Beloved former child actor Jay North has died, his close friends have announced.
North, star of the hit 1960s sitcom “Dennis the Menace,” died Sunday at 73 years old.
He died at home in Lake Butler, Florida, after battling colon cancer for years.
North’s death was confirmed in a social media post shared by his longtime friends, “Lassie” actor Jon Provost and his wife Laurie Jacobson.
The child actor found acclaim with his role as Dennis “The Menace” Mitchell.
The unruly youngster was known for burdening his neighbor, George Wilson.
In a statement shared online, Jacobson said:
“Jeanne Russell just called us with terribly sad, but not unexpected, news.
“Our dear friend Jay North has been fighting cancer for a number of years, and this morning at noon EST, Jay passed peacefully at home.
“As many of his fans know, he had a difficult journey in Hollywood and after… but he did not let it define his life.
“He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply,” Jacobson said.
“He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart.’
“And we loved him with all of ours.”
She added, “A life-long friend of Jon’s, a brother to Jeanne and a dear friend to me, we will miss him terribly.
“He is out of pain now. His suffering is over. At last, he is at peace.”
Provost wrote with “a heavy heart” that his friend of nearly 70 years died Sunday, April 6.
“We just lost another original and dear friend, Jay ‘Dennis the Menace’ North,” Provost shared.
“Jay passed today at 12:00 EST.
“I’ve known Jay for almost 70 years.
“Now you can rest in peace, Jay.
“It wasn’t as easy for you as it was for some of us, not that it was a piece of cake, that’s for sure, but you did suffer a lot more than most.
“You were a great guy, Jay, and I miss you with all my heart, but I know you’re at peace now.”
North’s character was based on the “Dennis the Menace” comic strip created by Hank Ketcham.
The show aired for four seasons, beginning in October 1959.
It was canceled in 1963 after more than 140 episodes.
North was also known for his voice work.
He voiced characters for “Here Comes the Grump,” “Arabian Knights,” “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show,” and “The Simpsons.”
His last on-screen role was alongside David Spade in the 2003 comedy, “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”
Decades after finding success, North admitted he suffered abuse as a child actor.
He claimed that his aunt would physically assault him on set.
In 1991, North told Katie Couric:
“I used to wake up every morning thinking, ‘My God, do I have to spend another day with this woman?’
“Because I would go in and I would do a scene, I would come off the set and everybody said, ‘Hey, you did a great job.’
“And then I would get a slap across the face, or taken into the dressing room and get a spanking or verbal tongue lashing or whatever.
“Physically, she would just grab my hair and just shake me … just made life a living hell for the four years.
“My uncle was very abusive, too.”
North is survived by his wife, Cindy Hackney.
