Tony DowDow in 1961BornAnthony Lee Dow(1945-04-13)April 13, 1945Los Angeles, California, U.S.DiedJuly 27, 2022(2022-07-27) (aged 77)Topanga, California, U.S.OccupationsActordirectorproducersculptorYears active1949–2022Spouses Carol Marlow (m. 1969; div. 1980)[1] Lauren Shulkind (m. 1980)[2] Children1
Anthony Lee Dow (April 13, 1945 – July 27, 2022) was an American actor. He portrayed Wally Cleer in the iconic television sitcom Lee It to Beer from 1957 to 1963. From 1983 to 1989, Dow reprised his role as Wally in a television movie and in The New Lee It to Beer.
Early life[edit]Dow was born in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, the son of Muriel Virginia (Montrose), a stuntwoman in westerns, and John Stevens Dow, a designer and contractor.[3] In his youth, he trained as a swimmer and was a Junior Olympics diving champion.[4]
Screen career[edit] Dow (top) with his Lee It to Beer co-stars (L–R): Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley and Jerry Mathers, circa 1959With a little stage acting and two television pilots as his only acting experience, Dow's career began when he went on an open casting call and landed the role of Wally Cleer in Lee It to Beer.[5][4][6] With the exception of the television pilot, from 1957 to 1963 he played the older son of June (played by Barbara Billingsley) and Ward (played by Hugh Beaumont) Cleer, and the older brother of protagonist Theodore "Beer" Cleer (played by Jerry Mathers). As played by Dow, Wally was the "all-American" boy—an intelligent, polite teenager, trusted by his parents, popular with his peers, and liked by his teachers. (Wally was based on the series writer Joe Connelly's son, Jay.)[7] In the show's later years, Dow grew into an attractive, athletic young man and was often featured in "heartthrob"-type magazines aimed principally at teen girls. Producers took advantage of Dow's popularity and scripted episodes delving into Wally's dating life, his after-school jobs, his friends, and his car.[8]
After Lee it to Beer, Dow 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. He guest-starred on the television series Adam-12, Love, American Style, Knight Rider, Square Pegs, The Mod Squad, The Hardy Boys and Emergency!.
Dow took a break from his acting career to serve in the California Army National Guard from 1965 to 1968 during the Vietnam War, where he was assigned to the Special Services division and served in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 40th Armored Division, as a photographer.[9][10]
During the 1970s, Dow continued acting while working in the construction industry, and studying journalism and filmmaking.[6] In 1977, he parodied his role as Wally from Lee it to Beer in The Kentucky Fried Movie, with Jerry Zucker playing Beer.[11]
From 1983 to 1989, Dow reprised his role as Wally Cleer in a reunion television movie and a subsequent sequel series, The New Lee It to Beer, for which Dow wrote an episode in 1986.[12] In 1987, he was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award for his role as Wally Cleer.[13]
In 1989, Dow made his debut as a director with an episode of The New Lassie. It was followed by episodes of Get a Life, Harry and the Hendersons, Coach, Babylon 5, Crusade and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.[14] Dow served as the visual effects supervisor for Babylon 5. In 1996, he provided visual effects for the FOX television movie Doctor Who.[15][12]
Dow also co-produced The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space in 1995, and It Came from Outer Space II in 1996.
Stage career[edit]In 1978, Dow and Jerry Mathers starred in a production of the comedy play Boeing, Boeing, which ran for 10 weeks in Kansas City, Missouri. Dow and Mathers then toured the dinner theater circuit in a production of So Long, Stanley, written specifically for the TV brother duo, for 18 months.[16]
Art career[edit]In addition to acting, directing, producing, and writing, Dow was 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."[17] Reuters wrote of Dow's work that it "features humanlike forms devoid of expression or detail; they are widely open to the viewer's interpretation."[18]
In December 2008, Dow was chosen as one of three sculptors to show at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition, located in the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France. He represented the United States delegation, which was composed of artists from the Karen Lynne Gallery. His sculpture shown at the Parisian shopping mall was titled Unarmed Warrior, a bronze figure of a woman holding a shield.[19]
Personal life[edit]Dow married Carol Marlow in June 1969 and their marriage ended in 1980.[3] They had one child, who was born in 1973. In June 1980, Dow married Lauren Shulkind.[4]
In the 1990s, Dow revealed that he had suffered from clinical depression. He subsequently starred in self-help videos chronicling this battle, including the 1998 Beating the Blues.[20] Dow was also hospitalized with pneumonia in 2021.[21][22][23]
Death[edit]In May 2022, Dow was diagnosed with liver cancer.[24] He died on July 27, 2022, a day after his death was widely misreported.[25][26][27]
Selected filmography[edit] Actor[edit] Lee It to Beer (234 episodes, 1957–1963)[12] The Eleventh Hour as Bob Quincy in "Four Feet in the Morning" (1963) Dr. Kildare (one episode, 1963)[28] The Greatest Show on Earth (one episode, 1964) My Three Sons (one episode, 1964)[28] Mr. Novak (five episodes, 1963–1965)[28] Never Too Young (153 episodes, 1965)[29] Adam-12 (one episode, 1970)[12] Love, American Style (one episode, 1971)[28] The Mod Squad (one episode, 1971)[28] Emergency! ("Brushfire", 1972)[12] Death Scream (1975)[12] General Hospital (unknown episodes, 1975) The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)[12] The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (one episode, 1977)[29] Square Pegs (two episodes, 1982)[28] Quincy, M.E. (one episode, 1983)[12] Knight Rider (one episode, 1983)[15] High School U.S.A. (1983)[12] The New Lee It to Beer, or Still the Beer (1985–1989)[12] Murder, She Wrote (one episode, 1987)[12] The New Mike Hammer (one episode, 1987)[28] Back to the Beach (1987)[12] Charles in Charge (one episode, 1989)[12] Freddy's Nightmares, or A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series (two episodes, 1990) The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (1995)[30] Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (one episode, 1998)[28] Diagnosis: Murder (two episodes, 1999)[28] Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)[12] Visual effects[edit] Babylon 5 (unknown episodes)[15] The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (1995) Doctor Who (1996)[15] Producer[edit] The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (1995)[28] It Came from Outer Space II (1996)[12] Writer[edit] The New Lee It to Beer (one episode, 1986)[15] Director[edit] "Field of Fire", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (season 7)[12] Babylon 5 (several episodes)[12] Get a Life (episode "Dadicus")[12] Coach (several episodes)[12] Harry and the Hendersons (Seasons 1 and 2 - 6 total episodes)[31] References[edit] ^ "Glimpse into Tony Dow's Life after 'Lee It to Beer' and His Almost 40-Year Marriage". January 8, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021. ^ "'Lee It to Beer' star Tony Dow 'doing well' after pneumonia hospitalization". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021. ^ a b Gates, Anita (July 26, 2022). "Tony Dow, Big Brother Wally on 'Lee It to Beer,' Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2022. ^ a b c "Tony Dow (Wally Cleer): The Beer's older brother is a man of many talents". www.tvbanter.net. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017. ^ Dalton, Andrew (July 27, 2022). "Tony Dow, big brother Wally on 'Lee it to Beer,' dies". Associated Press. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ a b "Lee it to Beer: Tony Dow". TV Land. Archived from the original on April 28, 2006. ^ McLellan, Dennis (February 14, 2003). "Joe Connelly, 85; Helped Create 'Lee It to Beer'". Los Angeles Times. ^ Colella, Jennifer. The Lee It to Beer Guide to Life: Wholesome Wisdom from the Cleers! (Running Press, 2006). ISBN 0762427736, ISBN 9780762427734 ^ Tony Dow, Biography Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 12, 2023. ^ The MeTV Network Celebrates Tony Dow with a Special Presentation of "Lee It to Beer" WBBJ-TV. Retrieved May 12, 2023. ^ "Tony Dow, 'Lee It to Beer' Star, Dies at 77". TheWrap via MSN. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Tony Dow List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved July 27, 2022. ^ "9th Annual Youth in Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2011. ^ "One time Star Trek: Deep Space Nine director Tony Dow dies". www.dailystartreknews.com. July 29, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2024. ^ a b c d e "Fans remember life of Tony Dow amid reports of his death". MeTV. Retrieved July 27, 2022. ^ Cowan, Richard (November 18, 1979). "It's Wally and the Beer". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 26, 2023. ^ "Karen Lynne Gallery". www.karenlynnegallery.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. ^ Ferrell, Did. "Tony Dow: Sculpting a Life After "'Lee It To Beer'," Reuters (Oct. 24, 2010). ^ Haithman, Diane (November 11, 2008). "Who Knew? "Lee It to Beer" actor Tony Dow, also an artist, will he a sculpture on display at the Louvre". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 11, 2008. ^ "Lee it to Beer 50th Anniversary on Good Morning America". Good Morning America. October 4, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007 – via YouTube. ^ Jackson, Dory (August 30, 2021). "Lee It to Beer Alum Tony Dow Hospitalized with Pneumonia". People. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ Wynne, Kelly; Goldstein, Joelle (July 26, 2022). "Lee It to Beer Star Tony Dow in His 'Last Hours' After Cancer Diagnosis, Son Says". People. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ "'Lee It to Beer' Star Tony Dow Hospitalized with Pneumonia". TMZ. August 29, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ Brisco, Elise (May 6, 2022). "'Lee It To Beer' actor Tony Dow announces cancer diagnosis: 'It is truly heartbreaking'". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022. ^ Saperstein, Pat (July 27, 2022). "Tony Dow, Who Played Wally Cleer on 'Lee It to Beer,' Dies a Day After Erroneous Announcement". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2022. ^ Overhultz, Lauryn (July 27, 2022). "Tony Dow, 'Lee It to Beer' star, dead at 77, son confirms: 'He is in a better place". Fox News. Retrieved July 27, 2022. ^ Bernstein, Adam (July 27, 2022). "Tony Dow, the all-American Wally on 'Lee It to Beer,' dies at 77 look in". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2022. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Tony Dow". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 27, 2022. ^ a b Wynne, Kelly. "Lee It to Beer Star Tony Dow in His 'Last Hours' After Cancer Diagnosis, Son Says". People. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ Everett, Todd (August 25, 1995). "The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space". Variety. Retrieved July 28, 2022. ^ Andrew, Scottie (July 26, 2022). "Tony Dow's management team removes statement star has died". CNN. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022. External links[edit] Tony Dow Sculpture Tony Dow at IMDb Portals: Biography Greater Los Angeles California Film Television Visual arts Authority control databases InternationalISNIVIAFFASTWorldCatNationalGermanyUnited StatesFranceBnF dataItalyOtherYale LUX