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Few TV shows define the early days of the medium like "Leave it to Beaver." Over six decades after it began airing, the idyllic family sitcom isn't just synonymous with 1950s television, but 1950s America as a whole. While its white picket fence dreams have never been reflective of the real world, the show still functions as a gentle comedic escape from reality for many a classic TV fan.

As one of the oldest culturally significant TV shows still in syndication, it's impossible to watch "Leave It To Beaver" without wondering what became of the cheerful bunch of actors populating its sunny suburban world. Unfortunately, the considerable passage of time means that most of the actors involved in the series have died, but there are still three main actors — all of them former child stars — who are carving out paths for themselves in a post-"Leave it to Beaver" world.

Topanga, Calif – Tony Dow is still dead. The featured cast member of the iconic 1950s sitcom “Leave it to Beaver” joined the ranks of Mark Twain and Generalissimo Francisco Franco on the list of deaths that were announced before the individual had died. On July 26th, 2022, a rep inadvertently leaked that Dow had passed, after a battle with cancer. His family had to intervene, expressing that he was still alive. Dow officially died on July 27th at his home in Topanga, California.

Exclusive Unpublished Photo: Tony Dow in Chicago, Circa 2018

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Anthony Lee Dow was born in Los Angeles, and was only 12 years old when he won the role of the Wally Cleaver, brother to the title character on “Leave it to Beaver” (1957-63), growing up in front of millions of TV viewers. He continued to act after the series ended,...

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Tony Dow, the wholesome actor who portrayed “the perfect big brother” Wally Cleaver on the everlasting TV comedy Leave It to Beaver and its 1980s sequel, has died, his reps announced after a tumultuous day for his family. He was 77.

Dow died Wednesday morning with his family at his side at his home in Topanga. A post on his official Facebook page read: “We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey.”

The post continued: “We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. One fan said it best—’It is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.

Tony Dow, the actor who personified the role of America’s big brother as the elder sibling Wally Cleaver on the TV classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver, died today. He was 77, and had been battling cancer.

His death comes a day after his passing was mistakenly reported by his management team and his wife.

A statement on his Facebook page now reads:

We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey. We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. One fan said it best—”It is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.”

Our heart goes out to Tony’s wife, Lauren, who...

Actor Tony Dow, best known for his role as Wally Cleaver on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver, died on Wednesday at the age of 77.

Dow was still in hospice care Tuesday when his death was prematurely announced. “Tony’s wife Lauren, who was very distraught, had notified us that Tony had passed and asked that we notify all his fans,” according to a statement on his Facebook page. “As we are sure you can understand, this has been a very trying time for her. We have since received a call from Tony’s daughter-in-law saying that while Tony is not doing well,...

Tony Dow, the actor and director best known for playing the stalwart older brother Wally Cleaver to Jerry Mathers’ Beaver in the iconic series “Leave It to Beaver,” died Wednesday after it was incorrectly announced Tuesday that he had died. He was 77.

“We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey. We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man,” read the statement on his official Facebook page.

His son Christopher said in the Facebook statement, “Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero.

Tony Dow, the actor who starred as Wally Cleaver on “Leave It to Beaver,” has once again been diagnosed with cancer. Dow’s wife, Lauren Shulkind, broke the news on the actor’s official Facebook page. The specifics of Dow’s cancer diagnoses were not disclosed.

“Dear friends and fans of Tony Dow, I have some very sad news to share with you,” Shulkind wrote on Facebook. “Unfortunately, Tony has once again been diagnosed with cancer. He is approaching this reality so bravely, but it is truly heartbreaking. We want to thank you in advance for your caring thoughts. Our Love, Lauren & Tony.”

Dow starred in the series regular role of Wally Cleaver on “Leave It to Beaver” for all six seasons of the show, which started its run on CBS before moving over to ABC. The show ran for 234 episodes between 1957 and 1963. Dow starred in the series opposite Jerry Mathers...

Jan DeWitt, a longtime television producer of shows including “Bones” and “Judging Amy,” died Jan 29 at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was 75.

DeWitt spent nearly 50 years working in the film and television industry. He began his career as a prop assistant and set painter and worked his way up to assistant director and unit production managerial roles on shows including “Miami Vice,” “Nowhere Man,” “Family Guy” and “The New Leave It To Beaver” before becoming a producer on “Judging Amy” and eventually ending his career in 2017 as an executive producer on “Bones.” Between those two shows alone, he oversaw production of more than 300 episodes of television.

His family, friends and colleagues remember DeWitt as a kind and devoted man who was passionate and capable in all areas of his life, from traveling in his Airstream to overseeing high budget productions. He is remembered as a devoted father to his daughter,...

Jan DeWitt, who produced over 500 hours of television and features, including many episodes of Bones and Judging Amy, died as a result of Covid on the morning of January 29 at his home in Santa Barbara. His friend and partner, Charlene, was by his side and his daughter, Anika, was on the phone from Colorado when he passed. He was 75.

DeWitt worked all over the world in various capacities. He earned his National Maritime Union seamanship papers and traveled up the Mekong River with a boat full of ammunition when he was 18; then studied agriculture in college and found himself working on a farm in Australia before he was 21. Finally, he landed in Spain as assistant to the prop master on a feature film written by his father, Jack DeWitt, called A Man in the Wilderness. He never looked back.

In Hollywood, the Santa Barbara native worked his way up from...

When a classic television series goes off the air they rarely ever ride into the sunset thanks to the nostalgia channels that rerun the show, streaming services and DVD and Blu-Ray box sets. They are also often rebooted or turn up as a TV movie such as “Return to Mayberry,” “Return from the Man from U.N.C.L.E” and “Still the Beaver.” And networks also have mined ratings gold bringing back the casts of TV series often on a notable anniversary of the show for reminisces, tears and a plethora of clips.

This year, HBO Max scored with its much ballyhooed and at times surprisingly emotional “Friends: The Reunion,” It just received an Emmy nomination for Best Variety Special (pre-taped), as did “A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote,” which found the cast of the multi-Emmy Award-winning NBC series reuniting to encourage people to vote...

Ken Osmond, the actor best known for playing Eddie Haskell on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver before leaving the industry to become a police officer, died Monday at his home in Los Angeles, Variety reports. He was 76.

A cause of death was not immediately available, though Osmond’s former partner in the Los Angeles Police Department said he suffered from respiratory issues. Osmond’s son Eric said in a statement, “He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father. He had his family gathered around him when he passed.

Ken Osmond has died.

The beloved actor who was best known as Eddie Haskell on TV's Leave It to Beaver was 76.

Osmond's representative Bonnie Vent provided a statement to Variety from the actor's son Eric:

He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father.

He had his family gathered around him when he passed.

He was loved and will be very missed.

Osmond play the role of smart Eddie on the CBS sitcom Leave it to Beaver and played him for the show’s entire, six-season run.

He went on to reprise the role in a TV movie (Still the Beaver), a sequel series (The New Leave It to Beaver) and even a theatrical film (1997’s Leave It to Beaver), as well as on the TV shows Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and Hi Honey, I’m Home!.

Aside from that iconic role, Osmond had several other TV roles throughout his career.

Ken Osmond, who played obsequious troublemaker Eddie Haskell on TV’s Leave It to Beaver, has died, his manager confirms. Osmond was 76.

“He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father,” his son, Eric, said in a statement. “He had his family gathered around him when he passed. He was loved and will be very missed.”

The impact of his most famous performance can be measured by the fact that, for those of us of a certain age, if someone is described as an “Eddie Haskell”-type, we know exactly what is meant.

Appropriately, tributes poured in from across a broad spectrum. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Osmond “created a memorable character,” and Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach cited Eddie Haskell as one of his “all-time influences.”

The Haskell character was a troublemaking friend of Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow), the older brother of Theodore, aka the Beaver (Jerry Mathers). Hugh Beaumont...

Ken Osmond, a child actor known for his role as Eddie Haskell on “Leave It to Beaver,” has died at the age of 76.

Osmond died Monday at his home in Los Angeles. No cause of death was given.

In a statement, Osmond’s son Eric remembered him as “an incredibly kind and wonderful father.”

Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2020 (Photos)

“He had his family gathered around him when he passed,” Eric Osmond said. “He was loved and will be very missed.”

As an actor, Osmond was best known for playing the rebellious character of Eddie Haskell on the 1950s sitcom “Leave It to Beaver.” The teenage character was a friend of Beaver’s (Jerry Mathers) older brother Wally (Tony Dow) and was notorious for the way he’d pretend to be the perfect child in the presence of adults, while acting out when they weren’t around.

Osmond appeared...

Ken Osmond, best known to TV viewers as Leave It to Beaver suck-up Eddie Haskell, has died, Osmond’s manager confirms to TVLine. He was 76.

“He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father. He had his family gathered around him when he passed,” his son, Eric, said in a statement. “He was loved and will be very missed.”

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Osmond originated the role of smart-aleck-next-door Eddie on the...

I’ve been watching, among other things, the current reboot of ‘Will & Grace‘. One of, many, many, many new TV reboots that are occurring. Alright, I know, I’m not breaking any new ground, Hollywood’s not that original, blah, blah, blah. Still though, this TV reboot caught my attention. For one thing–really? This show you’re rebooting? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love ‘Will & Grace‘ I actually I might argue that it’s one of the more underrated shows of all-time, and had it not been directly up against ‘CSI‘ for so many years, I think it might’ve won more Best Comedy Series Emmys than it actually did. It’s still one of only three series, ‘All in the Family‘ and ‘The Golden Girls‘ being the others, where every original main member of the regular cast won an acting Emmy for said series. I...

Joe Dante‘s The ‘burbs, which turns 25 tomorrow, was a nice way to end a decade filled with a nostalgia for the simple 1950s idea of suburbia as well as a trend towards uncovering terrible things amidst the modern ideal of perfection of the new suburbia of tract house developments. In the latter camp, there’s Poltergeist and Gremlins, both produced by Steven Spielberg (whose own E.T. nearly fits) with the latter helmed by Dante (who’d go on to make another suburbia tale almost 10 years later with Small Soldiers). The ‘burbs is, more than its ’80s brethren, a satirical leveling of the former camp, particularly the early TV sitcoms re-introduced to a new generation through Nick at Nite and update spin-offs like Still the Beaver/The New Leave It to Beaver. The movie, fittingly, was shot on the same cul-de-sac neighborhood lot at Universal Studios as that Leave It to Beaver sitcom sequel and co-stars Corey Feldman...

Early controversy notwithstanding, Giovanni Ribisi is ready to be one of television's "Dads."

The veteran of many movies returns to the home screen Tuesday, Sept. 17, on Fox's new sitcom that casts him and Seth Green as video-game creators with mixed feelings about taking in their fathers (Martin Mull, Peter Riegert).

Some groups are protesting the show's humor, particularly ethnic aspects involving co-star Brenda Song's character, but Ribisi - who also worked with executive producers Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild on last year's hit movie "Ted" -- is resolute in his belief in the series.

"He's someone who lets you contribute, with no questions asked," Ribisi tells Zap2it of re-teaming with MacFarlane. "I think he really tries to surround himself with people he really likes, then everybody's making the project together.

"We were doing (the forthcoming, MacFarlane-directed movie) 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' and...

Frank Bank, who played the clumsy bully Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the beloved late '50s TV series "Leave It to Beaver," died on April 13 -- one day after he celebrated his 71st birthday.

According to People magazine, no cause of death was reported.

Bank's "Leave It to Beaver" co-star Jerry Mathers took to his Facebook page to share a few words about his pal on Saturday, writing, "I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank, who played Lumpy on Leave it to Beaver. He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank's family."

Bank was born in a Los Angeles hospital corridor during an air raid drill in 1942, according to the NY Daily News. One of his first acting jobs was playing the young Will Rogers in a 1952 film biography titled "The Will Rogers Story.

Frank Bank, best known for playing Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford on the classic TV series Leave It to Beaver from 1957-1963, died April 13, according to numerous published reports.

Beaver star Jerry Mathers posted a message of condolence to his Facebook page on Saturday, writing, “I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank, who played Lumpy on Leave it to Beaver. He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank’s family.”

On the show, Bank’s “Lumpy” Rutherford was the insecure and clumsy local bully who harassed the Cleaver boys,...

Frank Bank, who played the clumsy bully Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the popular 1957-1963 series Leave It to Beaver, died Saturday, one day after his 71st birthday, say published reports. No cause of death was reported. Beaver star Jerry Mathers, now 64, posted to his Facebook page Saturday: "I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank, who played Lumpy on Leave it to Beaver. He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank's family." Born in Los Angeles, Bank first appeared on screen as the...

Actor Frank Bank died this morning, one day after he turned 71. Today is his friend and former co-star Tony Dow's 68th birthday. (The photo above, from Jerry Mathers' Facebook page, was taken in June 2012 and shows co-stars Ken Osmond, Bank, Dow, and Mathers.)

Bank was primarily know for his role as Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom in the 1950s and 60s. He reprised his role as Wally Cleaver's friend in the Still the Beaver TV movie and the 1980s sequel series, The New Leave It to Beaver, joining most of the original sitcom's surviving cast.

Bank made a brief cameo in the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver as "Frank."

In addition to Beaver, Bank appeared on several 1950s and 60s TV shows and also played comic book character Archie Andrews in the Life...

Today is a sad day for television fans all over the world. Barbara Billingsley, who famously played June Cleaver in the 1950’s iconic family show, Leave It To Beaver, passed away today at the age of 94. Billingsley was considered the quintessential television mother that every child wanted. Long after Leave It to Beaver left the air in 1963, the show continued to run in syndication for other generations to love. After Leave It To Beaver concluded its run, Billingsley continued to act throughout the years, eventually returning to the role of June Cleaver in the 1980’s series, The New Leave It To Beaver (1985–1989). Billingsley will also be remembered as the old lady who could speak jive, in the 1980 comedy, Airplane. She and her family also owned Billingsley’s Steak House in Los Angeles, CA. Billingsley leaves behind two children and four grandchildren, but her legacy will live on forever.

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Barbara Billingsley, one of TV's "ideal" 1950s moms who portrayed the Beaver's mother on "Leave it to Beaver," died in Santa Monica, Calif. on Saturday. She was 94 and had suffered from a rheumatoid disease, according to a family spokesperson.

Beloved by a generation of Baby Boomers, who recall her as the even-keeled June Cleaver, Billingsley was the quintessential '50s mom. Along with such other primetime "moms" as Harriet Nelson and Donna Reed, she projected the era's ideal of suburban womanhood.

"Leave it to Beaver" ran from 1957-63. When the series ended, Billingsley retreated from show business, raising her two boys. She spoofed her good-mother image in "Airplane!" (1980) playing the Jive Lady. She reprised her June Cleaver role in the 1983 TV movie, "Still the Beaver." In 1997, she played Aunt Martha on yet another "Leave it to Beaver" production.

On "Leave It To Beaver," Billingsley starred along with Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow and Hugh Beaumont.

Some of the surviving members of Leave It to Beaver recently reunited at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles.

Those attending were Frank Bank (Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford), Jerry Mathers (Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver), Tony Dow (Wally Cleaver) and Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell). Barbara Billingsley (mother June Cleaver), who is now 94 years old, was not present.

Matt Hurwitz was the event's moderator. The actors discussed being cast on the show and their recollections of filming it. They also talked about the late Hugh Beaumont (dad Ward Cleaver), Richard Deacon (Lumpy's father), and directors Norman Tokar and Norman Abbott.

Dow recalled that, when the Still the Beaver reunion movie was being prepared, they tried to find Robert "Rusty" Stevens, who played Beaver's pudgy friend Larry Mondello. When the detective they hired went to his home, his wife answered. She wasn't...