News

Jay North, the actor who played Dennis Mitchell on the 1959 television series Dennis the Menace, died Sunday at age 73 following a prolonged battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully at his home, according to longtime friend and producer Laurie Jacobson.

“Jay passed peacefully at home,” Jacobson wrote in a public message. “He is out of pain now. His suffering is over. At last, he is at peace.” Jeannie Russell, who co-starred with North on Dennis the Menace, also confirmed the news.

Born August 3, 1951, in Hollywood, California, North began working in entertainment as a child, appearing on local television programs including Cartoon Express. He went on to appear in commercials and had roles on network shows such as Wanted: Dead or Alive, 77 Sunset Strip, and Colt .45.

At age six, North was selected in a nationwide search to play Dennis Mitchell, the live-action version of Hank Ketcham’s comic strip character.

Actor Jay North, the former child star who rose to fame as the star of the Dennis the Menace TV series that debuted in 1959, has passed away. He was 73 years old.

Per THR, North died on Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida. His death was attributed to colon cancer, which North had been living with for years. North's passing was confirmed by Dennis the Menace co-star Jeannie Russell, who said he was her "otherworldly brother."

North was born in Los Angeles on Aug. 3, 1951. Through his mother, Dorothy, who worked as a secretary for AFTRA, North appeared on the TV show Cartoon Express, which led to roles on other shows like Wanted: Dead or Alive, 77 Sunset Strip, and Sugarfoot. At the age of 6, North auditioned for the titular role in Dennis the Menace. After landing the role, North was almost 12 when Dennis the Menace was canceled by CBS after four seasons.

Jay North, who played the title character in CBS’ Dennis the Menace, has died. He was 73.

The news of North’s death was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by Jeannie Russell, who played Dennis the Menace’s Margaret Wade. Russell said North died in Lake Butler, Fla., after a years-long battle with colon cancer, and called him her “otherworldly brother.”

More from TVLineMarch Madness 2025: How to Watch Florida vs. Houston in the Men's National Championship OnlineFire Country Star Talks Mother/Son Clash, 'Beefy' Aftermath of Oxalta Deal - Whose Side Are You On?The Neighborhood Will Introduce First Spinoff...

Jay North, the former child star known for playing the title character of “Dennis the Menace” in the early 1960s, has died. He was 73.

The late actor’s death was announced Sunday afternoon by former co-star Jeannie Russell and their shared family friends. “Jeanne Russell just called us with terribly sad, but not unexpected news. Our dear friend Jay North has been fighting cancer for a number of years and this morning at noon Est, Jay passed peacefully at home,” Laurie Jacobson wrote on Facebook.

“As many of his fans know, he had a difficult journey in Hollywood and after… but he did not let it define his life. He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply. He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart.’ And we loved him with all of ours,” Jacobson, who is married to “Lassie” actor Jon Provost,...

Jay North, who starred as the young mischief maker with the characteristic blond cowlick on the 1959-63 CBS comedy Dennis the Menace, has died. He was 73.

North died Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, after years of battling colon cancer, Jeannie Russell, who played Margaret Wade on his show, told The Hollywood Reporter. She called him her “otherworldly brother.”

On Screen Gems’ Dennis the Menace, based on the comic strip created by Hank Ketcham, North starred as the well-intentioned but troublesome Dennis Mitchell, the only child of Henry (Herbert Anderson) and Alice (Gloria Henry). He often created chaos for his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson and then his brother, John Wilson (Gale Gordon).

(Joseph Kearns had played George, and after his death in 1962, Gordon was brought on to replace him).

North was 6 when he first auditioned for Dennis, 8 when the show went on the air in October 1959 and...

Jay North, who played Dennis Mitchell in the original 1959 “Dennis the Menace” TV series, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, his long-time friend Laurie Jacobson confirmed in a social media post. He was 73.

“Our dear friend Jay North has been fighting cancer for a number of years and this morning at noon Est, Jay passed peacefully at home,” Jacobson wrote. “As many of his fans know, he had a difficult journey in Hollywood and after…but he did not let it define his life. He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply. He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart.’ And we loved him with all of ours. A life-long friend of Jon’s, a brother to Jeanne and a dear friend to me, we will miss him terribly. He is out of pain now. His suffering is over.

Jerry Eisenberg, the amiable animator known for his contributions to The Jetsons, The Peter Potamus Show, Wacky Races, Fangface, Spider-Man cartoons, Scooby-Doo movies and so much more, has died. He was 87.

A second-generation cartoonist, Eisenberg died Wednesday of natural causes at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, his son, Derek Eisenberg, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Eisenberg spent more than two decades in two stints at the fabled animation house Hanna-Barbera Productions and worked for Ruby-Spears Productions, Marvel and other companies during his remarkable six-decade career.

At H-b, Eisenberg served as a layout artist on The Huckleberry Hound Show, Quick Draw McGraw, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Jonny Quest, Wacky Races, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, Motormouse and Autocat, The Peter Potamus Show and Josie and the Pussycats.

He also designed characters for Squiddly Diddly, The Secret Squirrel Show, The Magilla Gorilla Show, The Atom Ant Show, Super Friends and Hong Kong Phooey.

Kim Kahana, the stunt performer, teacher, coordinator and war hero who played Chongo on the kids show Danger Island and doubled for Charles Bronson in several action films, has died. He was 94.

Kahana died Monday of natural causes at his home in Groveland, Florida, his wife, Sandy Kahana, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kahana, 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, taught stunts to many thousands of students since the mid-1970s in six-week courses that took place in Chatsworth, California, and Central Florida. Many went on to have thriving careers in show business.

He also had six different black belt degrees — he taught martial arts, too — and worked as a professional bodyguard protecting Hollywood types.

A native of Hawaii, Kahana appeared in his first film as a biker in the Marlon Brando-starring The Wild One (1953) and was an extra in other movies before he realized that stunt performers got paid more than he did.

Marty Krofft, whose work with brother Sid on television is well known and highly regarded, has passed away.

Per ABC News, Krofft died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday while surrounded by family and friends. His longtime rep, Harlan Boll, confirmed Krofft's passing in a statement, citing kidney failure as the cause. Krofft was 86 years old.

"On behalf of the Krofft family and Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, I have been asked to announce the passing of their brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather - the legendary and iconic industry mogul, Marty Krofft," the statement reads.

Krofft is very well known for his work on television with brother Sid, with whom he formed the production company Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures. Along with Sid, who's eight years older, Marty was working on puppet shows like The Banana Splits Adventure Hour when the brothers were hired by NBC to produce a Saturday morning show for children.

Marty Krofft, the savvy businessman who partnered with his older brother Sid to amass an entertainment empire fueled by such mind-blowing kids TV shows as The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost, died Saturday. He was 86.

Eight years younger than Sid, Marty Krofft died Saturday in Los Angeles of kidney failure, his family announced.

“There’s nobody better on this planet,” Sid said of his brother in a 2000 interview for the Archive of American Television website. “I get a dream, and Marty gets it done.”

The pair already were well-known theatrical puppeteers when they were recruited in 1968 to design the costumes for the live-action portion of NBC’s The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.

Their four furry animal characters (Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky), members of a rock band, were an instant hit on the Saturday morning show, which ran from Sept. 7, 1968, to Sept. 5, 1970 (and in...

"The Banana Splits" horror movie, re-imagines 'Bingo', 'Fleegle', 'Snorky' and 'Drooper' from "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" TV series (1968), directed by Danishka Esterhazy for Warner Bros Television Group's digital studio Blue Ribbon Content:

"...a boy named 'Harley' and his family, including brother 'Austin', mother 'Beth' and father 'Mitch', attend a taping of the 'Banana Splits' TV show, featuring a humanoid lion, beagle, elephant and orange gorilla.

"It is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for 'Rebecca', producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape ?..."

Cast includes Dani Kind, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Romeo Carere, Steve Lund and Sara Canning.

Click the images to enlarge ...

Billie Hayes, the actor who portrayed Witchiepoo on NBC’s “H.R. Pufnstuf,” has died. She was 96.

Hayes’ death was announced on her official website.

Hayes is best known for her portrayal of the comical witch Witchiepoo on Sid and Marty Krofft’s show “H.R. Pufnstuf” from 1969 to 1970. From there, Hayes reappeared as Witchiepoo on “The Paul Lynde Halloween Special” and the series finale of “The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.” Hayes also appeared as a witch in several other shows, including “Bewitched,” “Weenie the Genie,” “The Monkees” and “Lidsville.”

Marty Krofft paid tribute to Hayes in a statement to Variety: “In addition to being a very talented and special person, Margret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West/’Wizard of Oz’) once told me that Witchiepoo was the best witch ever. And as far as I’m concerned, there was no one better than Billie Hayes. She was a home run for us and ‘H.

Production continues on the "The Banana Splits" horror movie, re-imagining 'Bingo', 'Fleegle', 'Snorky' and 'Drooper' from "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" TV series (1968), now R-rated for 'violence and gore', directed by Danishka Esterhazy for Warner Bros Television Group's digital studio Blue Ribbon Content:

"...a boy named 'Harley' and his family, including brother 'Austin', mother 'Beth' and father 'Mitch', attend a taping of the 'Banana Splits' TV show, featuring a humanoid lion, beagle, elephant and orange gorilla.

"It is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for 'Rebecca', producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape ?..."

Cast includes Dani Kind, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Romeo Carere, Steve Lund and Sara Canning.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek the "Banana Splits"...

We have a brand new trailer for The Banana Splits Movie. This trailer was revealed in honor of the movie getting a premiere date on Syfy, which is set for October 12. Much like the first trailer, it's very clear this is a full-blown, R-rated, horror-driven take on this beloved children's classic. How or why this came to be remains a mystery, but this is happening and we have a bloody look at what's coming our way.

It was initially revealed back in February that The Banana Splits were being revived. One might have thought that would include a new TV series that would have been aimed at children, much like the original 1960s TV series. Instead, it was stated that the reboot was, confusingly, going to be a horror movie. Once the first trailer debuted, many began making comparisons, rightfully so, to the popular video game Five Nights at Freddy's.

If you’re old enough to remember Hanna-Barbera’s variety show The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, well, you’re older than I am! Still, like many shows of the late 1960s and early 1970s, there’s something about it that makes it perfect for a horror movie redux–and that’s exactly what the folks at Warner Bros. Entertainment and Syfy are […]

The post Get Ready for a Meet & Greet in Our Exclusive Clip from The Banana Splits Movie appeared first on Dread Central.

One banana, two banana, three banana, Gore! Lovers of Saturday Morning Cartoons are going to have their heads split open next week when The Banana Splits Movie hits home video with a big red splat of chainsaw-chewing violence. That's right, American's favorite animal band is back, and this time they're taking no prisoners. Cause they're going to eat them instead.

What the bloody hell is this? Well, if it looks like someone got the bright idea to turn Hanna-Barbera's 1968 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour variety program into a big screen version of Five Nights at Freddy's, you wouldn't be wrong. A movie based on that popular video game has been in the works for quite a while now. And it is rumored that The Banana Splits Movie is actually using an old script that was originally written for Freddy and his Terrifying friends.

So if your seeing any similarities, you're not far off.

Take a look at the first footage reviving the furry "Banana Splits", re-imagining 'Bingo', 'Fleegle', 'Snorky' and 'Drooper' from "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" (1968) as characters in a horror movie, R-rated for 'violence and gore', directed by Danishka Esterhazy for Warner Bros Television Group's digital studio Blue Ribbon Content:

"...a boy named 'Harley' and his family, including brother 'Austin', mother 'Beth' and father 'Mitch', attend a taping of the 'Banana Splits' TV show, featuring a humanoid lion, beagle, elephant and orange gorilla.

"It is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for 'Rebecca', producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape ?..."

Cast includes Dani Kind, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Romeo Carere, Steve Lund and Sara Canning.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek the "Banana Splits"...

In the wake of last week’s trailer (found below), we’ve learned today that the rated R horror film The Banana Splits Movie is headed to home video this coming August! The cult-favorite animal rock-band from Hanna-Barbera’s 1968 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour variety program is back with a blood-spattered vengeance! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you The Banana Splits […]...

When their show is on the verge of cancelation, a group of animatronic characters from a children's show take matters into their own furry hands to make sure their show goes on forever (no matter how much blood must be spilled) in the trailer for The Banana Splits Movie.

A creepy twist on Hanna-Barbera's The Banana Splits Adventure Hour children's show that ran from 1968–1970, The Banana Splits Movie (which has been rated R) will be released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital this summer and will also air on the Syfy channel this year.

Directed by Danishka Esterhazy from a screenplay by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, The Banana Splits Movie stars Dani Kind, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, and Romeo Carere.

Reminiscent of the video game Five Nights at Freddy's, the new trailer for The Banana Splits Movie can be viewed below, and we'll be sure to keep Daily Dead readers updated as more details are revealed.

"Now the show can go on forever... and ever... and ever...!!" The beloved children's show is back... with a vengeance, a horrible, bloody vengeance. What is this! Ha! Syfy has debuted the official trailer for a horror feature titled The Banana Splits Movie, a re-imagining of the classic children's show on TV in the 1970s ("The Banana Splits Adventure Hour") as a horror movie. The plot is about a kid who goes to a taping of the show, only to discover the four furry main characters – Bingo, Fleegle, Drooper and Snorky – are actually killers. Over thirty episodes of "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" originally aired between 1968 and 1970, with costumes and sets designed by Sid & Marty Krofft. This new movie stars Dani Kind, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Steve Lund, Sara Canning, Maria Nash, and Romeo Carere. We don't often feature direct-to-vod films, but can't help it this time! This is so nuts and it actually looks crazy good!

If you’re old enough to remember Hanna-Barbera’s variety show The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, well, you’re older than I am! Still, like many shows of the late 1960s and early 1970s, there’s something about it that makes it perfect for a horror movie redux–and that’s exactly what the folks at Warner Bros. Entertainment and Syfy […] The post Trailer: Banana Splits Movie is Rated R for Horror Violence and Gore appeared first on Dread Central.

An adorable children’s show is getting rebooted in the most unexpected way possible. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Syfy are teaming up to bring back the characters of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour for a special movie. This one definitely won’t be for the young ones, though. Instead, The Banana Splits film is going to take everything people loved about the program and turn it into a horrifying, bloody movie that’ll give fans of the original countless nightmares.

The trailer for the scary flick dropped today, much to the delight of the Internet, and it starts out innocent enough, as a boy’s family treats him to tickets to the eponymous kids’ show. What should have been a nice birthday treat for the young fan quickly turns into a battle for survival, though. The body count rapidly rises, leaving the protagonists to fight for their lives against sinister characters Bingo,...

In a surprise move that was probably inspired by the success of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Syfy announced earlier this year that they’re bringing back the characters from Hanna-Barbera’s variety program “The Banana Splits Adventure Hour” for… a horror movie. And not just any horror movie, but a hardcore rated “R” horror […]...

Back in February, we passed along the news that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Syfy will be bringing us a new original film based on the cult favorite children's series The Banana Splits... but with a horror twist. And today we have word that the film will be going full-tilt boogie with the horror as the MPAA has just slapped the movie with an R-rating for "horror violence and gore."

The upcoming horror thriller centers on a boy named Harley who attends a taping of The Banana Splits TV show with his brother Austin, mother Beth, and father, Mitch. It was supposed to be business as usual for the producer of the series, Rebecca, and a fun-filled birthday for young Harley. But things take an unexpected turn - evidently filled with horror violence and gore - and fittingly the body count quickly rises. Will Harley and company survive? And if so,...

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and SyFy are reviving the furry "Banana Splits", re-imagining a horror movie for the anthropomorphic hosts of "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" (1968) created by the Krofft Brothers for Hanna-Barbera, to be directed by Danishka Esterhazy for Warner Bros Television Group's digital studio Blue Ribbon Content:

"...a boy named 'Harley' and his family, including brother 'Austin', mother 'Beth' and father 'Mitch', attend a taping of the 'Banana Splits' TV show, featuring a humanoid lion, beagle, elephant and orange gorilla.

"It is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for 'Rebecca', producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape ?..."

Cast includes Dani Kind, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Romeo Carere, Steve Lund and Sara Canning.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek the "Banana Splits"...

Chris Cummins Feb 20, 2019

A revival of the classic Hanna-Barbera costumed characters will have The Banana Splits leaning in to their creepy side.

As a child, I was scared by everything from the Blue Meanies from The Beatles' Yellow Submarine movie to Waylon Flowers' wise-cracking Madame puppet.

Admittedly, I was a weird kid.

But in my defense, growing up in the 1970s and '80s meant that you were bombarded with supposedly lovable characters who were in fact nothing but weaponized nightmare fuel.. Chief among these marketable terrors were the characters featured Hanna-Barbera's variety show/hellscape The Banana Splits.

Airing for two seasons from 1968-70, then repeated in syndication for perpetuity, this series combined the live-action antics of the animal-costumed characters Fleegle, Drooper, Bingo, and Snorky as they had indescrible adventures filmed at amusement parks that were intercut with other segments.

Most of the Splits-centric portions of the program had...

A cult favorite children's series gets a horror genre twist with the return of The Banana Splits in a new original film which will premiere in 2019 via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, in advance of its television debut on Syfy.

The Banana Splits will offer a new take on the classic characters, which were first introduced to audiences in 1968 with The Banana Splits Adventure Hour variety program. In the upcoming horror thriller, a boy named Harley and his family attend a taping of The Banana Splits TV show, which is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley and business as usual for Rebecca, the producer of the series. But things take an unexpected turn - and the body count quickly rises. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape?

The Banana Splits stars Dani Kind (Wyonna Earp) as Beth, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong (The Kindness of Strangers) as Harley,...

Hey, remember the Banana Splits? Well, they’re coming back to TV… but not the way you remember them. At all.

The Banana Splits, a new movie that reimagines the furry kids’ show favorites in a meta horror thriller, will air later this year on Syfy, TVLine has learned. (The movie will debut first via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment before hitting Syfy.)

In the film, a boy named Harley celebrates his birthday by attending a taping of the Banana Splits TV show with his family. “But things take an unexpected turn — and the body count quickly rises,” per the movie’s official description.

A New adaptation of the Eastern folk tales collection Arabian Nights is on its way to the big screen - and, in line with the growing trend, it will be in 3D.

Chuck Russell, who co-wrote the script with Barry P. Ambrose, is to direct the fantasy adventure.

He previously helmed 1987's A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, the 80s remake of The Blob, The Mask, Eraser and Scorpion King.

Variety reports that Arabian Nights has a $70million budget and will be financed by Inferno Entertainment, with production set to begin in April.

The story follows a young commander who, after his king is killed in a palace coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Aladdin and his genie to rescue Persian queen Scheherazade and her kingdom from dark powers.

Russell said: "Through the use of a new generation of visual technologies, we will be able to quite literally take audiences around the...

Written by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub Many of you have no idea who Sid and Marty Krofft are. But to millions and millions of people, Sid and Marty Krofft are geniuses. That’s because these two brothers are the men responsible for a number of classic 70’s shows that still get watched to this day. Perhaps you’ve heard of a few of their shows…. H.R. Pufnstuf Land of the Lost Electra Woman and Dyna Girl Wonderbug The Bugaloos Sigmund and the Sea Monsters The Lost Saucer Lidsville The Banana Splits Adventure Hour So when I found out I was going to visit the set of “Land of the Lost” last June (here is my report) and Sid and Marty Krofft were going to be there and participate in interviews….needless to say, I was incredibly excited. While the shows they created aired before my time, I did watch them when...