Jay North, 'Dennis the Menace' star, dies at 73

Jay North, the child actor best known for portraying Dennis Mitchell in the classic 1960s sitcom Dennis the Menace, has died at age 73. The actor passed away peacefully at home on April 6 after a prolonged battle with cancer, according to a statement by producer Laurie Jacobson.

Jacobson announced North’s passing in a heartfelt Facebook post, reflecting on his enduring kindness and struggles in Hollywood. “Jay passed peacefully at home,” she wrote. “He had a heart as big as a mountain.” North’s representative later confirmed the news.

North’s career, however, came with personal pain. In a 1991 interview, he spoke openly about abuse suffered as a child actor. “I would go in and do a scene... and then I would get a slap across the face,” he recalled of his guardian’s treatment.

Though typecast and eventually sidelined by the industry, North found purpose elsewhere. He served in the military, worked in the health food sector, and later as a correctional officer in Florida. He also mentored young performers through the advocacy group A Minor Consideration.

Fellow advocate Paul Petersen paid tribute, saying, “Dennis the Menace has shed his mortal coil... you left a mark as our first formal rescue.”