Jay North was eight years old, when he appeared in Dennis the Menace from 1959-1963. The show left the air 49 years ago and North will be 61 in August.
26 years have passed since his last acting role in 1986.
His first television appearance was in Wanted: Dead or Alive in 1957.
North played the mischievous Dennis Mitchell on Dennis the Menace and character actor Joseph Kearns was perfectly cast as the first Mr. Wilson.
Joseph Kearns was perfectly cast as Mr. Wilson, the next door neighbor of the Mitchell family and was a perfect foil for the antics of Dennis.
Jay North seen less than a year ago at the age of 60 and you can still see the resemblance to a young Jay North.
Jay North was only four, when his father left home and never saw him again. His mother, Dorothy North was contacted by an agent, who thought her son would be marketable, in the entertainement industry. She knew about the stories of child actors, who had troubled lives, so was wary but signed the contract.
Hundreds of boys tried out for the part of Dennis Mitchell on Dennis the Menace, but North won the role and would be forever known as Dennis the Menace. He won the part and was paid $500 an episode, which was far less than what actors make today per episode. His mother was not a typical stage mother, since she continued to work and live off her earnings. North makes it clear that his mother did not live off of his earnings.
Even more, Mrs. North didn’t hang around the stage, leaving that up to her sister and husband, as they were there for Dennis. His salary escalated to $2,500 an episode in 1961.
Aunt Abused Him On Set
His Aunt Marie was cruel to Dennis on the set, physically and verbally abusing him, when me made mistakes. He lived in a state of fear on the set, smiling to mask his true feelings. His mother nor the rest of the cast knew how his aunt was treating him.
It is surprising that he didn’t tell his mother how his aunt was treating him, but at his age he was probably afraid of repercussions, from the aunt for disclosing what was really going on.
North earned $3,500 an episode during the fourth and last season. The pressure he was going through backstage, because of his aunt and the loss of Joseph Kearns turned North into a very serious kid. He was thankful the show ended, so he could get away from the backstage tension..
Typecast As Dennis Mitchell
North struggled to find acting jobs. He did secure one last starring role in The Teacher in 1974, which was an R-rated movie, that was as far removed from his role as Dennis Mitchell as possible. North finally tired of waiting for acting roles to come his way, joined the U.S. Navy in 1977. However that didn’t go well, since his shipmates taunted him about being a child star and he was honorably discharged in 1979.
1986 would be the last year that North would be seen on film, when he appeared in a Yugoslavian movie, which ended his film career 23 years after his last appearance on Dennis the Menace.
His personal life wasn’t going well with two marriages which lasted less than a year, but he married Cindy Hackney in 1993 and they are still married 19 years later. They are reportedly well off due to his mother’s investments of his earnings while he was a child actor.
North was working in health food industry for a few years and has worked as a juvenile correctional officer in Florida.
He has been through a lot over the years, but seems to be at peace now, after receiving much support from Paul Petersen, former child actor from the Donna Reed Show, who started an organization that assists child actors, who need some support from former child actors.
I love at happy ending! 🙂
I love happy endings too. His support group around him protected him from suffering the fate of Rusty Hamer, who was on Make Room For Daddy.
I love the happy endings too. I’m relieved his mother was a wonderful woman. Not some monster like his aunt sounds. Thank you for the comforting details. I wish things stay happy for him and his wife.
Carolyn, Thank you for writing. Jay will be 64 in August.
I loved that show! Jay North always seemed like a good soul and I’m happy he’s doing well!
Where’s that horrible aunt who abused him.I’m glad all worked out well for him enjoy life Dennis.
Janet, The aunt that abused him should have been sent to prison, but I don’t know where she is now. She played a part in his troubled life.
I always loved Jay North as an actor. Am glad he is married and happy now. He is #1 in my book. Wish we could meet. Lord bless you Jay. You need a son.
Pastor Norman, Thank you for the comment. Jay had a rough time there for awhile, but seems like all is well with him now. Just saw that Dennis the Menace is now being shown on Hulu, for anyone that uses that streaming service.
I enjoy watching my favorite child hood star. Dennis The menace . He’s my # one . If you need to laugh . watch Dennis The Menace. GOD BLESS YOU. Jay.
Janice, I just wrote the article, so Jay can’t see your message. You may find him on Facebook, but I don’t know for sure.
My. Name. Is. Renee. I. Love. Your. Shows. Me. And. My. Sister. Phyllis. We. Live. In. Huntersville. Nc. And. God. Bless. You. And. Yours. 🙂🙂🤩🤩🤩😍
Renee, I just posted the article about Jay North. You may be able to reach him on Facebook to send him your message. Hope you are able to contact him.
Loved Dennis. The show brings back a lot of good childhood memories
Mike, I agree. Loved to see Dennis upset Mr. Wilson on the show.
I’M 76 AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS FROM MY YOUNGER YEARS. I’M SO HAPPY I CAN WATCH THEM EVERY DAY. SORRY TO SEE THE SMILE WAS THERE TO COVER UP HIS PAIN. NO ONE MENTIONED HIS MOTHER IS SHE STILL ALIVE? I LOVE WATCHING THE OLDER SHOWS AS IT WAS SO MUCH MORE PEACE FULL TIMES. SHOWS TODAY RUSHING KIDS TO GROW. LOVE SEEING HIS PICTURES HE SURE STILL LOOKS VERY YOUNG.
Thank you for your comments. Loved Dennis the Menace and the way he exasperated Mr. Wilson
I watch the series all the time, in fact I’m watching now
I grew up with Dennis in the 50s … Sad to hear the
Aweful things that occurred ..
It was sad writing about the abuse he received, while being a child star. He is another reason Paul Petersen started his crusade for the rights of child stars.
Jay North starred in a TV series called “Maya” based on a movie he starred in of the same name. (1967–1968) His co-star was Sajid Kahn, another teen actor. Good show and North was still as good looking as ever.
Sajid Khan and Jay North in Maya …
I was born the same year some well known celebrites were,like kurt russell, jay north, tim allen, etc, though I am more into music piano and sax old style jazz, not acid rock or related. I do not know Mr. North personally, but I did write to him at this Lake Butler, Fla.address but he did not answer, which is ok with me. I asked him what kind of music he likes, how his family is doing, of course I know about the problems he had as a child actor. He is pretty good in the movie Maya. So I would like to know if India even looks like it did when maya was filmed or is it full of shopping malls, multiplexes like alot of cities? Thanks for an answer
I don’t have an answer about what it is like in India today, but any other readers with the answer are encouraged to comment.
i do not never chenge my actor jay north dennis the menace for no body also jay north you are the best actor of dennis the manace i love all your tv series and i still watch it every single day
I agree Jay North was a great actor who was perfectly cast as Dennis the Menace. Sad that the show is not being shown on television today, as far as I know and it is a shame.
hi thank you for your reply oh yes he was and i still watching his shows even now i love it i love him specially when he make mr wilsom very mad and thank very mach for your kind comment
It is on Hulu and my family and I watch it all the time. My 9 year old son gets a big kick out of it and I love the wholesomeness.
Wish Netflix would show Dennis the Menace, instead of all the new shows produced by Netflix. I still would rather see the old shows, than their new stuff they produce.
Dennis the Menace is shown on a Toledo Ohio TV station at least on Sunday mornings at 11a. I grew up watching the show, as I was born in the late 50s. Comic strip, too.
Hi Pamela, Thank you for the information about Dennis the Menace. Good to know Dennis the Menace can be seen in Toledo, and hope Dennis the Menace fans in that area will take advantage of having the show on television there.
It does, watching now, antenna TV network
Good to know Dennis the Menace can be seen on Antenna TV.
Buy a comcast, it connect to you TV , you can watch any old shows or movies. I am watching Dennis the menaces right now. LOVE IT.
Barb, Thanks for the info on another way to watch Dennis the Menace shows.
Yes, 11:00am EST on “Antenna TV” … What memories, laughs and wishing the World was ‘in that time and place’ now. I loved Mr n Mrs Wilson. So did Dennis.
Len, Thanks for the info on time Dennis the Menace is shown on Antenna TV. Great show for kids and adults. Much better than situation comedies of today.
I’m watching it right now on antenna TV channel 2.2 :)Love it!
Antenna tv has a channel that shows Dennis twice each morning at 10 and 1030 am. Love watching a show with simple innocence.
Cheryl, Thanks for the info on where to watch Dennis the Menace. Dennis can also be seen on Amazon Prime.
The show was a hit then and now what a kid and a fine group of talant
500 channels and none of them are showing Dennis the Menace….makes no sense.
Dennis the Menace is on every morning from 9:00 am to 10:00am on AntennaTV, which we get on a digital channel via the new digital antenna. MeTV & ThisTV are also on the digital channels & airs all the “oldie goldies”. I love the older shows. We use something called ClearTV, which works great on all the local digital channels. Dennis is on Fox’s 20.2 WCOV in our area. A network called Cozi is on our satellite (Directv) and has shows like, Columbo, McMillan & Wife, Perry Mason, McCloud, Banacek, etc.
Thanks for the info on Dennis the Menace and Antenna TV and Cozi. Wish we had those channels in our area.
Watch it on Pluto tv
Howard, Thanks for the info on where to watch Dennis the Menace. Appreciate you passing the word on to the readers.
Well mr. Godfrey I don’t know where you’re located but I’m right here in southern California (orange county to be exact) and like most of the other people commenting, Antenna TV 5.2 every morning, 2 SHOWS!!!, is the way to go
We are in Louisiana and don’t have Antenna TV
No Antenna TV in our Louisiana city
Gilbert, I can understand why you like the show so much. It was one of my favorites and always will be…..just wish it was being shown down here in Louisiana where we live.
You can buy it on dvd at walmart. Im watching it now.
Hi, can watch Denice the Menace, on
Roku, am watching it.
Thank you for Michael for information on where to watch Dennis the Menace.
hi andrew thank you very mach for your kind reply i want to buy the whole set of the show but i just have to go to walmart or best buy and get it because we can only watch so mach in the youtube oh by the way i like your pic i live in san diego ca.
Gilbert….Hope you find all the shows from all the seasons. This website says there were 146 episodes in all, and the last show was on network television 52 years ago. Hope you find all the episodes at the same store. Enjoy the shows!!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052461/
hey andrew ah you have the whole episodes
I don’t have any episodes, but wish I did.
hello andrew how are you what is going on there is everything ok with you there
Gilbert, My wife had emergency abdominal surgery in a Houston hospital, so she has been in hospital for last 17 days. We finally arrived home yesterday. I only had Kindle with me, so didn’t do much posting of any kind.
I got to see some Dennis the Menace shows while wife was in hospital, since hospital had Antenna TV.
HELLO ANDREW HOW ARE YOU I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR KINDS MESSEGES AND KEEP IN TOUCH THANK S AGAIN
I watch him everyday on antenna tv!!
Loved the show as a kid, still watch it everyday at 47 years old…..
Lisa, I never get tired of Dennis the Menace either. One of the great shows back then.
I do to watch itall time👍👍👍
Glad to know he’s doing well. Also glad to know his mother wasn’t abusive, did love him, didn’t live off him and put his money in a trust for him to live off later. She was truly a good mother to Jay. I’m so sorry that her own sister would betray her and Jay that way. Glad God allowed Jay to still turn out normal and finally be able to find peace and happiness in his life. He does not look anywhere near 60 years old and is still handsome as ever. God bless Jay! 🙂
HOW MANY TOTAL EPISODES OF DENNIS THE MENACE WERE AIRED.WISH METV WOULD DO THE SHOWS.ALL YOU DENNIS THE MENACE FAN PLEASE HELP VOICE OUR WISHES FOR THOSE TV EXECS AT METV.THANK YOU
IMDB.com shows Jay North was in 146 episodes of Dennis the Menace, so that must be the total number of shows, since I can’t imagine a show without Dennis the Menace in it. The show ran from 1959-1963. Hard to believe that 57 years have passed since the first Dennis the Menace show.
I am watching an episode now and just wondered about what ever happened to Jay ,it is Christmas today and it is about Christmas on the show too ,what memories.
Jay is now 65 and hasn’t been in a movie since 2003 and on television since 1980. He was working with Florida Correctional System as of 2011.
Does jay receive residuals from the airing of the show today?
I doubt if Jay North received residuals from the show. If he did it wouldn’t be too much, since the show is not being shown much anywhere.
Is Jay North related to the one on law & order
The actor on Law and Order is Chris Noth.
Pur Flix has seasons of Dennis the Menace.
Thanks for the info on where to find the Dennis the Menace shows.
I am 75 retired trucker and former lic ref for pro wrestling. I watch everyday. Now love the show. Makes me happy god bless all in show
Glad you enjoyed the shows. Great family shows. I like the shows with Joseph Kearns as Mr. Wilson the best.
Andrew, my half-brother was telling me he went to school with Jay North back in L.A. area and would like to reconnect. I understand Jay now lives in Florida and so does my brother. Do you have any contact info? You can email me privately if need be.
Bret
Bret@Brethampton.com
This is only address I could find…Don’t know if it is his current address:
Primary address:
Jay North
290 N.E. 1st Avenue
Lake Butler, FL 32054
USA
I do to watch itall time👍👍👍
Thank you Gilberto for sharing.
You are welcome 👍
Thank you for responding to me
Hey buddy 😁. How are you doing
i met jay at hershey hotel in the early 60’s and got his autograph. i remember asking him if he play and his aunt saying no. she then grabed him and took him inside. i hope he got over being abused by her. wish i could meet him again’
Sad that Jay was abused so much. He was just a cash cow for his aunt, who didn’t care about him as a person.
Hello my friend how are you doing today thank youy reply to me
That is what happens to child actors too often. Cash cow is a good way of putting it.
👍👍👍
Hi! Though I loved the show as a kid, at 69, i’m happy to say that I have NEVER outgrown it. My parents also divoced; Jim Anderson of Father Knows Best, became my father. The shows of yesteryear were much better in some aspecs. The lack of filial piety on today’s shows is VERY SAD!!! If i EVER spoke to my mother the way the kids on today’s shows do, I would have been slapped into next week!!! I’m happy to learn that Jay is enjoying his life! I’m certain he has long since forgiven his Aunt Marie. We can NEVER escape our karmic recompense!!! She will, if she has not already, reap what she has sown! We must repent for her. The incredible spirit that gives our physical bodies life, comes from Our Creator which is why WE ARE ONE!!! It’s only our human minds that makes us think we are separate. Thank you, Andrew for your continued work on your posts. I hope you don’t edit my post.
Joyce, I didn’t edit your post. Why edit a great post that gives God the glory?
His story is one to be wary of always! Children are not to be used for entertainmaent for any reason
They need a childhood and their own dreams and interests no matter how they seem. Great minds and aspirations develop in this way!
I agree completely. Parents are so enamored with all the money they are making, that they forget about the effects on the child. Even worse, some kids never see the money they are making, because parents spend it faster than they can make it.
It’s a shame that those that control Wanted Dead or Alive on “H&I” never show the Christmas 1958 episode with North in it. I guess it was too tainted with Christianity to be shown. Would love to have seen Jay (who is my age) and McQueen together
James, Know what you mean. Anything with Christianity today is shunted to the side. Sad that a very good Christmas episode is not being shown, because it has Christian elements. The powers that be today sadly have the power to decide what we get to watch.
The Christmas 1958 episode is available on the Wanted: Dead or Alive – The Complete Series dvd set currently available for $15.47 on Amazon.com.
Thanks for sharing with all of us Dennis the Menace fans.
I enjoyed watching you when I was a child now that I’m 57 I’m still watching Dennis the Menace I just love it my kids love it my grandkids love it thank you for all the good time of watching you and laughing enjoying it. So sorry to hear about your childhood I hope that mean aunt got arrested if not she’ll be sorry when she sees God. God bless You..
Jay North did a wonderful job on Dennis the Menace. I am sorry he had to endure unhappy times during the show. I am 73 and I look forward to the show on Comcast, Antennae channel from 11 am until noon during the week. I especially liked the first Mr. Wilson who acted so grumpy all the time. I wish TV shows were like this show today. Great to watch. Thanks for the great memories Jay North.
I too liked the first Mr. Wilson (Joseph Kearns). Gale Gordon did OK, but the original was better.
Jay was truly a gifted actor for his age and also had a good singing voice just watched a Christmas show on antena TV him singing slilent night
I actually went to Bootcamp with Jay North in Orlando Florida and I still have my photo album that was given to us with pictures of our whole company; company 144 and we named ourselves “The Menace Squad” and “Choken Chickens”. When we graduated from Bootcamp, Jay invited me and a few others to a nice quiet dinner at an Italian restaurant. We actually wanted to hit the town maybe a strip club, but seeing Jay and knowing what he told us about his story, we went along with his wishes. When the owner of the restaurant got wind of Jay North, he took us to his VIP section and we had the time of our life. And btw, the waitress were all beautiful, at least for that night they were…….lol. Thank you Jay North for the wonderful memories. Richard Padilla
Thanks Richard for sharing about Jay North being in bootcamp with you. Jay sounds like a great person.
I Think Jay North did a great job as Dnnis the menace.. was too bad his aunt treated hime way he did but I could tell he had a good heart.you can tell he was a intelligent young boy. I think he would make a great motivational speaker they should have him on Me-TV
Wonder why Dennis the Menace isn’t on Netflix? They spend millions on their original Netflix shows, while a lot of us would rather be able to see Dennis the Menace, which has to be much cheaper for Netflix to show.
Watching Dennis The Menace now on Antenna TV and wondered what happened to him. So glad he went on to lead a normal life. I hope he realizes how much enjoyment he has given and continues to give to millions of people like me. God bless this talented actor.
Hi , I’m watching Dennis the Menace on Antenna TV right now and I only live a few blocks from Mr.Norths lake Butler home. He lives not far from the lake, I haven’t actually ever seen him around town but other people have. I do know hes a very private person. I loved watching him when I was younger and I still love him now!
Thank you for sharing about having Jay North living a few blocks from you. Hope you see him one of these days.
I’ve been watching DTM on Prime video and now well into season 4. It’s sad how they didn’t even pay tribute to Joe Kearns in the credits, they just erased him. Then they erased Martha and basically replaced them with two new characters using the same name. The actors are great and all but this was just a lousy thing to do. Jay must have been really torn up. I don’t know how he was able to perform so flawlessly after the loss of Joe Kearns especially since they had him keep referring to the new cast members as Mr and Mrs Wilson.