‘Terribly sad’: Iconic former Hollywood child star dead

A former child star who played an iconic TV role has died, following “a difficult journey in Hollywood and after.”

Jay North, known for his “Dennis the Menace” character on the beloved ‘60s sitcom, died Sunday, Fox News Digital confirmed. He was 73.

North died at home in Lake Butler, Florida, after battling colon cancer for years, according to a social media post shared by his longtime friends, Lassie actor Jon Provost and wife Laurie Jacobson.

The child actor found acclaim with his role as Dennis Mitchell, an at-times unruly youngster who was known for burdening his neighbour, George Wilson.

“Jeanne Russell just called us with terribly sad, but not unexpected news,” Jacobson shared online. “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.

Jay North circa 1960 as Dennis the Menace... Picture: Silver Screen Collection/Getty

...and in 1999. Picture: David Keeler/Online USA, Inc.

“As many of his fans know, he had a difficult journey in Hollywood and after … but he did not let it define his life. 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 added, “A lifelong 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.”

Provost wrote with “a heavy heart” that his friend of nearly 70 years died Sunday, April 6.

“We just lost another original and dear friend, Jay ‘Dennis the Menace’ North,” Provost shared. “Jay passed today at 12:00 EST, I’ve known Jay for almost 70 years, now you can rest in peace Jay.

“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.”

North’s character was based on the Dennis the Menace comic strip created by Hank Ketcham.

The show aired for four seasons, beginning in October 1959, and was cancelled in 1963 after more than 140 episodes.

Jay North with his TV parents, Gloria Henry as Alice Mitchell and Herbert Anderson as Henry Mitchell. Picture: CBS via Getty Images

North had “a difficult journey in Hollywood and after.” Picture: CBS via Getty

North was also known for his voice work, and voiced characters for Here Comes the Grump, Arabian Knights, The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, and The Simpsons.

His last on-screen role was alongside David Spade in the 2003 comedy, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.

Decades after finding success, North admitted he suffered abuse as a child actor, and claimed that his aunt would physically assault him on set.

“I used to wake up every morning thinking, ‘My God, do I have to spend another day with this woman?’ Because I would go in and I would do a scene, I would come off the set and everybody said, ‘Hey, you did a great job.’ And then I would get a slap across the face, or taken into the dressing room and get a spanking or verbal tongue lashing or whatever,” North told Katie Couric in 1991.

“Physically, she would just grab my hair, and just shake me … just made life a living hell for the four years. My uncle was very abusive too.”

North is survived by wife Cindy Hackney.

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as ‘Terribly sad’: Iconic former Hollywood child star dead