It has been confirmed that Leave It to Beaver star Tony Dow is still alive – despite his wife issuing a statement confirming his death.
The sitcom actor, 77, is said to be “still alive and breathing”, despite his distraught wife Lauren Shulkind believing he was dead, and “informing his management”, according to TMZ.
Tony, best known for playing Wally Cleaver in the hit comedy show, announced that he had relapsed in his battle with cancer in May this year, and is currently receiving hospice care at home.
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However, Lauren witnessed concerning health problems overnight and told several of those closest to her that Tony had already passed away in her shock and grief.
(Image: GC Images)
She later cleared things up with ABC News that Tony is in fact still alive, admitting she has been “a little fuzzy” amid his battle with cancer and felt “foolish” about what happened.
She told ABC: “It is of my own doing”, explaining that she “loves and adores” her husband with “all of her heart”.
The pair have been married for 42 years, with Lauren supporting her husband through his health battle after his diagnosis and its resurgence.
She said he was approaching his condition “bravely”.
Tony had originally said he felt “improvement every day”, being able to walk around without assistance in May and noting that his immunotherapy treatment “seems to be working”.
A statement released by the actor’s management team earlier on Tuesday (July 26) read: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our beloved Tony this morning.
“Tony was a beautiful soul – kind, compassionate, funny and humble. It was truly a joy to just be around him. His gentle voice and unpretentious manner was immediately comforting and you could not help but love him.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
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“The world has lost an amazing human being, but we are all richer for the memories that he has left us. From the warn reminiscences of Wally Cleaver to those of us fortunate enough to know him personally – thank you Tony.”
It added: “And thank you for the reflections of a simpler time, the laughter, the friendship and for the feeling that you were a big brother to us all. We will miss you.”
Tony has always been candid about his health struggles, speaking about suffering from depression from the age of 20 to 40, and becoming an honorary speaker at the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association.
He said at the time: “I realise there’s a perceived irony about this. You know, the fact that I was in a TV program that epitomized the supposed ideal world of the ’50s, and here I’m suffering from depression.
“But I’m just one of millions.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
