Nancy Dow and Tony Dow are two actors who have been in the spotlight for different reasons. Nancy Dow was the mother of Jennifer Aniston, the star of Friends and many other movies. Tony Dow was the actor who played Wally Cleaver in the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver. But are they related by blood or marriage? This article will explore the facts and debunk the rumor that they are siblings or cousins.
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Nancy Dow: A Model, Actress and Author
Nancy Dow was born on July 22, 1936 in West Hartford, Connecticut. She was one of six daughters of Louise and Gordon McLean Dow. Her maternal grandfather, Louis Grieco, was an Italian immigrant, while her other ancestry included English, Scottish and Irish.
Dow pursued a career as a model and actress, appearing in several television shows and movies in the 1960s and 1970s. Some of her credits include The Beverly Hillbillies, The Wild Wild West, The Ice House and Pure.
Dow was also known for her tumultuous relationship with her daughter Jennifer Aniston, whom she had with her second husband John Aniston, a Greek-American actor best known for his role on Days of Our Lives. Dow and Aniston divorced in 1980, when Jennifer was nine years old.
Dow wrote a memoir about her life and her estrangement from Jennifer, titled From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir, which was published in 1999. The book caused a rift between them that lasted for six years, until they reconciled in 2005 after Jennifer’s divorce from Brad Pitt.
Dow suffered from several strokes in 2011 and 2012, which affected her ability to speak and walk. She died on May 25, 2016 at the age of 79, surrounded by family and friends.
Tony Dow: A Diver, Actor and Sculptor
Tony Dow was born on April 13, 1945 in Los Angeles, California. He was the son of Muriel Virginia, a stuntwoman in westerns, and John Stevens Dow, a designer and contractor.
Dow was a talented diver and swimmer in his youth, winning several championships and competing in the Junior Olympics. He also had a passion for acting, which led him to audition for the role of Wally Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver at the age of 12. He got the part and became famous for portraying the all-American boy and older brother of Beaver Cleaver from 1957 to 1963.
After Leave It to Beaver ended, Dow continued to act in various television shows and movies, such as My Three Sons, Dr. Kildare, The Greatest Show on Earth, Never Too Young, Mr. Novak, Adam-12, Love American Style, Knight Rider, Square Pegs, The Mod Squad, The Hardy Boys and Emergency!. He also served in the California Army National Guard from 1965 to 1968 during the Vietnam War as a photographer.
In addition to acting, Dow also worked as a director, producer and writer for several projects, including The New Leave It to Beaver (a sequel series to the original show), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Babylon 5 , Coach , Crusade , Swamp Thing , Harry and the Hendersons , Get a Life , Cover Me , Honey I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show , Babylon Park: Frightspace , Babylon Park: Grudgematch , Babylon Park: River of Souls , Babylon Park: FedCon IV – The Wrath of Shatner , Babylon Park: FedCon V – The Final Frontier , Babylon Park: FedCon VI – The Undiscovered Parody , Babylon Park: FedCon VII – The Search for Shatner , Babylon Park: FedCon VIII – Nemesis Rising , Babylon Park: FedCon IX – Insurrection , Babylon Park: FedCon X – Generations , Babylon Park: FedCon XI – First Contact , Babylon Park: FedCon XII – Nemesis , Babylon Park: FedCon XIII – Into Darkness , Babylon Park: FedCon XIV – Beyond , Babylon Park: FedCon XV – Discovery , Babylon Park: FedCon XVI – Picard .
Dow also developed an interest in sculpting later in life, creating abstract bronze pieces that have been exhibited in various galleries and museums. He said that sculpting helped him cope with his bipolar disorder, which he was diagnosed with in his 50s.
Dow was married twice, first to Carol Marlow from 1969 to 1980, and then to Lauren Shulkind from 1980 until his death. He had one son, Christopher, with Marlow, and a stepson, Greg, with Shulkind.
Dow died on July 27, 2022 at the age of 77 in Topanga, California, after a long battle with cancer.
The Verdict: No Relation
Based on the available information, there is no evidence that Nancy Dow and Tony Dow were related by blood or marriage. They had different parents, different spouses, different children and different careers. They also never appeared in any project together or mentioned each other in any interview or publication.
The rumor that they were siblings or cousins may have originated from their similar last names and their involvement in the entertainment industry. However, Dow is a common surname that can be traced back to various origins, such as English, Scottish, Irish, German and Jewish.
Therefore, the answer to the question “Is Nancy Dow related to Tony Dow?” is a resounding no. They were two distinct individuals who led their own lives and left their own legacies.
