Jay North — a veteran actor who performed the eponymous character within the Nineteen Sixties sitcom “Dennis the Menace” — has died … TMZ has confirmed.

Laurie Jacobson — a longtime good friend of North and spouse to “Lassie” actor Jon Provost — tells TMZ … Jay handed away Sunday at his residence in Lake Butler, Florida after a battle with colorectal most cancers.

We’re advised his well being began to deteriorate over the previous month, and he was surrounded by household — his spouse Cindy and her daughters from a earlier marriage, which we’re advised he “adored” — when he handed.

Laurie says Cindy and her daughters “gave him a household he by no means had” since he was an solely baby who by no means knew his father.

We’re advised Jay hadn’t seen his buddies in a while as a result of he wanted to isolate as a way to keep wholesome because of his most cancers … however, Laurie collected a whole lot of letters from followers and gave them to him over Christmas — which she says he was thrilled about.

North rose to prominence in the course of the late Fifties … showing in bit components on packages like “77 Sundown Strip,” “Rescue 8,” and “Sugarfoot” when he was lower than 10 years outdated.

Jay gained nationwide recognition in 1959 when he began enjoying Dennis Mitchell on “Dennis the Menace” … starring in all 146 episodes from 1959 to 1963. His hair was bleached platinum blonde for the half, and he was instructed to assert he was a 12 months youthful than he was in interviews.

North opened up about his struggles on set years after the present ended … claiming his aunt verbally and bodily abused him when he tousled — even taking him away from prying eyes to beat him when he flubbed a line. He at all times made it clear his mom and others on set weren’t conscious of the abuse on the time.

Jacobson provides, “He had a tough experience in Hollywood– he didn’t benefit from the expertise — he was at a time very offended and bitter that the adults that surrounded him did nothing to assist him or make his time simpler.”

“Dennis the Menace” was canceled after 4 seasons … and, North transitioned to voice performing work within the late Nineteen Sixties, early ’70s on initiatives like “Arabian Knights,” “Right here Comes the Grump” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Present.”

By the late Nineteen Eighties, North left performing behind … making restricted cameos as himself within the years since on an episode of “The Simpsons” and within the David Spade film “Dickie Roberts: Former Baby Star.”

In newer years, North labored as a correctional officer in Florida … reportedly serving to troubled youth within the juvenile system. He additionally helped counsel former baby stars through the group A Minor Consideration by means of the Nineties.

Jacobson tells us he additionally labored with inmates on demise row who had troubled childhoods as nicely … and their conversations helped him discover peace with the early years of his life.

Regardless of his distaste for Hollywood, Jacobson says Jay did recognize one perk he acquired from the business — lifelong buddies who have been additionally baby stars across the similar time together with Angela Cartwright, Jerry Mathers, Stan Livingston, Paul Petersen and Brandon Cruz, amongst others.

Jay was 73.