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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.<\/p>\n
\nJay North, known for his “Dennis the Menace” character on the beloved ’60s sitcom, died Sunday, Fox News Digital confirmed. He was 73.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Decades after finding success, North admitted he suffered abuse as a child actor, and claimed that his aunt would physically assault him on set.<\/p>\n
“Physically, she would just grab my hair, and just shake me \u2026 just made life a living hell for the four years. My uncle was very abusive too.”Fox News<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0General Hospital<\/em>, North mostly retreated from the spotlight. He ended up working as a correctional officer in Florida after ending his acting career.\u00a0 TV Insider<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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):\u00a0 “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.” Looks like Mr. North lived\u00a0 his life that way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"