'Dennis the Menace' actor Jay North dies at 73, fans pay tribute to 'sweet face' from their childhoods

LAKE BUTLER, FLORIDA: Jay North, the beloved actor best known for his role as the original Dennis the Menace on TV, has died at the age of 73.

His death, confirmed by close friend and producer Laurie Jacobson in a heartfelt Facebook post on April 6, 2025, revealed that North, who gained fame as a child star in the 1950s, died at home after a long battle with cancer.

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

Jay North dies peacefully at home, reveals friend

In a heartfelt Facebook tribute, Laurie Jacobson confirmed the death of Jay North, sharing the sad news with his fans.

Jacobson wrote, "[North’s Dennis the Menace costar] 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."

Laurie went on to reflect on North's challenging journey in Hollywood, noting, "As many of his fans know, he had a difficult journey in Hollywood and after...but he did not let it define his life."

 She also highlighted North's loving nature, saying, "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."

The post concluded with a final farewell: "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. At last he is at peace."

In a tribute posted on April 6, former child actor Paul Petersen and his wife Rana mourned North’s death, writing, "JAY NORTH, RIP. A flickering light has gone out. Dennis the Menace has shed his mortal coil. Goodbye, my friend. You left a mark as our first formal rescue. Paul and Rana Petersen, plus all of AMC. 4/6/25."

Internet pays tribute to late actor Jay North

After hearing about the death of actor Jay North at the age of 73, many internet users quickly took to social media to share their tributes and express condolences to North's family.

One user wrote, "I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. My condolences to all who loved him." 

A fan wrote a heartfelt tribute, "I so hate to hear this grew up watching Dennis the menace now I'm 73 I still watch Dennis the menace on weekday mornings and wonder how he's doing since I had read previously that he had cancer God bless his family his loved ones and all his friends May the angels carry him home with a smile as big as he had." 

A disappointed fan shared, "Oh no 😥Just watched a Dennis the Menace marathon. Loved him.😢May he rest in peace🙏" A worried social media user quipped, "I’m so sorry to read this news Laurie. Hugs to you and John." 

A commenter added, "Oh, no. That is such sad news. I am so sorry. My condolences to you, Jon and all of Jay's friends, family and fans." 

One individual remembered, "I’m so very sorry. Seeing his sweet face on our T.V. was such a highlight of my childhood. What a great actor he was! Behind his smiles I had no idea that he suffered such abuse. Thank God you were there for him. He’s in Heaven now, enjoying perfect health, unimaginable beauty & joy.✝️🌟We will always remember him.❤️" 

A fan of 'Dennis the Menace' shared, "Truly sad!!! I love watching the Dennis the Menace reruns. He was spectacular in his role. Breaks my heart for the abuse he endured. Thank you, Paul, for caring and helping Jay." 

A fan on Facebook shared a photo taken with the actor and wrote, "I am so sad to hear he died. I was lucky I got to meet him at the Hollywood Show on my Birthday in 2014 and get a photo with him and the two other actresses that were on the Dennis the Menace show with him."

Who was Jay North?

Jay North first captured the public’s attention as a child star, portraying Dennis Mitchell in the iconic 'Dennis the Menace' sitcom, which aired from 1959 to 1963.

Following his success on the small screen, he appeared in films like 'Zebra in the Kitchen' and 'Maya', later reprising his role in a TV series based on the latter.

North also ventured into voice acting, lending his talents to animated shows such as 'Arabian Knights', 'Here Comes the Grump', 'The Pebbles and Bam-Bam Show', and 'The Flintstones Comedy Hour.'

His final on-screen appearance came in the 2003 film 'Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,' as per PEOPLE.

During a 2017 fan convention in Los Angeles, North reflected on his enduring connection with 'Dennis the Menace' fans, saying, "I get a very warm feeling that I still have fans from all over the world. Fans that remember and have warm memories of our show. It makes me feel good inside that people still love us and remember us."

After stepping away from acting, North pursued a variety of careers. "I was in the military. I worked in the health food industry for a number of years. For the past 20 years I’ve worked as a correctional officer for the Florida department of corrections," he shared at the convention.

Additionally, North dedicated time to mentoring young actors through A Minor Consideration, an advocacy group founded by Paul Petersen.

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online