guard, interrupting his acting career.
On his return to acting, he guest-starred in Adam-12, Love American Style, Square Pegs,
The Mod Squad, The Hardy Boys and Emergency!
During the 1970s Dow continued acting while working in the construction business and studying
journalism and filmmaking.
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 Dickie Roberts: Former Child
Star.
Behind the camera In 1986, he wrote an episode of The New Leave
It to Beaver, and in 1989, he made his directorial debut with an episode of The New Lassie, followed
by episodes of Get a Life, Harry and the Hendersons, Swamp Thing, Coach, Babylon 5, Crusade, and
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Dow also served as the visual effects supervisor for Babylon 5.
In 1996, he provided visual effects for the Fox television movie Doctor Who.
Personal life
In the 1990s Dow revealed that he has suffered from clinical depression.
He has since starred in self-help videos chronicling this battle, including "Beating the Blues".
Dow has become a serious, and respected sculptor, creating abstract bronze sculptures.
In his artist statement, he says the following 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.
Dow 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.
Filmography Actor
NBC Children's Theatre Leave It to Beaver
The Eleventh Hour as Bob Quincy in "Four Feet in the Morning"
Dr. Kildare The Greatest Show on Earth
My Three Sons Mr. Novak
Never Too Young Adam-12
Love, American Style The Mod Squad
Emergency!
A Great American Tragedy Death Scream
General Hospital The Kentucky Fried Movie
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries The Ordeal of Bill Carney
Square Pegs Still the Beaver
Quincy M.E.
Knight Rider High School U.S.A.
Murder, She Wrote Back to the Beach
The New Leave It to Beaver aka Still the Beaver Charles in Charge
Freddy's Nightmares aka Freddy's Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street The Series
The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space Playing Patti
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Diagnosis: Murder
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Visual effects
Babylon 5 The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space
Doctor Who Producer
The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space It Came from Outer Space II
Writer The New Leave It to Beaver
Production Manager Terry and June
Director "Field of Fire", Star Trek: Deep Space 9
References
External links Tony Dow at the Internet Movie Database
Tony Dow's Sculpture Website