Wife and management team announced death by mistake – Deadline

UPDATE, with statements from Dow’s son and management Tony Dow’s son and the management team have confirmed the actor is still alive, with his reps blaming the earlier misinformation on the distraught state of the leave it to the beaver the actor’s wife.

“It’s a difficult time,” Dow’s son, Christopher Dow, said in a statement posted on the actor’s Facebook page. “Dad is home, in hospice care and in his final hours. My wife and I are at his side along with many friends who have visited. He has a beating heart.

Earlier, in a note titled ‘UPDATE URGENT’ on the Facebook page, Reps Frank Bilotta and Renee James wrote: ‘This morning Tony’s wife, Lauren, who was very distraught, informed us that Tony had passed away and we asked to inform all his fans. . As we’re sure you can understand, it’s been a very trying time for her. We have since received a call from Tony’s daughter-in-law saying that while Tony is not well, he is not yet dead. Tony’s son, Christopher, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, have also been there to comfort him, and we’ll keep you posted on any future updates.

Deadline reached out to Dow’s management team for further comment and removed the obituary posted earlier from the site.

Earlier today, Bilotta and James announced on social media that Dow had passed away. News of the beloved actor from the iconic sitcom has made global headlines and prompted an emotional message from Dow’s leave it to the beaver co-star and lifelong friend Jerry Mathers. “He was not just my brother on TV, but in so many ways in life too,” Mathers wrote on Facebook Today. “Tony leaves an empty place in my heart that will not be filled.”

The New York Times, The Washington PostCNN and news agencies around the world reported the death. The temperature, among other things, issued an editor’s note correcting previous reports, now noting that he “is still alive”.

Los Angeles ABC reporter George Pennacchio later posted on Facebook that Dow’s wife Lauren mistakenly believed her husband had died overnight at their home and mistakenly informed Dow management that he was deceased.

“Tony Dow is still alive,” reports Pennacchio. “I had a conversation with his wife, Lauren. She is understandably distraught and distressed by what has happened with Tony’s health battle over the past few months. He has been in hospice care at their home and, on the basis of health issues overnight, Lauren deduced Tony had died from some people close to her and word quickly spread.Lauren admits she’s been ‘a little fuzzy’ these days – that’s understandable. She told me that she now feels “crazy” about what has happened since her death was reported around the world. She also told me, through her pain, ‘it’s my fault’ I told her we know it’s been a very stressful time and people understand overwhelming grief Lauren says she ‘loves and adores’ her husband for 42 years with all her heart. Although she said he had passed away, she now understands the misunderstanding and is sorry for causing a stir and n this difficult time.

Dow representatives mistakenly announced his death with the following statement: “It is with extremely heavy hearts 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 just to be around him. Her soft voice and unassuming manner were immediately heartwarming and you couldn’t help but love her. The world has lost an incredible human being, but we are all blessed with the memories he left behind. Warm memories of Wally Cleaver to those of us lucky enough to know him personally – thank you Tony. And thank you for the reflections of a simpler time, the laughter, the friendship, and for feeling like you were a big brother to us all.

Bilotta is the owner of the Florida-based Bilotta Gallery, which has exhibited works by famous artists such as Dow, Billy Dee Williams, Billy Bob Thornton and many more.

Last week, Dow representatives reported on the actor’s Facebook page that he had suffered setbacks in his battle with cancer.