Jay North, Star of ‘Dennis the Menace,’ Passes Away at 73
Television icon Jay North, known for his iconic portrayal of Dennis the Menace, has passed away at the age of 73.
A Facebook update shared on Sunday, April 6, by North’s close friend Laurie Jacobson, revealed that the actor succumbed to his long-standing battle with cancer that day.
“Our beloved friend JAY NORTH had been enduring cancer for several years, and this morning at noon EST, he passed away peacefully in his home,” Jacobson stated on the social media platform. “As many of his fans are aware, he faced a challenging journey in Hollywood and beyond, yet he refused to let it define him. He had a heart as vast as a mountain and cherished his friends deeply. He would call us often and always conclude our conversations with ‘I love you with all my heart.’ And we loved him with all ours.”
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, North reportedly died at his residence in Lake Butler, Florida, following “years of battling colon cancer,” as noted by North’s Dennis the Menace co-star Jeannie Russell.
Russell, now 74, who portrayed Margaret Wade on the 1959 CBS series alongside North as Dennis Mitchell, referred to North as her “otherworldly brother.”
Jacobson’s Facebook message also stated, “A lifelong friend of Jon’s [referring to Lassie star Jon Provost, who is married to Jacobson], a brother to Jeanne, and a cherished friend to me, we will feel his absence profoundly. He is free from pain now, his suffering has ended. Finally, he is at peace.”
North is survived by his third spouse, Cindy Hackney.
North entered the limelight early in his life, featuring in commercials and securing minor roles on variety shows such as The Eddie Fisher Show and The Milton Berle Show.
At just 6 years old, he landed his role in Dennis the Menace, which aired from 1959 to 1963 and was inspired by a comic strip created by Hank Ketcham. The series revolved around the mischievous only child, Dennis, who created chaos for his elderly neighbor, George Wilson.
Additional cast members of Dennis the Menace included Herbert Anderson as Dennis’ father, Henry, and Gloria Henry as Dennis’ mother, Alice.
North also appeared in the 1965 film Zebra in the Kitchen before making a comeback to television with a small role in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The following year, he secured a starring role in Maya, a film that transformed into an NBC TV series, further elevating North’s fame.
The story of Dennis the Menace was later revisited in a 1993 film featuring Mason Gamble as Dennis and Walter Matthau as George.
