Jay North — a veteran actor who carried out the eponymous character throughout the Sixties sitcom “Dennis the Menace” — has died … TMZ has confirmed.

Laurie Jacobson — a longtime pal of North and partner 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 knowledgeable his nicely being started to deteriorate over the earlier month, and he was surrounded by family — his partner Cindy and her daughters from a earlier marriage, which we’re knowledgeable he “adored” — when he handed.

Laurie says Cindy and her daughters “gave him a family he on no account had” since he was an solely teenager who on no account knew his father.

We’re knowledgeable Jay hadn’t seen his buddies shortly on account of he wished to isolate with a objective to maintain healthful on account of his most cancers … nevertheless, Laurie collected numerous of letters from followers and gave them to him over Christmas — which she says he was thrilled about.

North rose to prominence in the midst of the late Nineteen Fifties … displaying in bit parts on packages like “77 Sunset Strip,” “Rescue 8,” and “Sugarfoot” when he was decrease than 10 years earlier.

Jay gained nationwide recognition in 1959 when he started having fun with 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 say he was a yr youthful than he was in interviews.

North opened up about his struggles on set years after the current 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 on a regular basis made it clear his mother and others on set weren’t aware of the abuse on the time.

Jacobson offers, “He had a troublesome journey in Hollywood– he didn’t profit from the experience — he was at a time very indignant and bitter that the adults that surrounded him did nothing to help him or make his time easier.”

“Dennis the Menace” was canceled after 4 seasons … and, North transitioned to voice performing work throughout the late Sixties, early ’70s on duties like “Arabian Knights,” “Proper right here Comes the Grump” and “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Current.”

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

In newer years, North labored as a correctional officer in Florida … reportedly serving to distressed youth throughout the juvenile system. He moreover helped counsel former teenager stars via the group A Minor Consideration by the use of the Nineteen Nineties.

Jacobson tells us he moreover labored with inmates on lack of life row who had troubled childhoods as correctly … and their conversations helped him uncover peace with the early years of his life.

No matter his distaste for Hollywood, Jacobson says Jay did admire one perk he obtained from the commerce — lifelong buddies who’ve been moreover teenager stars throughout the an identical time along with Angela Cartwright, Jerry Mathers, Stan Livingston, Paul Petersen and Brandon Cruz, amongst others.

Jay was 73.