“Leave It To Beaver” actor Tony Dow is still alive, contrary to what his official Facebook page announced earlier Tuesday.
Dow’s management team announced his death on the actor’s Facebook page on Tuesday, but the post has since been deleted. According to TMZ, Dow’s wife told his manager that he died, but it’s unclear why. He is currently in hospice care.
The accidental announcement came just over two months after his wife, Lauren Shulkind, announced the return of his cancer on May 5, according to The Sun.
“Unfortunately, Tony has once again been diagnosed with cancer. He is approaching this reality so bravely, but it is truly heartbreaking,” the couple shared at the time. “We want to thank you in advance for your caring thoughts.”
Dow also made headlines after health problems last August when he battled pneumonia. The actor had reportedly tested negative for COVID-19.
The actor appears in all 234 episodes of the classic “Leave It To Beaver” series as the older brother of The Beaver. The program was a fixture in many American homes, running from 1957 to 1963.
Dow returned to the role as Wally in 1983 in “Still the Beaver” and on “The New Leave It To Beaver” which aired from 1983 to 1989.
The star also appeared in numerous other television shows and films, including “Murder, She Wrote,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and “Babylon 5.”
In addition to his acting career, Dow served as a director for both television and film projects, including the well-known “Coach” sitcom and the movie “Harry and the Hendersons.”
Beyond the actor’s well-known work in the film industry, Dow served in the Nation Guard from 1965 to 1968.
Variety also reported that Dow battled depression in his younger years, making the self-help video “Beating the Blue” to help others. He was also known as a sculptor and at one time launched a construction company.