Navy vet passes on
Saw the obits for this man, and I have to admit I was bound by childhood prejudices – just did not think of him as someone who put in his time and did his bit. I was reading through comments on his passing, and someone mentioned “when I lived in San Diego in 1975, some of the Navy guys there mentioned he was a sailor there.” There’s not much about it on line – if anyone knows more, please flesh it out for us….but at least one article says he served. And as I have said before: if someone served, they are one of us and should be remembered.
Jay North, known for his “Dennis the Menace” character on the beloved ’60s sitcom, died Sunday, Fox News Digital confirmed. He was 73.
North died at home in Lake Butler, Florida, after battling colon cancer for years, according to a social media post shared by his longtime friends, “Lassie” actor Jon Provost and wife Laurie Jacobson.
I don’t care who you are… cancer is not a preferred way to go. No need to belabor the point; I am sure we all have lost someone to it – and if you have not, count yourself , and your friends, lucky.
“Dennis the Menace” aired for four seasons, 1959-1963. After that, North did some guest and voice gigs on other shows such as “The Flintstones”, “Arabian Nights” and even “The Simpsons” later.
Decades after finding success, North admitted he suffered abuse as a child actor, and claimed that his aunt would physically assault him on set.
“Physically, she would just grab my hair, and just shake me … just made life a living hell for the four years. My uncle was very abusive too.”Fox News
I deleted the paragraph which went into more detail on the aunt… but let’s just say I’m surprised if when she died if North didn’t buy a Mickey’s 40, if yaknowhaddImean.
Over the next few years, North tried to revive his acting career, but ended up enlisting for the Navy when he was unsuccessful. He left on honorable discharge in 1979. Following a few small roles in the early 1980s, including a week-long stint on General Hospital, North mostly retreated from the spotlight. He ended up working as a correctional officer in Florida after ending his acting career. TV Insider
If he got out in 1979, he was a volunteer, not a draftee like many just a bit older. Life doesn’t guarantee happiness or success. Me, I see a guy who didn’t become a star, but didn’t stop trying and when one thing didn’t work out how he wanted, he took a different direction and made it work. Reminds me of my favorite John Lennon quote (okay, the ONLY thing he ever said I liked): “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.” Looks like Mr. North lived his life that way.
Category: Navy, We Remember
From what Hack was able to glean from Al Gore’s Amazing Internet, Jay North enlisted in the US Navy as a regular Joe. He just wanted to move on with his life and life his career as a child actor behind him, because he was subject to endless tormenting from his fellow sailors and it got to the point where Big Navy thought that it would be in everyone’s best interest to discharge him early. Can’t cite any specific website for that information, so do what you want with it. Regardless, he did serve, and he was not separated for behavior issues, otherwise he never would have landed that job in law enforcement.
From the magic 8 ball aka Grok: “Jay North served as a seaman in the U.S. Navy, enlisting on January 16, 1977. While specific details about his day-to-day duties are limited, as a seaman, he would have been part of the deck department, typically responsible for tasks such as standing watch, maintaining the ship, handling lines during mooring or underway replenishment, and performing general seamanship duties. During his service, he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and spent time aboard the destroyer tender USS Dixie, which was based in Long Beach, California, during his temporary assignment there. North has mentioned in interviews that his time in the Navy provided him with structure and a break from the challenges of his post-childhood acting career, though he did not elaborate extensively on his specific role. His service ended with an honorable discharge on August 10, 1979.”
He also served as a Corrections Officer later in life.
He also served on USS Iwo Jima, LPH-2. A comment from someone that served with him, from the Fox article, “He asked North once why he had joined the Navy. Jay told him it was the first decision he had ever made on his own.” Being a “child actor” back then was a little tougher than it is now seems like. Not too many made the transition to an adult actor and the tales of different abuse that many suffered from is disgusting. Sounds like his aunt and uncle were real pieces of sh*t.
Rest Easy, Good Sir. Fair winds and following seas on your final journey.
I heard a blurb on my AM Radio yesterday and heard the name Jay North mentionedDennis the Menance and saw his passing on my PC Home page then I went over to TAH and got the skinny. I was on the LPH-3 which was the sister ship of the LPH-2. I was aboard the Lady of the seas from 1963 till 1966 (USS Okinawa) (3 year Kiddie Cruise)
To young to go, RIP Dennis/Navy Squid.
I found this. Was shocked the recruiter lied to him lol.
https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.webapp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=578379&binder=true
Great find. Thanks for the information.
My grandmother loved that show. I thought it was stupid. Canned laughter and tires squealing on gravel road were among the first major turnoffs to television, for me.
Sorry learn of Jay’s demise, a hard way to go.
Your grandmother have Lawrence Welk on every night? Really got to know those old duets watching with the grandparents.
The show was a staple for kid TV when I was growing up. I really didn’t like it much, thought the voice was really annoying.
Fair winds and following seas, Sailor.
“HEY MISTER WILSON!!!”
Yeah, a tough way to go. Name instantly recognizable as a child star, never allowed to forget, never allowed to grow up or grow out of it.
And then cancer.
Rest well.
(slow salute)
I commend him for joining the military and for serving his country. I feel sorry for him for the pain that he must have suffered under his aunt and uncle who, as someone mentioned below, must have been real pieces of shit. And so, I’m sure he took all of that pain with him into the navy where I can see a lot of squids ribbing him and calling him Dennis the Menace, a shadow he was trying to outrun, but I was taught that you never quit and you always finish what you started, or it too will follow you. I too, however, have quit a few times in my lifetime in my younger years and it always seemed to hang over me as Dad said it would. So, I bet leaving the navy hung over him just like his childhood, which seemed to be less than pleasant. But again, he signed up and did serve and I do commend him for that! Fair Winds and Following Seas!
Rest in Peace.
Rest in peace,sir.
I long ago concluded that letting or putting a child in show business is a form of child abuse. Every child star whose biography I see confirms that.
1,000 upvotes for this comment.
Really liked watching Dennis the Menace. I think the series ended when the old neighbor guy died. Mr Wilson.
No, the series continued with new neighbors,
Gale Gordon playing George Wilson’s brother John Wilson,
at the tail end of the 3rd season, and the entire 4th season.
RIP JK
RIP GG
RIP JN
Learn something new.
Rest Well, Seaman.
You served when others wouldn’t and that alone is enough to earn my undying gratitude.
o7
Also recall, that all of the 70’s wasn’t exactly a swell time to serve in any branch. That makes Jay more than just a Seaman, but a guy willing to take on the worst of times, and make good of it.
Anchors Aweigh, m’boy!