The Hell That Jay North Went Through Making "Dennis The Menace"

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I had heard about this abuse at the hands of his "care takers" I saw an interview with his mom (she seemed 'clueless') of what was going on with her son. Jay always seemed very genuine in his acting. Sweet, innocent, and often poignant. Jay truly worked through all of that personal strife. I think he later embraced autograph signings. I wish I could give him a virtual "hug" to let him know that all people aren't bad.

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

Nicely said

[@daveduncan8004]

Hey uncle B this was terrible hopefully he found the Lord and he’s doing a lot better now thank you again uncle B We appreciate you merry Christmas

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

🤞

[@alphonsocarioti512]

I always felt so sorry for Jay during his life. I heard him several times during his life say how horribly he was treated. Thanks, Bob.

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

Broke my heart

[@Jaque1961]

@@classictvfactsandtriv8595 His aunt and uncle did this. Locked him in his dressing room and would not let him eat lunch with his young costars. May his Aunt and Uncle rot in hell.

[@kevinmullins4919]

Jay lives in our home town of Lake Butler Fla. and does a lot of good in our community he is a blessing to us.

[@anthonywashington3743]

Kevin Mullins my oldest brother seen jay north in Lake butler Florida he told jay my family was his biggest fans and I still watch Dennis the menace

[@jackbest6677]

Enjoyed Dennis the Menace but feel bad of his treatment. 😢

[@debhockenberry1472]

Poor Jay. How horrible!

[@davidmanna5548]

Howdy!!! Thank You Uncle Bob for doing a video on Dennis the Menace but I feel bad now for how bad Jay was treated off screen I didn't know it was that bad very sad... But on another note, would like to see more on Dennis the Menace if you can dig up something?? God Bless & Take care....

[@johnbernstein7887]

Ouch! That was a tough kid.

[@kenmarquette699]

So sad. We really don’t know what some child actors have gone through. Hopefully todays child actors are more protected.

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

I dont know..seems a lot of them have the same issues...drink, drugs, low moral standards

[@robertwolfgang8852]

Thanks Bob. I guess it’s true that things are not always what they seem. I also heard he had a tough time in the Navy.

[@d.g.n9392]

We are fans of the show, but aware that he wasn’t treated well and was traumatized by the life he had. Coincidentally I was watching the several episodes in season 3, was the weeks that Joseph Kearns passed away. They changed up the characters and plot of the shows introducing Gale Gordon. It seemed sad. Thanks Bob. 🙋‍♂️🙏

[@docadams7099]

I remember seeing "Dennis the Menace" as a child and noticing that Jay North often had a black eye. That was from the awful stuff his aunt and uncle did to him. On the other hand, Ron Howard, Larry Mathews and many other child actors had great experiences on TV and I think it's been a blessing to them.

[@charlie6629]

Poor kid. I hope they keep an eye out for this shit now.

[@frankpaya690]

Back then spankings were a routine practice of raising children.

[@orangehornet57]

That's a sad story. Patty Duke mentioned being mistreated too. David Cassidy noted in his autobiography that Danny Bonaduce got abused. If TPTB had known at the time, would they have done anything? In Danny's case, he stayed at Dave Madden's house a lot. Times were different. These stories have probably helped many of today's child actors. Paul Petersen's organization is one example. Hank Ketchum based the character on his own son. Not surprisingly, this caused the real Dennis some problems. It also hurt their relationship. A few child actors got out of the business voluntarily. They just wanted to be regular kids. Some have attended school du ring the hiatus. But as Ron Howard noted, it wasn't always easy.

[@marietarallo3403]

How could someone with the name Marie be so mean. I am a very nice person.

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

😉

[@paulturner3553]

TV was a new medium in the late 50's and working with children was a new thing and they probably didn't know how to handle children put into a high-stress environment but that is no excuse how they treated them. Paul Petersen wasn't treated much better. They treated the actors, children and adults, like commodities not human beings. I understand they didn't even have the decency to tell the cast members of the Donna Reed show that it was cancelled. They learned the hard way as when they reported for work they weren't let in the studio lot by the guards.

[@joeanderson9852]

❤

[@frankpaya690]

Was Joseph Kearns gay?

[@Jaque1961]

Yes

[@frankpaya690]

@@Jaque1961 He certainly came across that way- for his time.

[@Jaque1961]

@@frankpaya690 I've read many online articles about him. He lived in a big home with his mother and restored pipe organs. He died from a brain anyerysm from strange outlandish diets with few nutrients. I've never heard of an aneurysm from a diet, but I've read that.

[@steverector9670]

Dennis the Menace was never the same after Joseph Kearns passed away

[@DelusionDispeller]

There are so many shows I wont watch anymore after hearing what actors and actresses went through behind the scenes

[@kelseymathias3881]

I knew some of this...but I didn't realize just how bad it was! Jay's acting sure didn't betray how miserable he was. His guardians should have been jailed...and maybe these days they would have. Being a child star is certainly a double-edged sword. But some kids escape all the bad...like Jerry Mathers apparently. Uncle Bob, could you do a video on Gale Gordon (if you haven't already)? I loved him as Mr. Mooney on The Lucy Show. God bless you and your family.

[@docadams7099]

Gale Gordon also played Uncle Harry, a nicer character, on Here's Lucy.

[@kelseymathias3881]

@@docadams7099 oh, yeah...I forgot about that

[@emilynelson301]

What is the point of knowing this? Yes! It is a whole lot harder to watch Dennis the Menace now. But I happened on the information when I was Googling Dennis the Menace memes. Yah... Should not have done that. I was born decades later from when the show actually aired.... This doesn't exempt me from not feeling sorry for him---But makes me feel helplessly responsible as if I knew about it and chose to do nothing for him. I really didn't want to believe the abuse at first because I thought it absurd and completely out of no where. If this really went on behind the sense, then how on earth did this kid stay in character so well??? I just feel all around guilt while watching the show now. 💔

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

If you dont want to know it, dont watch the video. Problem solved

[@emilynelson301]

@@classictvfactsandtriv8595 Oh No. I already new the information long before... I was feeling guilty for watching the show because of it--As I stated in my comment (Not the utube video). Just looking for some comfort and assurance is all. *BIGHUGS*❤❤❤

[@kathrynmolesa1641]

Jay North should get together with Paul Peterson. Paul had group therapy for former child actors.

[@waynedavies3185]

As a child, I enjoyed watching Dennis the Menace. I really liked Jay's acting. I feel sorry for any child actor and what they had to go through while acting. Jay seemed to be a good lad, always with a smile on the screen. I wish him well in his adult life and hope the past doesn't hurt as much these days so he can have a normal happy life. Thanks Jay.

[@SnarkyLady]

Were the aunt n uncle ever charged???

[@mikebrown5616]

That was a time when spanking and slapping were considered punishment NOT abuse - since they did not leave scarring or physical damage. As for the verbal abuse, that was not even recognized as a real thing. This was a time when taking out your frustration and anger on your child was seen as bad parenting - not a crime.

[@SnarkyLady]

@@mikebrown5616 makes sense.

[@anthonywashington3743]

My oldest brother seen jay noth in Florida

[@classictvfactsandtriv8595]

Cool

[@Jaque1961]

"Margaret " lives somewhere near by, she is a chiropractor.

[@anthonywashington3743]

@@Jaque1961 yep you right them the only one's left

[@anthonywashington3743]

@@classictvfactsandtriv8595 I wonder where is jay mother at did she pass away

[@Jaque1961]

@@anthonywashington3743 oh, I'm sure. I'm 61, Jay is at least 71, that would make his mother around 95-100. Think about it.

[@beatleman69]

Trouble with child actors is they have no normal childhood and usually when they become a teenager and a young adult in show buisiness nobody wants them anymore.