Former child star Jay North passed away, at age 73, peacefully at his Lake Butler, FL home on Sunday at noon following a long battle with colorectal cancer.

The Hollywood native is best known for playing the titular role in CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace, based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip, which ran for four seasons spanning 1959-1963.

‘Jeanne Russell just called us with terribly sad, but not unexpected news,’ Jay’s friend Laurie Jacobson announced on Facebook.

‘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. 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.’

Laurie’s husband – Lassie alum Jon Provost – added on his own Facebook account: ‘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.’ 

Former child star Jay North passed away, at age 73, peacefully at his Lake Butler, FL home on Sunday at noon following a long battle with colorectal cancer (pictured in 2013)

The Hollywood native is best known for playing the titular role in CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace, based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip, which ran for four seasons spanning 1959-1963

According to TMZ, North’s health deteriorated over the past month and when he died he was surrounded by his wife Cindy and his three beloved stepdaughters, who ‘gave him a family he never had’ since he was an only child who never knew his father.

The correctional officer was ‘thrilled’ to have received hundreds of letters from fans, which Jacobson compiled and gave him on Christmas.

Jay began his career at age six appearing in TV shows like Queen for a Day, The Milton Berle Show, 77 Sunset Strip, and Sugarfoot as well as films like The Miracle of the Hills and The Big Operator.

By 1960, Dennis the Menace launched North into superstardom as a certified pop culture icon and he earned up to $3,500 ($37K equivalent today) per episode.

But behind the scenes, Jay’s late taskmaster aunt allegedly abused him while his mother Dorothy worked a full-time job.

‘If it took me more than one or two takes, I would be threatened and then whacked,’ North confessed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1993.

‘Even if a delay wasn’t my fault, she would find a way to blame me and punish me. She was also very possessive and isolated me from the rest of the cast. I couldn’t even eat lunch with everybody else. She made me eat it in the dressing room by myself.’

Jay continued: ‘She was careful never to hit me in front of anyone else, and in places on my body where it wouldn’t show – although I’m shocked the bruises weren’t visible on my face.’

Jay’s friend Laurie Jacobson announced on Facebook: ‘Jeanne Russell just called us with terribly sad, but not unexpected news’

Laurie’s husband – Lassie alum Jon Provost – added on his own Facebook account: ‘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’

According to TMZ, North’s health deteriorated over the past month and when he died he was surrounded by his third wife Cindy (R) and his three beloved stepdaughters, who ‘gave him a family he never had’ since he was an only child who never knew his father 

The correctional officer (pictured in 1999) was ‘thrilled’ to have received hundreds of letters from fans, which Jacobson compiled and gave him on Christmas

By 1960, Dennis the Menace launched Jay into superstardom as a certified pop culture icon and he earned up to $3,500 ($37K equivalent today) per episode, but he was allegedly abused by his late aunt behind the scenes

North – who also wasn’t allowed to date as a teenager – said his aunt threatened him that if he ever told she’d ‘get me.’ 

Jay – who started therapy in the 1980s after contemplating suicide – was at least financially secure thanks to his mother saving his money in a trust account and wisely investing some of it in real estate.

‘I still don’t personally think it was a great show,’ North said.

‘But it did bring joy to a lot of people, and I guess it still does for every succeeding generation. I’m happy about that.’

Throughout the seventies, Jay performed voiceover work in animated shows like The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, The Flintstone Comedy Hour, Fred Flintstone and Friends, Here Comes the Grump, and The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.

North’s final acting gigs were playing himself in a 1999 episode of Fox animated sitcom The Simpsons as well as Sam Weisman’s 2003 comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star featuring David Spade.