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‘Leave It to Beaver’ Star Tony Dow Dies at 77

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8 months ago

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July 27, 2022

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Update Wednesday, July 27, 5 p.m. ET:

Dow’s agent, Frank Bilotta, confirmed to Us Weekly that the actor passed away on Wednesday morning. His death was also announced via his official Facebook page.

“We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony’s son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey,” his management team wrote. “We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man. He gave so much to us all and was loved by so many. One fan said it best — ‘It is rare when there is a person who is so universally loved like Tony.’”

They added, “Our heart goes out to Tony’s wife, Lauren, who will miss her soulmate of 42 years … To his son, Christopher, who will dearly miss his father, who was also his best friend* … to his daughter-in-law, Melissa, who loved him like her own father … To his Granddaughter, Tyla, who will undoubtedly carry on her Grandfather’s kind soul, To his Brother Dion and Sister-in-Law, Judy, and to all of his extended family and friends. Words cannot express how much we will all feel his absence, but will cherish the memories he left to each and every one of us.”

As for Tony’s son Christopher, the social media post quoted him as saying: “Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. 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. My wife said something powerful and shows the kind of man he was. She said: ‘Tony was such a kind man. He had such a huge heart and I’ve never heard Tony say a bad or negative thing about anyone.’”

Updated Tuesday, July 26 at 4 p.m. ET:

Dow is “in his last hours,” the actor’s son, Christopher Dow, clarified to Fox News after the sitcom star’s death was prematurely announced earlier on Tuesday.

“This is a difficult time,” Christopher said. Yes he is still alive but in his last hours. Under hospice care.”

The Facebook post announcing Tony’s death has since been deleted.

Original story continues below:

Leave It to Beaver star Tony Dow, who portrayed Wally Cleaver on the 1950s sitcom, has died at age 77.

The late actor’s death was announced Tuesday, July 26, via his official Facebook page.

“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,” his management team wrote, per NBC News. “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. The world has lost an amazing human being, but we are all richer for the memories that he has left us.”

The post continued: “From the warm reminiscences of Wally Cleaver to those of us fortunate enough to know him personally — thank you Tony. 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.”

Dow’s death comes two months after his wife, Lauren Shulkind, announced that her husband had “once again been diagnosed with cancer.”

“Dear friends and fans of Tony Dow, I have some very sad news to share with you,” she wrote via his official Facebook at the time, Variety noted. “Unfortunately, Tony has once again been diagnosed with cancer. He is approaching this reality so bravely, but it is truly heartbreaking. We want to thank you in advance for your caring thoughts. Our Love, Lauren & Tony.”

Dow portrayed Beaver’s older brother, Wally, on the 1950s sitcom from 1957 to 1963. He later reprised the beloved role for another six years on The New Leave It to Beaver, which aired from 1983 to 1989, as well as in the Still the Beaver TV movie in the early ‘80s.

In addition to his time as the older Cleaver brother, the California native continued to score TV roles throughout the next several decades, including a starring role in 153 episodes of Never Too Young in the mid-‘60s. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Dow made appearances on Lassie, My Three Sons, Mr. Novak, Murder, She Wrote and Charles in Charge.

The Freddy’s Nightmares alum acted sporadically in the ‘90s and 2000s, with a two-episode arc on Diagnosis Murder in 1999 and a part in the David Spade comedy Dicky Roberts: Former Child Star in 2003. His final acting appearances were in a 2015 episode and a 2016 episode of Suspense.

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‘Vanderpump Rules’ Stars Who Left the Series: Where Are They Now?

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9 hours ago

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March 20, 2023

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The ghosts of SURvers past. Laura-Leigh, Faith Stowers and Vail Bloom are among the Vanderpump Rules stars who have stepped away from the Bravo hit.

Cameras started following the staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurant SUR in 2012 after she rose to fame on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Season 1, which premiered in January 2013, starred Lisa, Stassi Schroeder, Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute and Scheana Shay. Tom Schwartz, Tina McDowelle, Peter Madrigal, Laura-Leigh, Frank Herlihy, Mike Shay, Kristina Kelly, Jen Bush and Jeremy Davidson had recurring roles on the series.

By season 3, several faces had come and gone, and Schwartz was upgraded to a full-time cast member. Ariana Madix and James Kennedy were also officially part of the cast. Lala Kent, Faith and Brittany Cartwright were first featured on the series in season 4.

“You can all tell that we’re very much evolving, so it’s almost like grown-up fighting now, as opposed to high school fighting,” Jax told Us Weekly exclusively in November 2018. “I mean, there’s still high school fighting. Certain people on our show like to keep the high school vibe going, but for the most part, it’s getting into adult fighting now.”

Season 8 saw several new additions to the cast, including Dayna Kathan, Max Boyens, Brett Caprioni, Danica Dow and Charli Burnett. Stassi’s then-fiancé, Beau Clark, and James’ then-girlfriend, Raquel Leviss, were also featured more heavily.

“When we started this show it was our real group of best friends,” Katie told Us in November 2019 ahead of the season 8 premiere. “[The newcomers] have just met at SUR, they didn’t know each other before so it’s kinds of interesting. It’s a different dynamic because they didn’t have the history that we have. So you can’t really compare us to them.”

Vanderpump Rules underwent a major cast shakeup in 2020 after it was confirmed Stassi, Kristen, Jax, Brittany, Max, Brett, Danica and Dayna wouldn’t be back for season 9. The show also didn’t film at all in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and returned in September 2021.

Scroll through for an update on the former Vanderpump Rules stars:

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Alyssa Milano Gushes Over Shannen Doherty’s ‘Charmed’ Reunion

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10 hours ago

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March 20, 2023

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Sisters forever. Though she wasn’t in attendance, Alyssa Milano gushed over the Charmed reunion that happened at 90s Con.

“This makes me happy for the OG Charmed fans. What a gift!” the actress, 50, captioned a photo of Shannen Doherty, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs at the Charmed panel.

The three women were joined by Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory and Drew Fuller for a reunion at the convention in Hartford, Connecticut, on Sunday, March 19. Milano was the only main cast member missing.

The original Charmed ran from 1998 to 2006 on The WB and followed the three Halliwell sisters — played by Doherty, Combs and Milano — who discover they’re witches. After the third season, Doherty shocked audiences when she left the series amid a rumored feud with Milano, and her character, Prue Halliwell, was killed off.

“There was too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work,” Doherty, now 51, detailed to Entertainment Tonight in 2001.

In October 2022, Milano said she felt at fault for some of their tension on the Charmed set. “I would say we are cordial,” the actress, who played Phoebe Halliwell, said of their current relationship during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “You know, I could take responsibility for a lot of our tension that we had. I think a lot of our struggle came from feeling that I was in competition rather than it being that sisterhood that the show was so much about. And I have some guilt about my part in that.”

She added that she has reconnected with Doherty after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. The Riverdale guest star went into remission in 2017 but the cancer returned in 2020. “I will send her DMs every couple of months to just check in,” Milano added in October.

While her issues with Doherty had long been rumored, tension between Milano and McGowan started building in 2018 amid the #MeToo movement. McGowan joined Charmed amid Doherty’s absence in the fourth season, playing long-lost half-sister Paige Matthews for four seasons.

The Brave author famously called Milano “a lie” for her involvement with the Time’s Up organization in a January 2018 interview with Nightline coanchor Juju Chang.

Milano responded to McGowan’s comments in a statement to Nightline at the time. “I am and always have been completely supportive of Rose and admire her bravery and speaking out about her experiences,” she said. “My goal throughout the past few months with both #MeToo and the TimesUp movement has been to use my platform to give others a voice so we can all work together to stamp out sexual harassment and sexual assault.”

The following April, Milano said she didn’t interpret any of McGowan’s comments as hateful. “[I don’t] see that as the same thing as hate,” she exclusively told Us Weekly at the time. “I see that as a beautiful soul that was hurting so badly that she was talking from that hurt. And I understand.”

For her part, McGowan remains close with Combs, 49. “I really love my Charmed co-star Holly Marie Combs. This juman means a lot to me. Blessed be forever! #Charmed,” the Jawbreakers actress captioned a February selfie with her pal via Instagram.

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Clueless’ Breckin Meyer Remembers ‘Talented’ Brittany Murphy After Death

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13 hours ago

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March 19, 2023

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Forever the Tai to his Travis. During the Clueless reunion panel at 90s Con 2023, Breckin Meyer opened up about the death of his late costar, Brittany Murphy, 14 years after her tragic passing.

“The one thing that really bummed [me out] about Brittany not being here [is thinking about] what she’d be doing now because of how talented she was,” the 48-year-old Good Girls alum said during the cast’s convention panel on Sunday, March 19, which was attended by Us Weekly. “Brittany could sing like nobody’s business, and I look at things like [how] they’re doing the movie Wicked now. I hear about that, [and I know] Brittany would be killing this stuff right now. You know, [projects like] West Side Story, all that stuff.”

Meyer, who played Travis Birkenstock in 1995’s Clueless, added: “The [tough part] is, like, we all don’t get to see the incredible work she was gonna do, which sucks.”

Murphy, who played new girl Tai in the iconic ’90s flick, died in December 2009 at the age of 32. Her death — which was ruled as “accidental” — was a result of pneumonia, anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

Following her tragic passing, her Clueless pals have frequently been candid about her enduring legacy, including Meyer.

“10 years ago this magical, fantabulous angel left us WAY too early. So crazy talented & the sweetest lil fairy ya ever could meet,” the Franklin & Bash alum, who played the Uptown Girls star’s love interest in Clueless, tweeted in December 2019. “Full Disclosure: Travis kisses Tai on the head because Brit was always like a lil sister to me. Missing Brit lots today.”

During Sunday’s panel, Meyer — who was joined by costars Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash and Elisa Donovan — revealed that he had known Murphy “forever” prior to their Clueless audition.

“So Brit and I played boyfriend and girlfriend in a couple things [before Clueless],” the Ghosts of Girlfriends Past actor recalled during the convention, which was held at the Hartford Convention Center in Connecticut. “I was tight with someone who played her big sister on a sitcom and I had no job, so I was around the set a lot [and] so I played Brittany’s boyfriend there. We were tight already [when we got the Clueless roles].”

He added: “When I auditioned, it was nice because any time you audition with someone you know, you’re just like, ‘One box, I can check: Comfortable.’”

Meyer, who arrived via skateboard to meet director Amy Heckerling at his Clueless callback, noted the roles of Travis and Tai nearly went to his pal Seth Green and his then-girlfriend, Alanna Ubach.

“It was just kind of one of [us or] the other,” the Garfield: The Movie star added. “It was between the two couples and luckily [Seth and Alanna are] not together anymore. So it worked out! But, yeah, when I saw Brittany [audition], I [thought], ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna get the part, but obviously, if you don’t make a movie with her, don’t make the movie,’ she’s that great. She was.”

Several of Meyer’s fellow 90s Con panelist also shared their fond memories of the late Just Married star.

“I remember Brittany coming in, and she was so great,” Silverstone, 46, said on Sunday.

With reporting by Stephanie Webber