Jay North, the former child actor best known for his role as Dennis Mitchell in the 1959 sitcom Dennis the Menace, has died at the age of 73. The news of his death emerged on April 6, 2025, following a lengthy battle with cancer. North gained fame as a young star and later spoke openly about the personal struggles he faced during and after his time in Hollywood.
Here’s what we know so far about Jay North’s death.
Jay North cause of death explained
Jay North, best known for his role as Dennis Mitchell in the CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace, died on Sunday at the age of 73 after a years-long battle with cancer.
Laurie Jacobson, wife of Lassie star Jon Provost, announced his death, stating, “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.” She added, “He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply… At last he is at peace.”
Jay North, born on August 3, 1951, in Los Angeles, appeared in series such as Wanted: Dead or Alive, 77 Sunset Strip, and Sugarfoot. In 1959, producers cast him as Dennis Mitchell, a mischievous child from the Hank Ketcham comic strip.
The show ran for four seasons. North also portrayed Dennis in commercials for brands like Kellogg’s and Skippy Peanut Butter and made crossover appearances on The Donna Reed Show and The Red Skelton Show.
North continued acting in projects like Zebra in the Kitchen (1965) and Maya, and guest-starred in The Lucy Show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and My Three Sons. In a 1993 interview with Filmfax magazine, North shared, “Between the pressures of the business and Joe’s (his Dennis the Menace co-star) dying… I became very serious, very morbid, and very withdrawn from the world” (via The Hollywood Reporter). He said his aunt abused him physically and verbally during his child-star years.
His voice work included The Banana Splits Adventure Hour and The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. His final on-camera appearance was in the 2003 documentary Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. The beloved star is survived by his wife and three stepdaughters.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
The post Dennis The Menace Actor Jay North Passes Away at 73 appeared first on Mandatory.
