‘Dennis the Menace’ Actor Jay North Useless at 73

Jay North — a veteran actor who performed the eponymous character within the Sixties sitcom “Dennis the Menace” — has died … TMZ has confirmed.

Laurie Jacobson — a longtime pal of North and spouse to “Lassie” actor Jon Provost — tells TMZ … Jay handed away Sunday at his residence in Lake Butler, Florida after a battle with colorectal most cancers.

We’re informed 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 informed he “adored” — when he handed.

Laurie says Cindy and her daughters “gave him a household he by no means had” since he was an solely youngster who by no means knew his father.

We’re informed Jay hadn’t seen his pals in a while as a result of he wanted to isolate with a purpose to keep wholesome as a result of his most cancers … however, Laurie collected lots of of letters from followers and gave them to him over Christmas — which she says he was thrilled about.

North rose to prominence in the course of the late Nineteen Fifties … showing in bit components on packages like “77 Sundown Strip,” “Rescue 8,” and “Sugarfoot” when he was lower than 10 years previous.

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 say 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 tough journey in Hollywood– he didn’t benefit from the expertise — he was at a time very indignant and bitter that the adults that surrounded him did nothing to assist him or make his time simpler.”

“Dennis the Menace” was canceled after 4 seasons … and, North transitioned to voice performing work within the late Sixties, early ’70s on tasks like “Arabian Knights,” “Right here Comes the Grump” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Present.”

By the late Eighties, North left performing 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 Baby Star.”

In newer years, North labored as a correctional officer in Florida … reportedly serving to troubled youth within the juvenile system. He additionally helped counsel former youngster stars through the group A Minor Consideration by means of the Nineteen Nineties.

Jacobson tells us he additionally labored with inmates on loss of life row who had troubled childhoods as properly … and their conversations helped him discover peace with the early years of his life.

Regardless of his distaste for Hollywood, Jacobson says Jay did admire one perk he obtained from the trade — lifelong pals who have been additionally youngster stars across the identical time together with Angela Cartwright, Jerry Mathers, Stan Livingston, Paul Petersen and Brandon Cruz, amongst others.

Jay was 73.