This one's a depressing one.

(CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of Child Abuse)

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In 1959, CBS looked to comic strips to come up with a competitor to Leave it to Beaver. There, they found Hank Ketcham's Dennis the Menace, a super popular gag comic about a well-meaning but destructive little boy named Dennis. Casting Jay North in the title role, the Dennis the Menace sitcom was a huge success. But was it good? And was it worth through what Jay North would have to go through?

Will have to watch that tomorrow. Thanks for posting as I always admired the talents of Jay North. We’d watch Dennis every Sunday night.

That was heavy. I remember first hearing about Jay’s abuse from his guardians on Phil Donahue in the 90’s. I do remember seeing Donahue back in 1982 when Jay was on with other child stars like Lauren Chapin and not discussing those dark thoughts. He had made a soft porn movie called The Teacher which was really embarrassing. I’m glad he was able to get help finally and blown away by his ability to act under such horrendous circumstances in his early years. A true survivor.