Tony Dow STILL Alive: 'Leave It To Beaver' Star a Victim of Death Hoax?
Tony Dow is still alive after all.
Hollywood was shaken by shocking news about Tony Dow's sudden passing. Fans immediately paid tribute as his management team confirmed his death on his official Facebook page on Tuesday.
"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," part of the post said.
The statement was personally written by Frank Bilotta and Renee James, who managed Dow in the past years. His wife, Lauren, also shared the news with a news outlet.
However, it turned out that they were mistaken in announcing his death.
Tony Dow Still Alive
The Facebook post that initially confirmed his death had already been taken down. A news outlet noted that Dow's wife is very distraught as she believed her husband was already dead, prompting her to inform his management.
It was then clarified that he is still alive while in hospice care.
Meanwhile, ABC reporter George Pennacchio shared a similar statement on Facebook and disclosed that Dow is only near death and receiving special care at home.
"He's been in hospice care at their home, and based on some health issues overnight, Lauren inferred that Tony had passed away to some people close to her and the word quickly spread. Lauren admits she's been 'a little fuzzy' these days - understandable," Pennacchio reported.
Lauren purportedly feels foolish as Dow's death has already been reported worldwide. After causing commotion due to the miscommunication, the wife expressed her sorry amid the challenging time.
Even Dow's co-star in "Leave It to Beaver," Jerry Mathers, already mourned on Facebook.
The death hoax came months after Lauren divulged that his cancer returned a month after reaching his 77th birthday.
His health issues started to surface in August 2021 when he was hospitalized due to pneumonia. At that time, though, he tested negative for COVID-19.
His agent Frank Bilotta assured the fans that the actor was doing well at the time of admission.
Aside from "Leave It To Beaver," Dow famously starred in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "General Hospital," "The Mod Squad," "My Three Sons," and "Coach."