Jay North, who was known for his role as Dennis Mitchell in the CBS TV series Dennis the Menace, has passed away after a prolonged battle with colorectal cancer. He was 73. According to a report in The New York Times, the actor died on April 6, 2025, at his home in Lake Butler, Florida. A friend of his, Laurie Jacobson, confirmed his death.
“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.” She wrote. Russell played Margaret Wade on the show and called him her “otherworldly brother,” as stated by The Hollywood Reporter.
The show was adapted from a comic strip by Hank Ketchman and ran from 1959 to 1963. North auditioned for the series at the age of 6 and was 8 when the show went on air, reported The Hollywood Reporter. He had a traumatic childhood. In an interview with The New York Times, North shared that he was physically and emotionally abused by his aunt and uncle.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy Hackney, whom he married in 1993, and three stepdaughters, as mentioned in the LA Times. He reportedly tied the knot three times.
Everything to know about Jay North’s family as he passes away
According to his IMDb profile, Jay North was born on August 3, 1951, to Jay and Dorothy North in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. His birth name was Jay Waverly North, Jr.
He had a disturbing childhood and was raised by his mother. His father was an alcoholic and left him when he was a toddler, which left his mother to work full-time, reported the LA Times.
His parents separated when he was four years old. His mother worked at the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' West Coast office. She helped Jay to get on the local Cartoon Express kids' show, after which he was signed by the talent agent who gave him some commercial work, which included guest appearances in series such as The Detectives, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The George Gobel Show, and 77 Sunset Strip.
He eventually landed the role of Dennis Mitchell in Dennis the Menace at the age of 8. A report in The New York Times stated that his aunt and uncle (Marie and Hal Hopper) were his caretakers on the set who often mistreated him. He told The Los Angeles Daily News in 1993,
“If it took me more than one or two takes, I would be threatened and then whacked,” he said.
A report in Closer stated that he wasn’t able to devote his time to studies, as most of his time was spent at the set. He reportedly had to be on the set for “five days a week.”
In another interview, as per the outlet, he revealed:
“If I didn't live up to my aunt's expectations, she would physically abuse me. I used to wake up every morning wondering, 'Do I have to spend another day with this woman?'”
He added:
“I would do a scene, come off set and everybody said, 'Hey, you did a great job.' From her I would get a slap across the face, taken into the dressing room and given a verbal tongue lashing or spanking. She made life a living hell for the whole four years.”
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According to Hollywood Life, he got married for the first time to Kathleen Brucher in 1973 and separated in 1974. His second marriage was with Rositia in 1991, which also lasted for a year. He got married for the third time to Cynthia Elizabeth Hackney in 1993, who remained his wife till his demise.
He did not have any kids of his own but became a stepfather to Hackney’s children when they got married.
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