Jay North — a celebrated actor renowned for portraying the beloved character in the iconic Sixties sitcom “Dennis the Menace” — has sadly passed away, as confirmed by TMZ. His contribution to television, especially in children’s programming, remains significant.

Laurie Jacobson — a close friend of North and wife of noted “Lassie” actor Jon Provost — shared with TMZ that Jay passed away on Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, following a courageous battle with colorectal cancer.

Sources indicate that Jay’s health had significantly declined over the past month, with him being surrounded by loved ones — his wife Cindy and her daughters from a previous marriage, whom he deeply cherished — at the time of his passing.

According to Laurie, Cindy and her daughters provided him with a sense of family he had longed for, particularly since he was an only child and never had the chance to know his father.

We’ve learned that Jay had not interacted with his friends for some time due to the need for isolation to maintain his health amidst his cancer treatment. However, Laurie collected hundreds of heartfelt letters from fans and presented them to him during Christmas, a gesture that brought him immense joy.

Jay North achieved fame during the late 1950s, appearing in various minor roles on shows like “77 Sunset Strip,” “Rescue 8,” and “Sugarfoot,” showcasing his talent from a young age of under ten years.

His breakthrough came in 1959 when he took on the role of Dennis Mitchell in “Dennis the Menace,” starring in all 146 episodes from 1959 to 1963. His iconic look included bleached platinum blonde hair, and he was often instructed to present himself as a year younger than he actually was during interviews to maintain the character’s youthful image.

In later years, North candidly discussed his challenges on set, revealing that he endured verbal and physical abuse from his aunt during filming. This abusive behavior involved isolating him from others to punish him for mistakes, although he clarified that his mother and others on the set were completely unaware of the abuse at the time.

Jacobson further stated, “He faced a difficult journey in Hollywood—he did not enjoy the experience at all. At one point, he was very angry and bitter, feeling that the adults around him failed to support him or make his time in the spotlight more manageable.”

The series “Dennis the Menace” was ultimately canceled after four seasons, leading North to transition into voice acting during the late Sixties and early Seventies, contributing to projects like “Arabian Knights,” “Here Comes the Grump,” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.”

By the late Eighties, North stepped away from acting, making occasional cameos as himself in the years that followed, including an appearance on an episode of “The Simpsons” and in the David Spade film “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”

In recent years, North dedicated himself to a new path as a correctional officer in Florida, where he worked to support troubled youth within the juvenile justice system. He also played a role in counseling former child stars through the organization A Minor Consideration throughout the 1990s, providing guidance based on his own experiences.

Jacobson detailed that he also engaged with inmates on death row who had faced troubled childhoods. These interactions proved to be mutually beneficial and helped him find peace with the challenges he faced during his early years in the entertainment industry.

Despite his discontent with Hollywood, Jacobson noted that Jay cherished one major benefit he gained from the industry: lifelong friendships with fellow child stars who also navigated the complexities of early fame, including Angela Cartwright, Jerry Mathers, Stan Livingston, Paul Petersen, and Brandon Cruz, among others.

Jay was 73 years old.