Jay North, star of 'Dennis the Menace' sitcom, dies at 73 following battle with cancer

Jay North, the beloved actor best known for his portrayal of the mischievous Dennis Mitchell on the classic sitcom Dennis the Menace, has passed away at the age of 73.

North died peacefully at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, following a courageous battle with colon cancer. His death has left fans and colleagues mourning the loss of a talented actor who captured hearts in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

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Jay North’s rise to stardom on 'Dennis the Menace'

Jay North was born in Hollywood in August 1951, and entered the TV world when he was a child. His career started when, at 6 years old, Dorothy Cotton, his mother, managed to get him to participate on a children's show called Cartoon Express.

Hazel MacMillan, a talent agent, recognized his talent and led him to different roles in NBC variety shows. However, his big break came when he auditioned for the role of Dennis Mitchell in Dennis the Menace, based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham

While his first audition was not perfect, North impressed the casting directors on his second try and landed the role in 1959. The show premiered on CBS that year and ran for 4 seasons, turning Jay North into the most successful child stars of the era.

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Jay North’s life after 'Dennis the Menace'

North tried a film career when Dennis the Menace was canceled in 1963. Some of his projects were comedies such as Zebra in the Kitchen (1965) and Maya (1966). And when Maya turned into a TV show, he returned to TV for the 18 episodes it lasted.

Some years down the road, he would turn to voiceover work to some animated series such as Arabian Knights, Here Comes the Grump, and The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.