Actor Jay North
Useless at 73 …
Starred as ‘Dennis the Menace’ in ’60s Sitcom
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Jay North — a veteran actor who performed the eponymous character within the Nineteen Sixties sitcom “Dennis the Menace” — has died … TMZ has confirmed.
Laurie Jacobson — a longtime good friend of North and spouse to “Lassie” actor Jon Provost — tells TMZ … Jay handed away Sunday at his house in Lake Butler, Florida after a battle with colorectal most cancers.
We’re advised his well being began to deteriorate over the previous month, and he was surrounded by household — his spouse Cindy and her daughters from a earlier marriage, which we’re advised he “adored” — when he handed.
Laurie says Cindy and her daughters “gave him a family he never had” since he was an solely little one who by no means knew his father.
We’re advised Jay hadn’t seen his pals in a while as a result of he wanted to isolate in an effort to keep wholesome attributable to his most cancers … however, Laurie collected a whole bunch of letters from followers and gave them to him over Christmas — which she says he was thrilled about.
North rose to prominence through the late Nineteen Fifties … showing in bit elements on packages like “77 Sunset Strip,” “Rescue 8,” and “Sugarfoot” when he was lower than 10 years outdated.
Jay gained nationwide recognition in 1959 when he began enjoying Dennis Mitchell on “Dennis the Menace” … starring in all 146 episodes from 1959 to 1963. His hair was bleached platinum blonde for the half, and he was instructed to assert he was a yr youthful than he was in interviews.
North opened up about his struggles on set years after the present ended … claiming his aunt verbally and bodily abused him when he tousled — even taking him away from prying eyes to beat him when he flubbed a line. He all the time made it clear his mom and others on set weren’t conscious of the abuse on the time.
Jacobson provides, “He had a rough ride in Hollywood– he did not enjoy the experience — he was at a time very angry and bitter that the adults that surrounded him did nothing to help him or make his time easier.”
“Dennis the Menace” was canceled after 4 seasons … and, North transitioned to voice appearing work within the late Nineteen Sixties, early ’70s on tasks like “Arabian Knights,” “Here Comes the Grump” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.”
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By the late Eighties, North left appearing behind … making restricted cameos as himself within the years since on an episode of “The Simpsons” and within the David Spade film “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”
In more moderen years, North labored as a correctional officer in Florida … reportedly serving to troubled youth within the juvenile system. He additionally helped counsel former little one stars by way of the group A Minor Consideration via the Nineties.
Jacobson tells us he additionally labored with inmates on demise row who had troubled childhoods as effectively … and their conversations helped him discover peace with the early years of his life.
Regardless of his distaste for Hollywood, Jacobson says Jay did recognize one perk he bought from the business — lifelong pals who have been additionally little one stars across the identical time together with Angela Cartwright, Jerry Mathers, Stan Livingston, Paul Petersen and Brandon Cruz, amongst others.
Jay was 73.
RIP
