The great Norman Learturns 100 today. He’s been creating tv and films for more than 70 years and is till going strong. It’s a career that, any decade of which, would make most artists proud.
Among his producing credits are all-time TV classics like All in the Familyand The Jeffersons. Lear wrote for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Andy Williams and many more. He was an EP on Fried Green Tomatoes and The Princess Bride.
He’s won five Emmys — most recently in 2019 — and two Peabodys, was awarded the National Medal of Arts, received a Kennedy Center Honor and and was awarded the Air Medal after flying 52 missions in a B-17 during WWII.
Click on the photo above to see a gallery of it all.
2:53 PM PT — Tony’s son, Christopher, says “Dad is at home, under hospice care, and in his last hours. My wife and I are by his side along with many friends that have visited. He has a fighting heart.”
UPDATE
12:48 PM PT — The statement reporting Tony’s death that was posted on his official Facebook page Tuesday morning has now been removed. We spoke with Tony’s manager who says Tony’s wife, Lauren, who is very distraught, believed her husband was dead — and told his management.
UPDATE
We’re now told he is still alive and breathing while in hospice care.
Tony Dow, the producer, director and actor most famous for his role as Wally Cleaver on “Leave It To Beaver” has died after a battle with liver cancer.
A statement from Tony’s team reveals he died Tuesday morning, “Tony was a beautiful soul – kind, compassionate, funny and humble. 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.”
TMZ broke the story, Tony was diagnosed with cancer in May 2022. An update on his cancer battle last week said it was, “… a rollercoaster of ups and downs as Tony continues his fight with cancer. Tony has been in and out of the hospital with various complications and treatments.”
The statement continues, “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.”
Born in Hollywood, California — Tony found massive fame as Wally Cleaver on “Leave It To Beaver” which ran from 1957 to 1963.
Dow continued his acting career on shows like “Never Too Late” and “My Three Sons” before taking a break to serve in The National Guard from 1965 to 1968. He later reprised his role as Wally from 1983-1989 on “The New Leave It To Beaver.”
Tony continued acting into the 2000’s when he appeared in “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”
David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Pedro Pascal are teaming up for HBO’s latest true crime limited series.
Variety reports that the pair have joined the cast of My Dentist’s Murder.
The series is based on James Lasdun’s 2017 New Yorker article “My Dentist’s Murder Trial: Adultery, False Identities, and a Lethal Sedation,” which takes viewers inside the true story of Upstate New York dentist Dr. Gilberto Nunez, who was indicted for the death of his friend Thomas Kolman.
Harbour and Pascal will exec produce the series alongside Lasun.
Pascal is no stranger to HBO, having starred on the hit Game of Thrones.
He also has one of the two lead roles on the forthcoming Last of Us TV series, which is on track for an early 2023 launch.
He’s also a series regular on The Mandalorian in the titular role.
The series has been on an extended hiatus and is on track for a bow on Disney+ next year.
As for Harbour, he currentlly stars in Stranger Things on Netflix.
The 1980s-set series recently wrapped its fourth season and has been renewed for a fifth — and final season.
We can’t wait to see what these two bring to the table on-screen together.
In other HBO news, the premium cabler has handed out a series order to The Palace, starring and executive produced by Kate Winslet.
The limited series will be directed and executive produced by Stephen Frears and showrun, written by, and executive produced by Will Tracy.
It tells the story of one year within the walls of the palace of an authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel.
Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming said: “We are honored to be working with this incredibly talented group of filmmakers on THE PALACE.”
“The notion that Kate Winslet and Stephen Frears, two of our industry’s leading lights (who – remarkably – have never collaborated before now), are joining forces to bring Will Tracy’s wildly original, prescient, and dazzling scripts to life at HBO is a dream come true for us.”
Winslet previously starred in Mare of Easttown for the cabler, for which she won Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie at the 73rd Emmys last year.
What are your thoughts on this HBO news?
Hit the comments.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
Rumors have swirled of late that the latest big name who may decamp to the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour is TNT NBA analyst and onetime owner of the worst swing in golf, Charles Barkley.
PGA legend Greg Norman is the league’s CEO, and big name U.S. players like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson have already signed on for eye-popping sums. Tiger Woods turned LIV down.
Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and questions about the country’s ties to the Sept. 11 attacks have many reluctant to partner with LIV for any price. Indeed, families of 9/11 victims have called the decision to go forward this weekend with an LIV tournament at Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, not far from where the attacks took place, “offensive, disrespectful and hurtful.”
As a result, no U.S. broadcaster or cable outlet has made a deal with LIV Golf as of yet. The outfit’s events can only be watched via stream on LIVGolf.com and its YouTube and Facebook pages.
Even so, British broadcaster Arlo White signed on with the league earlier this year, with NBC’s golf analyst David Feherty following suit. The legendary Gary McCord is also reportedly in talks.
In a recent conversation on the Dan Patrick Show, Barkley said no decision has been made, but admitted to taking a meeting with Norman. He also said the rumors have weighed on him.
“It’s been very stressful. I met with Greg. He asked me if I’m interested. I said, ‘Of course. I’m here. I wouldn’t have dinner with you if I wasn’t interested.’ I’m waiting for them to make me an offer. That’s all I know.”
Barkley said he loves TNT, where he’s been since 2000, and his Inside the NBA compatriots there — Kenny, Ernie and Shaq. “But if those dudes (LIV) threw something crazy at me, I have to listen. And listen, I’m not going to get on here and say, ‘It’s not about the money.’ Of course it’s about the money.”
He continued, “They’re giving guys $200 million, $150 million, $120 million. I’d be stupid not to listen to that conversation.”
The NBA great said his considerations also include the following: “I have three years left on my TNT deal, and I’m probably going to lose all of my commercials.” Barkley is a spokesman for Subway, Dick’s, Fan Duel and a multitude of other companies. “I’m not sure how the public is going to get about commercials. I might not get commercials any more.”
Barkley said he has not had a single conversation with TNT about possibly doing both jobs, “Not one. They have been very quiet.”
He also maintained that, “Unless they [LIV] do something crazy, I’m not leaving TNT.”
Patrick then asked Barkley what kind of offer it would take for him to leave his longtime broadcast home, where his salary is said to be $10 million annually.
“If they triple it…next time I’m on your show, the first question better be, ‘Charles, where we celebrating at tonight?’” Barkley said.
Asked about human rights criticisms Barkley said, “I just think it’s funny they are more interested in civil rights in Saudi Arabia, a place 99.9% of the people in the U.S. have never been. Why don’t you all worry about the civil rights of the people here in the United States?”