Entertainment
‘Dennis the Menace’ Actor Jay North Dead at 73
Actor Jay North
Dead at 73 …
Starred as ‘Dennis the Menace’ in ’60s Sitcom
Published
Jay North — a veteran actor who played the eponymous character in the 1960s sitcom “Dennis the Menace” — has died … TMZ has confirmed.
Laurie Jacobson — a longtime friend of North and wife to “Lassie” actor Jon Provost — tells TMZ … Jay passed away Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida after a battle with colorectal cancer.
We’re told his health started to deteriorate over the past month, and he was surrounded by family — his wife Cindy and her daughters from a previous marriage, which we’re told he “adored” — when he passed.
Laurie says Cindy and her daughters “gave him a family he never had” since he was an only child who never knew his father.
We’re told Jay hadn’t seen his friends in some time because he needed to isolate in order to stay healthy due to his cancer … but, Laurie collected hundreds of letters from fans and gave them to him over Christmas — which she says he was thrilled about.
North rose to prominence during the late 1950s … appearing in bit parts on programs like “77 Sunset Strip,” “Rescue 8,” and “Sugarfoot” when he was less than 10 years old.
Jay gained national recognition in 1959 when he started playing Dennis Mitchell on “Dennis the Menace” … starring in all 146 episodes from 1959 to 1963. His hair was bleached platinum blonde for the part, and he was instructed to claim he was a year younger than he was in interviews.
North opened up about his struggles on set years after the show ended … claiming his aunt verbally and physically abused him when he messed up — even taking him away from prying eyes to beat him when he flubbed a line. He always made it clear his mother and others on set weren’t aware of the abuse at the time.
Jacobson adds, “He had a rough ride in Hollywood– he did not enjoy the experience — he was at a time very angry and bitter that the adults that surrounded him did nothing to help him or make his time easier.”
“Dennis the Menace” was canceled after four seasons … and, North transitioned to voice acting work in the late 1960s, early ’70s on projects like “Arabian Knights,” “Here Comes the Grump” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.”
TMZ Studios
By the late 1980s, North left acting behind … making limited cameos as himself in the years since on an episode of “The Simpsons” and in the David Spade movie “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”
In more recent years, North worked as a correctional officer in Florida … reportedly helping troubled youth in the juvenile system. He also helped counsel former child stars via the group A Minor Consideration through the 1990s.
Despite his distaste for Hollywood, Jacobson says Jay did appreciate one perk he got from the industry — lifelong friends who were also child stars around the same time including Angela Cartwright, Jerry Mathers, Stan Livingston, Paul Petersen and Brandon Cruz, among others.
Jay was 73.
RIP
Josh Shapiro
Suspected Arsonist Says He Hates PA Governor …
Would Have Beat Him With Hammer
Published
The man accused of setting Governor Josh Shapiro‘s Pennsylvania home on fire confessed to the shocking crime after ordering his ex-girlfriend to drop a dime on him to the police, according to new court records.
Cody Balmer was arrested Sunday by the Pennsylvania State Police after his former girlfriend allegedly told police Balmer admitted to setting fire to the governor’s house and asked her to tell the authorities.
The docs say shortly thereafter Balmer surrendered at Pennsylvania State Police headquarters and gave a blow-by-blow account of the incident, telling officers he was “harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.”
Balmer said he siphoned gasoline from a lawn mower at his own home and poured it into empty Heineken bottles he collected on his property. He said he took a one-hour stroll to the governor’s home while carrying the Molotov cocktails.
Once there, Balmer said he climbed a fence around the perimeter, smashed two windows with a hammer he brought with him, and tossed the Molotov cocktails inside the governor’s home.
Balmer said he knew his actions would have “negative consequences” and that Shapiro and his family could have been injured, while he was lurking inside the home.
Even worse, Balmer admitted if the governor had encountered him, he would have beaten Shapiro with the hammer.
At the time, the governor was inside the residence with his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family they had celebrated Passover with on Saturday night. Both families, along with Shapiro, evacuated safely, though part of the house was badly burned.
Prosecutors charged Balmer with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and other offenses.
On Sunday, Shapiro held a press conference, saying in part, “When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover. I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempted to put on me by attacking us as they did last night.”
Stars At Coachella Day 3
Thrice As Nice
As Weekend 1 Goes Off!
Published
Palm Springs was moving slow for day 3 after an absolutely insane Saturday night … but the celebrity partiers pulled it together and rallied for one more debaucherous day in the desert for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival headlined by Post Malone!
Justin Bieber shared shirtless selfies relaxing after hosting his exclusive party at the fest, David Dobrik and Natalie Noel were photographed blissfully spending some time off their feet and Landon Barker mustered up a peace sign while sitting poolside on his Sunday with his sis.
Alabama Barker and some friends dipped into the Sunday vibes by hanging poolside at an estate and sharing some hot shots and heart hands while wearing some revealing swimsuits.
Artist Olivia O’Brien turned heads in a high-waisted bodysuit and a sheer crimson contouring layer … while ‘Euphoria’ babe Chloe Cherry hung stageside in a girly graphic tee and tights.
But, the real show was still on stages around the Coachella festival … Shaboozey started the day strong with his party anthems, Megan Thee Stallion had the crowd jumping with her great guests like Ciara and Queen Latifah, Addison Rae surprised fans when she joined Arca and Post Malone mashed up his hip hop and country classics on the Main Stage to close out the big weekend!
The fans brought some eye-popping looks to the Empire Polo fields with some creative and cool fashion statements to flex their personal creativity … check out some of the best street styles roaming the fest in 2025!
This may be a wrap on the big weekend but Coachella is far from over … it will kick off weekend 2 in just a few short days!
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