Dennis the Menace star Jay North has died at the age of 73. He passed peacefully at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, on Sunday, April 6th, after battling health issues. The actor played the role of Dennis Mitchell in the 1959 series Dennis the Menace as a child actor, and it became a part of his identity.
The news of his passing was shared by his close friend, Laurie Jacobson, in a heartfelt Facebook post. Jacobson revealed that she learned of North’s death from a co-star from the series Dennis the Menace, Jeanne Russell. A representative for North also confirmed his passing to NBC News via email and confirmed his cause of death to be due to colorectal cancer.
Jay North had a battle with colorectal cancer before his death
Jay North passed away from Colorectal cancer, which he had been treating for a very long time. The illness is also known as colon cancer, and it originates in the colon, the largest part of the large intestine, primarily affecting people over the age of 50, although exceptions have been noted in recent times. Jay North began his career as a child actor in 1958, appearing in television shows such as 77 Sunset Strip and Sugarfoot.
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However, he gained more recognition in 1959 when he played the lead role in Dennis the Menace. North later shared that he was typecast as Dennis the Menace many years after the series. Over the years, he continued to appear in a number of movies and television shows, including Zebra in the Kitchen, Maya, and The Lucy Show. Later in his career, he voiced animated series such as The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show and The Flintstone Comedy Hour.
Tribute to Jay North
In the wake of the actor’s death, tributes have kept pouring in. Laurie Jacobson, who broke the news of his passing on her Facebook, fondly remembered Jay North’s generous spirit and how he often ended every phone conversation with, “I love you with all my heart.” Jacobson acknowledged that all other co-stars of Dennis the Menace also loved him dearly. She also expressed gratitude for his peaceful death despite knowing that they would all miss him.
Beyond his acting career, North proudly served in the U.S. Navy. In his later years, he also worked in the health food industry and subsequently as a corrections officer in Florida. North will always be remembered for his contribution to Hollywood and humanity.