Jay North, the former child star who became a household name in the 1950s, has died at age 73. North is best known for portraying Dennis Mitchell in the 1959 sitcom Dennis the Menace. His co-star, Jeannie Russell, who played Margaret Wade, confirmed the news of his passing to The Hollywood Reporter. The former actor died in Lake Butler, Florida, on April 6, 2025, following a battle with colon cancer. According to TV Line, North's character, Dennis, might've had heart eyes for Russell's character, Margaret, but off-screen, to Russell, he was her "otherwordly brother." His last on-screen appearance came in a 2003 production called Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, as himself.
North got the role of Dennis Mitchell after auditioning during CBS's nationwide search for the perfect boy to play the part. He was only six years old and initially didn't impress the studio. His agent pressed for a second audition, and North...
North got the role of Dennis Mitchell after auditioning during CBS's nationwide search for the perfect boy to play the part. He was only six years old and initially didn't impress the studio. His agent pressed for a second audition, and North...
- 4/8/2025
- by Lashaunta Moore
- MovieWeb
Jay North, known for his role as Dennis Mitchell in Sixties sitcom Dennis the Menace, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, Variety reports. He was 73.
“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,” his longtime friend Laurie Jacobson wrote on social media. “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,...
“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,” his longtime friend Laurie Jacobson wrote on social media. “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,...
- 4/7/2025
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Jay North, who played the title character in CBS’ Dennis the Menace, has died. He was 73.
The news of North’s death was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by Jeannie Russell, who played Dennis the Menace’s Margaret Wade. Russell said North died in Lake Butler, Fla., after a years-long battle with colon cancer, and called him her “otherworldly brother.”
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The news of North’s death was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by Jeannie Russell, who played Dennis the Menace’s Margaret Wade. Russell said North died in Lake Butler, Fla., after a years-long battle with colon cancer, and called him her “otherworldly brother.”
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- 4/6/2025
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
Jay North, who starred as the young mischief maker with the characteristic blond cowlick on the 1959-63 CBS comedy Dennis the Menace, has died. He was 73.
North died Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, after years of battling colon cancer, Jeannie Russell, who played Margaret Wade on his show, told The Hollywood Reporter. She called him her “otherworldly brother.”
On Screen Gems’ Dennis the Menace, based on the comic strip created by Hank Ketcham, North starred as the well-intentioned but troublesome Dennis Mitchell, the only child of Henry (Herbert Anderson) and Alice (Gloria Henry). He often created chaos for his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson and then his brother, John Wilson (Gale Gordon).
(Joseph Kearns had played George, and after his death in 1962, Gordon was brought on to replace him).
North was 6 when he first auditioned for Dennis, 8 when the show went on the air in October 1959 and...
North died Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, after years of battling colon cancer, Jeannie Russell, who played Margaret Wade on his show, told The Hollywood Reporter. She called him her “otherworldly brother.”
On Screen Gems’ Dennis the Menace, based on the comic strip created by Hank Ketcham, North starred as the well-intentioned but troublesome Dennis Mitchell, the only child of Henry (Herbert Anderson) and Alice (Gloria Henry). He often created chaos for his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson and then his brother, John Wilson (Gale Gordon).
(Joseph Kearns had played George, and after his death in 1962, Gordon was brought on to replace him).
North was 6 when he first auditioned for Dennis, 8 when the show went on the air in October 1959 and...
- 4/6/2025
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jay North, who played Dennis Mitchell in the original 1959 “Dennis the Menace” TV series, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, his long-time friend Laurie Jacobson confirmed in a social media post. He was 73.
“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,” Jacobson wrote. “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.
“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,” Jacobson wrote. “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.
- 4/6/2025
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Gloria Henry, who advanced from B movies in the 1940s to an iconicTV mom on the CBS sitcom “Dennis the Menace,” died Saturday, one day after her 98th birthday.
Henry’s death was revealed Sunday in an Instagram post from her daughter, Erin Ellwood an interior designer and longtime production designer. “She was such an incredible woman in so many ways,” Ellwood wrote.
Henry played Alice Mitchell, the endlessly patient, shirtwaist dress-wearing mother of the mischievous title character created as a newspaper cartoon by Hank Ketcham. The TV series adaptation ran from 1959 to 1963 with Jay North in the title role. Henry’s co-star Herbert Anderson also became an iconic TV dad with his horn rim glasses, sharp-angled suits and V-neck sweaters.
Henry maintained a steady presence in TV through the mid-1960s. But there was a long gap in her resume while she took time out from acting to...
Henry’s death was revealed Sunday in an Instagram post from her daughter, Erin Ellwood an interior designer and longtime production designer. “She was such an incredible woman in so many ways,” Ellwood wrote.
Henry played Alice Mitchell, the endlessly patient, shirtwaist dress-wearing mother of the mischievous title character created as a newspaper cartoon by Hank Ketcham. The TV series adaptation ran from 1959 to 1963 with Jay North in the title role. Henry’s co-star Herbert Anderson also became an iconic TV dad with his horn rim glasses, sharp-angled suits and V-neck sweaters.
Henry maintained a steady presence in TV through the mid-1960s. But there was a long gap in her resume while she took time out from acting to...
- 4/5/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Gloria Henry, who is best known for her role as the mother on the classic 1960s comedy Dennis the Menace has died. She was 98.
The actress died on April 3, according to multiple media reports. Her son, Adam Ellwood posted photos of Henry on his Facebook page, paying tribute to her.
Henry was born Gloria Eileen McEniry in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 2, 1923. She moved to Los Angeles in her late teens and worked on radio shows, commercials and performed in theater groups.
She made her movie debut in 1947 in Sport of Kings and went on to appear in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) alongside Lucille Ball as well as the western Rancho Notorious (1952) with Marlene Dietrich. Her other movie credits The Strawberry Roan (1948) Triple Threat (1948), Racing Luck (1948), Riders in the Sky (1949), and Kill the Umpire (1950).
She appeared in TV series such as My Little Margie, Father Knows Best, Perry Mason and The Life of Riley.
The actress died on April 3, according to multiple media reports. Her son, Adam Ellwood posted photos of Henry on his Facebook page, paying tribute to her.
Henry was born Gloria Eileen McEniry in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 2, 1923. She moved to Los Angeles in her late teens and worked on radio shows, commercials and performed in theater groups.
She made her movie debut in 1947 in Sport of Kings and went on to appear in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) alongside Lucille Ball as well as the western Rancho Notorious (1952) with Marlene Dietrich. Her other movie credits The Strawberry Roan (1948) Triple Threat (1948), Racing Luck (1948), Riders in the Sky (1949), and Kill the Umpire (1950).
She appeared in TV series such as My Little Margie, Father Knows Best, Perry Mason and The Life of Riley.
- 4/5/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Gloria Henry, who played TV mom Alice Mitchell on Dennis the Menace, has passed away. She was 98.
The actress died Saturday at her home in Los Angeles just one day after her birthday, her daughter Erin told The Hollywood Reporter.
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On Dennis, Henry played her most famous role, Alice, for four seasons opposite her TV husband, actor Herbert Anderson.
The actress died Saturday at her home in Los Angeles just one day after her birthday, her daughter Erin told The Hollywood Reporter.
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On Dennis, Henry played her most famous role, Alice, for four seasons opposite her TV husband, actor Herbert Anderson.
- 4/5/2021
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Gloria Henry, who appeared in movies with Gene Autry, Lucille Ball and George Raft before portraying the mother of a chaos-causing kid on the 1960s CBS comedy Dennis the Menace, has died. She was 98.
Henry died Saturday, one day after her birthday, at her home in Los Angeles, her daughter, Erin, told The Hollywood Reporter.
For four seasons starting in October 1959 — and then in reruns for years — Henry played the loving Alice Mitchell opposite Herbert Anderson as her hapless husband, Henry, and Jay North as Dennis on the Screen Gems show that was based on Hank Ketcham’s ...
Henry died Saturday, one day after her birthday, at her home in Los Angeles, her daughter, Erin, told The Hollywood Reporter.
For four seasons starting in October 1959 — and then in reruns for years — Henry played the loving Alice Mitchell opposite Herbert Anderson as her hapless husband, Henry, and Jay North as Dennis on the Screen Gems show that was based on Hank Ketcham’s ...
Gloria Henry, who appeared in movies with Gene Autry, Lucille Ball and George Raft before portraying the mother of a chaos-causing kid on the 1960s CBS comedy Dennis the Menace, has died. She was 98.
Henry died Saturday, one day after her birthday, at her home in Los Angeles, her daughter Erin told The Hollywood Reporter.
For four seasons starting in October 1959 — and then in reruns for years — Henry played the loving Alice Mitchell opposite Herbert Anderson as her hapless husband, Henry, and Jay North as Dennis on the Screen Gems show that was based on Hank Ketcham’s ...
Henry died Saturday, one day after her birthday, at her home in Los Angeles, her daughter Erin told The Hollywood Reporter.
For four seasons starting in October 1959 — and then in reruns for years — Henry played the loving Alice Mitchell opposite Herbert Anderson as her hapless husband, Henry, and Jay North as Dennis on the Screen Gems show that was based on Hank Ketcham’s ...
James Stewart’s final western of the 1950s is a high-gloss family show with more than its share of spirited desperados and adventuresome women. But it’s really the split-up project that ended the productive Stewart-Anthony Mann filmmaking combo. The ‘folksy’ touches could only have come from Stewart himself, who hopefully didn’t show up to parties with his accordion in tow. Opposite Stewart as a ‘good bad guy’ is Audie Murphy, who rises to the standard set by his high-class co-star. If old-time railroads have appeal, this is the show for you: an un-billed co-star is the spectacular Denver and Rio Grande.
Night Passage
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1957 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 90 min. / Street Date March 10, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Elaine Stewart, Brandon De Wilde, Jay C. Flippen, Herbert Anderson, Robert J. Wilke, Hugh Beaumont, Jack Elam, Olive Carey, Ellen Corby,...
Night Passage
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1957 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 90 min. / Street Date March 10, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Elaine Stewart, Brandon De Wilde, Jay C. Flippen, Herbert Anderson, Robert J. Wilke, Hugh Beaumont, Jack Elam, Olive Carey, Ellen Corby,...
- 4/11/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Grand action entertainment bursts forth on the high seas, showing us how much production value Golden Hollywood could lavish on an exciting, artful swashbuckler. Errol Flynn is at his glorious best, backed by greats like Flora Robson, Henry Daniell and Claude Rains in fine form. The special effects and full-sized ship sets impress in ways that computer generated images never will. And the rousing music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold seals the deal — the term ‘Timeless Classic’ was invented for marvels like this.
The Sea Hawk
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1940 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 127 min. / Street Date December 18, 2018 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp, Flora Robson, Alan Hale, Henry Daniell, Una O’Connor, James Stephenson, Gilbert Roland, William Lundigan, Julien Mitchell, Montagu Love, J.M. Kerrigan, David Bruce, Fritz Leiber, Francis McDonald, Pedro de Cordoba, Ian Keith, Jack La Rue, Halliwell Hobbes, Victor Varconi,...
The Sea Hawk
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1940 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 127 min. / Street Date December 18, 2018 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp, Flora Robson, Alan Hale, Henry Daniell, Una O’Connor, James Stephenson, Gilbert Roland, William Lundigan, Julien Mitchell, Montagu Love, J.M. Kerrigan, David Bruce, Fritz Leiber, Francis McDonald, Pedro de Cordoba, Ian Keith, Jack La Rue, Halliwell Hobbes, Victor Varconi,...
- 12/22/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It’s the great Anthony Mann-James Stewart western that Mann didn’t direct: Stewart goes it alone, over-filling a good western idea with ‘cute’ scenes and conservative messages Mann had no use for. But it’s an exciting picture, and one of co-star Audie Murphy’s best — and it’s the first feature in the splendid oversized format known as Technirama.
Night Passage
Blu-ray
Explosive Media (De)
1957 / color / 2:35 widescreen / 90 min. / available at Amazon.de / Die Uhr ist abgelaufen /Street Date August 10, 2017 / Eur 17,99
Starring: James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Elaine Stewart, Brandon De Wilde, Jay C. Flippen, Herbert Anderson, Robert J. Wilke, Hugh Beaumont, Jack Elam, Olive Carey, Ellen Corby, Chuck Roberson.
Cinematography: William Daniels
Film Editor: Sherman Todd
Original Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Written by Borden Chase
Produced by Aaron Rosenberg
Directed by James Neilson
Universal-International didn’t spare the production values for their big-screen western Night Passage.
Night Passage
Blu-ray
Explosive Media (De)
1957 / color / 2:35 widescreen / 90 min. / available at Amazon.de / Die Uhr ist abgelaufen /Street Date August 10, 2017 / Eur 17,99
Starring: James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Elaine Stewart, Brandon De Wilde, Jay C. Flippen, Herbert Anderson, Robert J. Wilke, Hugh Beaumont, Jack Elam, Olive Carey, Ellen Corby, Chuck Roberson.
Cinematography: William Daniels
Film Editor: Sherman Todd
Original Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Written by Borden Chase
Produced by Aaron Rosenberg
Directed by James Neilson
Universal-International didn’t spare the production values for their big-screen western Night Passage.
- 12/12/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Battleground
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1949 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 118 min. / Street Date January 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Don Taylor, James Whitmore, Douglas Fowley, Leon Ames, Guy Anderson, Denise Darcel, Richard Jaeckel, James Arness
Cinematography: Paul Vogel
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters
Film Editor: John D. Dunning
Original Music: Lennie Hayton
Written by: Robert Pirosh
Produced by: Dore Schary
Directed by William A. Wellman
“The Guts, Gags and Glory of a Lot of Wonderful Guys!”
— say, what kind of movie is this, anyway?
Action movies about combat are now mostly about soldiers that fight like killing machines, or stories of battle with a strong political axe to grind. WW2 changed perceptions completely, when a mostly civilian army did the fighting. With the cessation of hostilities combat pictures tapered off quickly, and Hollywood gave the subject a break for several years.
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1949 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 118 min. / Street Date January 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Don Taylor, James Whitmore, Douglas Fowley, Leon Ames, Guy Anderson, Denise Darcel, Richard Jaeckel, James Arness
Cinematography: Paul Vogel
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters
Film Editor: John D. Dunning
Original Music: Lennie Hayton
Written by: Robert Pirosh
Produced by: Dore Schary
Directed by William A. Wellman
“The Guts, Gags and Glory of a Lot of Wonderful Guys!”
— say, what kind of movie is this, anyway?
Action movies about combat are now mostly about soldiers that fight like killing machines, or stories of battle with a strong political axe to grind. WW2 changed perceptions completely, when a mostly civilian army did the fighting. With the cessation of hostilities combat pictures tapered off quickly, and Hollywood gave the subject a break for several years.
- 1/6/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Jeanne Crain: Lighthearted movies vs. real life tragedies (photo: Madeleine Carroll and Jeanne Crain in ‘The Fan’) (See also: "Jeanne Crain: From ‘Pinky’ Inanity to ‘Margie’ Magic.") Unlike her characters in Margie, Home in Indiana, State Fair, Centennial Summer, The Fan, and Cheaper by the Dozen (and its sequel, Belles on Their Toes), or even in the more complex A Letter to Three Wives and People Will Talk, Jeanne Crain didn’t find a romantic Happy Ending in real life. In the mid-’50s, Crain accused her husband, former minor actor Paul Brooks aka Paul Brinkman, of infidelity, of living off her earnings, and of brutally beating her. The couple reportedly were never divorced because of their Catholic faith. (And at least in the ’60s, unlike the humanistic, progressive-thinking Margie, Crain was a “conservative” Republican who supported Richard Nixon.) In the early ’90s, she lost two of her...
- 8/26/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Durham, Nc - The hard truth of cinema takes place at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, Nc from April 14-17. That’s four solid days of movies that don’t feature Natalie Portman’s face being digitally inserted on other bodies. Four days of real people doing real stuff. And you can get some great BBQ.
This years line up has enough goodness to make me have to make painful choices as what to watch. There’s only one screening unless a movie wins a major prize. It’s be there or miss out. Choice wisely. Here’s a few of the films I’m looking to catch:
The Hangman (Thursday 10:20 a.m.) appears to be a creepy classic as it probes the man who executed Nazi Adolph Eichmann. What’s he do now? He ritually slaughters animals. Windfall (Thurs 4:20 p.m.) takes us to Meredith,...
This years line up has enough goodness to make me have to make painful choices as what to watch. There’s only one screening unless a movie wins a major prize. It’s be there or miss out. Choice wisely. Here’s a few of the films I’m looking to catch:
The Hangman (Thursday 10:20 a.m.) appears to be a creepy classic as it probes the man who executed Nazi Adolph Eichmann. What’s he do now? He ritually slaughters animals. Windfall (Thurs 4:20 p.m.) takes us to Meredith,...
- 4/5/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
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