One time Star Trek: Deep Space Nine director Tony Dow dies

One time STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE director Tony Dow at his Los Angeles home in 2012; Photo Cr: Reed Saxon/AP

JULY 29, 2022 - He was probably best known as Wally Cleaver, the brother of Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver in the 1957-1963 sitcom Leave It to Beaver. Following the unfortunate premature stories of his death, the sad news, as reported by CNN, is that Tony Dow did die Wednesday morning at the age of 77 following a cancer diagnosis last May.

Dow’s son, Christopher, said of his father, “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.”

After his time with The Beav, Dow went on to do multiple guest appearances in various television shows and eventually went into directing. His brush with Star Trek was his directing the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season seven episode, “Field of Fire.” According to Memory Alpha, the directing gig came at the suggestion of Bill Mumy, who had guest-starred on a previous episode that season. Dow also directed on Babylon 5 and was a visual effects producer on Doctor Who: The Movie.

Dow was also outspoken about the depression from which he suffered for years before being diagnosed and finding hope in treatment. "I realize 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. I think people should take the leap of faith that they can feel better."

For more on his life and career, Dow’s full obituary is available at CNN. Please join all of us in offering our condolences to the friends and family of Anthony Lee Dow.