Jay North, a child actor who famously portrayed the titular on the popular sitcom “Dennis the Menace,” has died. He was 73.

North died at his home in Lake Butler, Florida on Sunday after battling colon cancer, longtime friend Laurie Jacobson, wrote in a Facebook post on April 6.

“As many of his fans know, he had a difficult journey in Hollywood and after… but he did not let it define his life,” Jacobson wrote. “He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply. He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart.’ And we loved him with all of ours.”

She continued, “We will miss him terribly. He is out of pain now. His suffering is over. At last he is at peace.”

Other former child stars paid tribute to North on social media.

“Very sad to hear that an old friend, Jay North, passed away,” wrote “My Three Sons” actor Barry Livingston on Facebook.

“Lassie’s” Jon Provost also mourned North’s death, calling him an “original and dear friend.”

“I’ve known Jay for almost 70 years, now you can rest in peace Jay,” Provost wrote on Facebook. “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. You were a great guy Jay and I miss you with all my heart, but I know you’re at peace now.”

Born on August 3, 1951, in Hollywood, California, North was 6 when first auditioned for “Dennis the Menace.”

He was 8 when the show first aired in October 1959 and 12 when it was canceled after four seasons in 1963.

North said in a 1993 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he was not unhappy to see “Dennis the Menace” end.

“Between the pressures of the business and Joe’s dying, I became very serious, very morbid and very withdrawn from the world. I was the antithesis of the little kid that I played on the television show,” North told the outlet.

Often wearing a striped shirt and overalls, Dennis’ mischievous antics frequently frustrated his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson, played by Joseph Kearns. Dennis’ patient parents were played by Herbert Anderson and Gloria Henry.

Later, North appeared on TV in shows including “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “The Lucy Show,” “My Three Sons,” “Lassie” and “The Simpsons,” and in movies such as “Maya” (1966), and “The Teacher” (1974).

More recently, North worked with Paul Petersen in the former child actor’s organization, A Minor Consideration. The North’s work involved using his own experiences to help former childhood stars deal with real life.

North also served as a correctional officer in Florida; and showed up in the 2003 film “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

North is survived by his third wife, Cindy, and three stepdaughters.