The wife of Tony Dow, the actor and director best known for his role as older brother Wally Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver who was reported dead on Tuesday, said her husband is still alive.
Earlier, Dow representatives released a statement announcing the death of the beloved actor.
Lauren Dow confirmed to Eyewitness News that her husband is still alive and breathing, but is in hospice care in their home.
She said that based on some health issues that occurred overnight, Lauren concluded that her husband had passed away for several people close to her.
Lauren said she has been distraught and saddened by her husband’s health battle for the past two months.
Although she said her husband died, she maintains that it was a misunderstanding and regrets causing such an uproar during a difficult time. She said she “loves and adores” her 42-year-old husband with all her heart.
A Facebook post that reported his death has been removed.
The actor — who shot to stardom at age 12 when he was cast in the soon-to-be “Leave It to Beaver” sitcom — revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Dow, who said he struggled with undiagnosed depression from ages 20 to 40, has spoken for decades about his mental health challenges, long before celebrities shared this information publicly.
In 1993, he was Honorary Speaker at a conference of the National Depression and Bipolar Society.
“I realize there is a perceived irony about it,” he told the Baltimore Sun about his depression in 1993. I suffer from depression. But I’m just one among millions.”
Dow told CBS that once his diagnosis was accepted and treatment started, he found hope. He channeled that hope into art, too, sculpting ornate pieces in his studio.
“I think people should take a leap of faith in order to feel better,” he said.
Dow continued to work in Hollywood, starring in television series and reprising his role in “The New Leave It to Beaver” in the 1980s. He also directed episodes of series such as “Harry and the Hendersons”, “Coach” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”.
Jerry Mathers, who starred opposite Dow as Beaver on the sitcom, told fans earlier this month that he had been in contact with Dow, whose managers said she was “in and out of hospital due to complications and various treatments.”
CNN contributed to this report.
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