Studying Time: 2 minutes
Unhappy information out of the world of tv at the moment, because the star of 1 an early hit sitcom has handed away.
From 1959 to 1963, Jay North performed the title position on CBS’ Dennis the Menace.
This week, the beloved actor handed away on the age of 73.
Jay North’s passing, reason for demise confirmed by longtime good friend
Information of North’s demise involves us courtesy of his producer and author Laurie Jacobson, who shared the unhappy information by way of Fb.
“[North’s Dennis the Menace costar] Jeanne Russell just called us with terribly sad, but not unexpected news,” Jacobson wrote. “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.”
“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,” she continued, including:
“He known as us incessantly and ended each dialog with ‘I love you with all my heart.’ And we cherished him with all of ours. A life-long good friend of Jon’s, a brother to Jeanne and an expensive good friend to me, we are going to miss him terribly.
A tragic, however acquainted story
Jacobson’s “difficult journey” remark doubtless referred to the abuse North suffered by the hands of his aunt, who was additionally his studio guardian.
In a 1991 interview, North revealed that his aunt “would hit me, physically abuse me.”
“I used to wake up every single morning thinking, ‘My God, do I have to spend another day with this woman?’” he mentioned.
“Because I would go in and 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.”
Regardless of the ache he endured within the early days of his profession, North continued performing effectively into maturity.
His remaining position got here within the 2003 David Spade comedy Dickie Betts: Former Baby Star.
“I get a very warm feeling that I still have fans from all over the world,” North remarked to followers at a 2017 fan conference, in accordance with The Washington Occasions. Followers that bear in mind and have heat recollections of our present. It makes me really feel good inside that individuals nonetheless love us and bear in mind us.”
North is survived by his spouse, Cindy Hackney.
Our ideas exit to his family members throughout this enormously troublesome time.
