How did actor Jay North die? The cause of death has been revealed

Jay North, who played Dennis Mitchell in “Dennis the Menace,” died at his home in Lake Butler, Florida on 6 April at 73. He had had colorectal cancer for many years.

His friend Laurie Jacobson announced his death on Facebook, saying she had heard about it from his “Dennis the Menace” co-star Jeanne Russell.

She said that he had a big heart and loved his friends. “He called us often and said ‘I love you’ at the end of every call. And we loved him very much.”

“We will miss him terribly,” she also wrote. “He is not in pain now. His suffering is over. At last, he is at peace.”

A representative for North confirmed his death to NBC News via email.

The New York Times says that North died from colorectal cancer.

He had been “fighting cancer for several years” and “passed peacefully at home,” his longtime friend Laurie Jacobson wrote on Facebook.

Colorectal cancer starts in the colon, the longest part of the large intestine. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can affect people of any age but often affects people older than 50. But recently, there have been more cases of this in younger people.

It can start with the growth of polyps, which are lumps of cells inside the colon. There are often no early symptoms, so doctors recommend regular check-ups for colon cancer starting at age 45 or sooner for patients with a higher risk, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms of colon cancer can include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, ongoing stomach pain, weakness or tiredness, and unexplained weight loss, among other symptoms.