Jay North, Former Child Star of ‘Dennis the Menace,’ Dies at 73

North died peacefully at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, on April 6 after a yearslong battle with colorectal cancer.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax (Right) gives Jay North some pointers on pitching on Feb. 22, 1962. David F. Smith/AP Photo

Jay North, an actor best known for playing the titular role in the 1960s sitcom “Dennis the Menace,” has died at the age of 73 after a yearslong battle with colorectal cancer.

Author Laurie Jacobson and her husband, “Lassie” star Jon Provost, confirmed the death of their longtime friend in a joint Facebook post. The message was issued along with North’s “Dennis the Menace” co-star, Jeanne Russell.

“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,” Jacobson shared on Sunday.

“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 continued.

“He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart.’ And we loved him with all of ours. 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.”

In a separate Facebook post, Provost, who had been friends with the actor for almost 70 years, wrote that North can now rest in peace.

“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,” Provost penned.

“You were a great guy Jay and I miss you with all my heart, but I know you’re at peace now.”

Remembering a Child Star

Born on Aug. 3, 1951, in Los Angeles, North was cast as Dennis Mitchell in CBS’s television series “Dennis the Menace” when he was just 6 years old. The show was based on Hank Ketcham’s popular comic strip of the same name.

The actor went on to appear in a number of other television shows, such as “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “The Lucy Show,” “My Three Sons,” and “Lassie.”

He starred in several films throughout his career, including adventure drama “Maya” (1966) and coming-of-age thriller “The Teacher” (1974). He also did voice work for “Arabian Knights,” “Here Comes the Grump,” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show,” among other animated shows.

In 1977, at the age of 25, North enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Iwo Jima and the USS Dixie before being honorably discharged in 1979.

The actor went on to work on a handful of projects, including the 1980 television movie “Scout’s Honor” and the 1985 war film “Wild Wind.”

He last appeared in the 2003 comedy film “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” starring David Spade, Mary McCormack, Emmanuel Lewis, and Alyssa Milano.

North is survived by his third wife, Cindy Hackney, whom he married in 1993. The couple lived together in Hackney’s hometown of Lake Butler, Florida.

‘Goodbye, My Friend’

News of North’s death triggered an outpouring of tributes online.

“So sad to share the news about the passing of my old friend, Jay North,” former child actress Erin Murphy wrote on social media platform X. “He was known and loved as Dennis the Menace. I was lucky to call him a friend.”

Danny Deraney, a publicist based in Los Angeles, described North as being “one of the great child actors of the 1960s.”

“Rest in Power Jay North,” Deraney wrote. “His role as Dennis Mitchell in Dennis the Menace may be one of the finest kids performances in TV history. But for some of us Gen X kids, he will always be Bamm Bamm in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.”

Actor and musician Butch Patrick, best known for playing Eddie Munster on the 1960s television series “The Munsters,” called North “a very good friend.”

“Kid actors from the 60’s are a pretty small group to begin with and it’s shrinking quickly,” Patrick wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of North.

“The business was tough on Jay. He seemed happy in Florida and I’m glad he’s at peace,” Patrick continued. “R.I.P. my dearest friend. We had a lotta laughs.”

“A flickering light has gone out,” wrote actor Paul Petersen, known for starring in “Houseboat” and “The Donna Reed Show.”

“Dennis the Menace has shed his mortal coil,” Petersen added. “Goodbye, my friend.”

The Associated Press contributed to this article.