Tony Dow Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Tony Dow’s Net Worth?

At the time of his passing, Tony Dow possessed a net worth of $4 million. He was an American actor, director, and sculptor, most recognized for his role as Wally Cleaver, the eldest son on the famed television sitcom “Leave it to Beaver,” which aired from 1957 to 1963. After this iconic role, he appeared in the teen soap opera “Never Too Young” and guest-starred in various shows, including “Mr. Novak” and “Square Pegs.” In the latter part of his career, Dow transitioned to directing, helming episodes of series such as “Babylon 5” and “Coach.”

Early Life

Born in 1945 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, Tony Lee Dow was the son of John, a designer and general contractor, and Muriel, a stunt woman known for her work in early Westerns, who famously doubled for actress Clara Bow. Dow’s childhood included training as a swimmer, leading him to become a Junior Olympics diving champion.

“Leave it to Beaver”

In the late 1950s, Dow attended an audition for the sitcom “Leave it to Beaver.” Despite his limited acting background, he successfully secured the role of Wally Cleaver, son to June (portrayed by Barbara Billingsley) and Ward (played by Hugh Beaumont). Throughout the series, he acted alongside Jerry Mathers, who portrayed his younger sibling, Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. “Leave it to Beaver,” a significant success, ran for a total of 234 episodes until 1963, concluding with Wally preparing for college and Beaver ready to transition into high school.

Further Television Career

After “Leave it to Beaver” concluded, Dow made appearances in numerous television shows such as “The Eleventh Hour,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Greatest Show on Earth,” and “My Three Sons.” He also played three distinct roles across five episodes of “Mr. Novak.” Dow secured his next significant role in 1965 on ABC’s “Never Too Young,” a pioneering soap opera aimed at a teenage demographic, alongside cast members like Merry Anders, Michael Blodgett, Jan Clayton, and Joy Harmon.

After spending three years in the National Guard, Dow resumed his acting career in the 1970s, engaging in guest-starring roles across various series. He featured in episodes of “Adam-12,” “Love, American Style,” “The Mod Squad,” and “Emergency!” In the late 1970s, he starred in the television movie “Death Scream,” alongside Ed Asner and Cloris Leachman. In the 1980s, Dow’s appearances included shows like “Square Pegs,” “Quincy M.E.,” “Knight Rider,” “High School U.S.A.,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “The New Mike Hammer.” He revisited his former character Wally Cleaver in the 1983 reunion film “Still the Beaver,” and later on in the revival series “The New Leave it to Beaver,” which continued until 1989.

Directing Career

Dow embarked on his directing journey with an episode of “The New Lassie” in 1989. He subsequently directed episodes of sitcoms such as “Get a Life,” “Harry and the Hendersons,” and “Coach.” Throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, Dow directed several episodes of the science fiction series “Babylon 5,” where he was also a visual effects supervisor. He moved on to direct the “Field of Fire” episode from the seventh…

season of “Star Trek: Deep Space 9.”

Film Career

Outside of television, Dow featured in a small number of films. His notable performance came in 1977 when he appeared in the sketch comedy film “The Kentucky Fried Movie,” where he reprised his character Wally Cleaver in a courtroom trial parody. In 1987, he had a minor role in the spoof comedy “Back to the Beach,” which starred Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. After a significant hiatus, Dow returned to the cinema in 2003 with a cameo in the David Spade comedy “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.” The film also includes a roster of over two dozen past child actors who humorously referenced their careers, such as Corey Feldman, Emmanuel Lewis, and Danny Bonaduce.

Other Career Pursuits

Throughout his career, Dow engaged in several professional endeavors beyond acting in television and films. During the 70s, he simultaneously worked in construction and pursued studies in journalism. Eventually, he ventured into sculpting, making a name for himself with his abstract bronze sculptures. Utilizing the lost-wax casting technique, he creates limited editions of nine different pieces; one of his sculptures was showcased in the garden of his “Leave it to Beaver” co-star Barbara Billingsley. To honor his artistic accomplishments, Dow was chosen as one of three sculptors to display his works at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris in 2008.

Personal Life and Mental Health

From 1980 until his passing in July 2022, Dow was married to Lauren Shulkind.

In the 90s, he publicly shared his battle with clinical depression. Following this, he produced self-help videos discussing his experiences, one of which was titled “Beating the Blues.”

Death

On July 27, 2022, Tony Dow passed away at the age of 77. Just days prior to his death, he was mistakenly declared dead by his official Facebook fan page, which had apparently received erroneous information.