Tony Dow on life beyond Leave It to Beaver

Tony Dow on life beyond “Leave It to Beaver”

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Tony Dow on a life of art post-“Leave It to B…

Tony Dow on a life of art post-“Leave It to Beaver”

In the studio where he’s spent the last 20 years sculpting meditations on our humanity, the artist is carving a gnarled piece of burl wood into a dramatic figure that’ll then be cast in bronze, wrestling some sense of optimism from the struggle life so often presents.

Correspondent Jim Axelrod asked, “This face is in pain? And you’re changing it to what?”

“To one of hope,” the artist replied.

As many as 50 hours of work go into a piece before it’s ready for his signature: “T. Dow.” “Once you start a piece, that piece takes control,” he laughed. “What it does is it tells you what you need to do next.”

Sculptures by the actor and artist Tony Dow. Tony Dow

Finally, at the age of 76, the artist, Tony Dow, is happy to relinquish control of his work. It wasn’t always like that: “From the time I was 11 or 12, I was being told what to do,” he said. “I was told on the set. I was told at home. I didn’t have control of my life.”

“You were literally given your lines?” asked Axelrod.

“Yeah.”

At the age of 12, Dow began starring as Wally Cleaver on “Leave It to Beaver,” a TV series depicting a mythical version of mid-century American life – a show so popular, it’s never left the screen since its debut in 1957.

“The genius of ‘Leave It to Beaver’ was that the show was written from a child’s point of view,” said Dow.

Born in Hollywood, Dow was a competitive swimmer as a kid when he tagged along with his coach to an audition. The coach didn’t get the part. But as his mother told him at lunch, Dow got an offer: “I took a bite of my hamburger and I took a sip of my malt, and I said: ‘OK.’ And there went my life!” he laughed.

Beaver (Jerry Mathers): “What’s this, Wally?”

Wally (Tony Dow): “Well, that’s an official Scout’s compass. I don’t know exactly how it works, but when you start out somewhere, it’s supposed to tell you which way you’re going.”

Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers in “Leave It to Beaver,” which debuted in 1957. CBS

Overnight, Dow’s life headed in a direction no compass could help him navigate. A teen heartthrob before he could drive, his adolescence unfolded in front of millions as he played the polite, trustworthy, “All-American” big brother.

Axelrod asked, “You didn’t think Wally was gonna define you?”

“No, I didn’t,” Dow replied. “But it did. And I was gonna have to live with it for the rest of my life. I thought: This isn’t fair. You know? I mean, I’d like to do some other stuff. I’d like to do some interesting stuff. You know, it’s sad to be famous at 12 years old or something, and then you grow up and become a real person, and nothing’s happening for you.”

The sadness turned to anger, setting Dow up for a struggle that would mark the rest of his life.

“Anger, if it’s untreated, anger turns to depression,” he said. “But depression isn’t something you can say ‘Cheer up!’ about. You know, it’s a very powerful thing. And it’s had a lot of effect on my life.”

WEB EXTRA: Tony Dow talks about depression:

Axelrod asked Lauren Dow, Tony’s wife of 41 years, “What’s it like to listen to Tony talk about the depression?”

“Well, I’m very proud of him for talking about it, for dealing with it, and for sharing it with others,” she replied.

Lauren helped Tony balance the curse of being linked forever to Wally, by helping him see clearly the blessings.

Axelrod asked, “What did you fall in love with?”

“His sweetness, softness, vulnerability,” she said.

“I hate to do this. It’s so trite and clichéd. But … "

“Spit it out!”

“Sounds like Wally! Is there any Wally in him?”

“I think there’s a lot of Tony in the character,” Lauren said. “They’re intertwined. Wally was very much like Tony.”

An artist herself, Lauren Dow makes mosaics in her own space in their shared studio.

“I think the art is, like, the best thing for him,” she said. “And he’s created some very interesting things while depressed.”

Tony, too, credits his art - combined with medication and therapy - for getting a handle on his depression: “And I’ve got it under control pretty much. You know, I think people should take the leap of faith that they can feel better.”

Tony Dow at work in his studio. CBS News

He still takes an occasional acting job, always aware that “Wally” is lurking nearby – but no longer troubled by it.

“I felt that way probably from the time I was 20, maybe until I was 40,” he said. “And then at 40, I realized how great the show as, how appreciative I should be for being in that show.”

Around his home in the hills above Los Angeles are plenty of signs of that appreciation: a pennant from the fictional Mayfield High that Wally attended; a bound collection of “Leave It to Beaver” scripts; even a box of cornflakes with Tony and Jerry Mathers, who played the Beaver, all grown up.

And in his driveway sits a sleek example of the benefits Wally Cleaver still provides Tony Dow: His first car, a 1961 Corvair he bought with “Leave It to Beaver” money, only to sell four years later.

Before the guy who bought it died a few years ago, he decided to leave it to Dow, returning the car – and with it, a reminder that perspective is the foundation of making peace with pain.

Correspondent Jim Axelrod with Tony Dow, reunited with his Corvair. CBS News

“You sure this was it?” Axelrod asked.

“I’m sure. Oh, yeah, it’s got the same license plate. So anyway, pretty cool!”

“Yeah, I mean it is one of the rewards of being who you are. They knew where to find you!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dow laughed. “You’re giving me all this positive stuff that I should be thinking about, instead of all the dumb stuff I think about!”

For more info:

Story produced by Jay Kernis. Editor: Karen Brenner.

This week on “Sunday Morning” (January 16)

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Actor and artist Tony Dow, pictured at his Topanga, Calif. studio in 2012. Reed Saxon/AP

ART: Tony Dow on life beyond “Leave It to Beaver” | WATCH VIDEO

Beginning at age 12, Tony Dow played Wally Cleaver, the polite, trustworthy “All-American” big brother on the classic sitcom “Leave It to Beaver.” But for years Dow lived in the shadow of his adolescent stardom, and was dogged by feelings of depression. Dow talks with correspondent Jim Axelrod about looking beyond the curse of being linked forever to the character of Wally, and how, through creating art, and with the support of his wife, Lauren (also an artist), he addressed the struggles that life often presents.

WEB EXTRA: “Leave It to Beaver” actor Tony Dow on depression (YouTube Video)

In this web exclusive, actor and artist Tony Dow, who beginning at age 12 starred as Wally Cleaver in the classic sitcom “Leave It to Beaver,” explains to correspondent Jim Axelrod how he dealt with a depression that began, he says, at a young age.

For more info:

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By Maria Armental

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Write to paul.larkins@dowjones.com TODAY IN CANADA

Earnings:

Aritzia 3Q

Shaw Commun 1Q

Economic Indicators:

None scheduled

Expected Major Events for Wednesday

05:00/JPN: Dec Economy Watchers Survey

07:00/GER: Dec WPI

12:00/US: 01/07 MBA Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey

13:30/US: Dec CPI

13:30/US: Dec Real Earnings

15:00/US: Dec Online Help Wanted Index

15:30/US: 01/07 EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report

16:59/GER: Nov Balance of Payments

17:00/US: World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimates (WASDE)

19:00/US: Dec Monthly Treasury Statement of Receipts & Outlays of the U.S. Govt

19:00/US: U.S. Federal Reserve Beige Book

23:50/JPN: Dec Money Stock, Broadly-defined Liquidity

All times in GMT. Powered by Kantar Media and Dow Jones.

Expected Earnings for Wednesday

Aritzia Inc (ATZ.T) is expected to report $0.34 for 3Q.

CHS Inc (CHSCP) is expected to report for 1Q.

Caldwell Partners International Inc (CWL.T) is expected to report for 1Q.

Concrete Pumping Holdings Inc (BBCP) is expected to report $0.10 for 4Q.

E2open Parent Holdings Inc (ETWO) is expected to report for 3Q.

FedEx Corp (FDX) is expected to report.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc (JEF) is expected to report $1.34 for 4Q.

KB Home (KBH) is expected to report $1.77 for 4Q.

Platinum Group Metals Ltd (PLG,PTM.T) is expected to report for 1Q.

Postmedia Network Canada (PNC.A.T,PNC.B.T) is expected to report for 1Q.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc (RMCF) is expected to report for 3Q.

Shaw Communications Inc - Class B (SJR,SJR.A.V,SJR.B.T) is expected to report $0.33 for 1Q.

SouthGobi Resources Ltd (1878.HK,SGQ.T,SGQRF) is expected to report $-0.04 for 4Q.

Timberline Resources Corp (TBR.V,TLR) is expected to report for 4Q.

Velan Inc (VLN.T,VLNSF) is expected to report for 3Q.

Volt Information Sciences Inc (VOLT) is expected to report $0.04 for 4Q.

ANALYST RATINGS ACTIONS

Advanced Micro Devices Raised to Overweight From Sector Weight by Keybanc

Alcoa Cut to Hold From Buy by Deutsche Bank

Allegheny Technologies Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by Cowen & Co.

American Airlines Group Raised to Equal-Weight From Underweight by Morgan Stanley

Apria Cut to Neutral From Buy by UBS

Brighthouse Financial Raised to Equal-Weight From Underweight by Barclays

Certara Raised to Buy From Hold by Jefferies

Citizens Financial Group Raised to Buy From Neutral by Citigroup

Cogent Communications Cut to Sell From Neutral by Goldman Sachs

Dell Technologies Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by Bernstein

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by BMO Capital

IBM Cut to Sell From Neutral by UBS

Illumina Raised to Equal-Weight From Underweight by Barclays

Intel Cut to Sector Weight From Overweight by Keybanc

Intercept Pharmaceuticals Raised to Buy From Neutral by B. Riley Securities

iRhythm Technologies Raised to Outperform From Perform by Oppenheimer

Juniper Networks Raised to Buy From Underperform by B of A Securities

L3Harris Technologies Raised to Outperform From Peer Perform by Wolfe Research

Las Vegas Sands Raised to Overweight From Neutral by JP Morgan

Monolithic Power Raised to Overweight From Sector Weight by Keybanc

Northern Trust Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Northrop Grumman Cut to Peer Perform From Outperform by Wolfe Research

Nucor Cut to Underperform From Peer Perform by Wolfe Research

Old Dominion Freight Cut to In-Line From Outperform by Evercore ISI Group

Paychex Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by Cowen & Co.

Regions Financial Raised to Buy From Neutral by Citigroup

Reynolds Cnsmr Products Cut to Neutral From Buy by Citigroup

STAG Industrial Cut to Neutral From Outperform by Baird

Steven Madden Raised to Buy From Hold by Loop Capital

Take-Two Interactive Cut to Neutral From Buy by MoffettNathanson

Take-Two Interactive Raised to Overweight From Sector Weight by Keybanc

Terreno Realty Cut to Neutral From Outperform by Baird

US Steel Cut to Underperform From Peer Perform by Wolfe Research

ViewRay Raised to Buy From Neutral by B. Riley Securities

WW International Cut to Hold From Buy by Craig-Hallum

Zynga Cut to Sector Weight From Overweight by Keybanc

Zynga Raised to Neutral From Underperform by Credit Suisse

This article is a text version of a Wall Street Journal newsletter published earlier today.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 12, 2022 05:56 ET (10:56 GMT)