Beloved Actors of the 'Dennis the Menace' Film Then and Now

Mar 11, 2021

04:49 A.M.

“Dennis the Menace” began as a comic strip that turned into an animated series and film. Here’s a look back at the well-loved cast.

We're pretty sure kids of all ages know "Dennis the Menace," but 90s kids got a movie that took them and their parents on an insanely fun (and sometimes emotional) adventure.

Dennis Mitchell was such an infuriating and mischievous child that even his kidnapper couldn't stand him! Decades later, we're finding out what happened to the movie's cast and how the original comic strip came to be!

Lea Thompson, Mason Gamble and Walter Matthau, 1993. Image Credit: Getty Images

THE MIDDLE

After "Dennis the Menace" was a comic strip, and before it was a movie, it was one of our favorite things - a TV sitcom. When CBS lost "Leave It to Beaver" to ABC in 1958, the network had a hole in its lineup and the role of boy wonder to fill.

Dennis Mitchell was decidedly up to the task, and "Dennis the Menace" got the green-light in 1959. For the first time, the troublemaker from the newspaper comic strips came to life.

Hank Ketchum and Jay North, Dennis the Menace 1959. Image Credit: Getty Images

FAMOUS FANS

Writer and director John Hughes ("The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink") was an avid reader and regular watcher of "Dennis the Menace." Hughes wrote the movie "Home Alone," which featured a rowdy and troublesome little blonde boy.

Producers were eager to replicate its success with a feature adaptation of the famous comic strip. Ketcham signed with Warner Bros. on the condition that Hughes wrote the script.

Image Source: Disney.YouTube/Iahillbilly

MASON GAMBLE

With his mischievous grin, Mason Gamble was the perfect boy to portray the infamous Dennis in the movie. Gamble became a child star after the film, with roles in "Gattaca," "Rushmore," and "Spy Hard." The actor also appeared in "Close to Home," "CSI: Miami," and "ER."

However, unlike many child actors, Gamble chose not to continue his career and instead focused on his studies. He received a BS from UCLA and is currently a second-year doctoral candidate in Environmental Science and Engineering at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

Before the doctoral program, Gamble worked as a Client Relations Director in the financial sector and believed any plan to address environmental issues must include a combination of science, policy, and economics.

Mason Gamble attends the 2nd Annual SAG Foundation Golf Classic at El Caballero Country Club. | Source: Getty Images

JOAN PLOWRIGHT

Joan Plowright, aka Baroness Olivier, played the warm-hearted Mrs. Wilson, who adored Dennis, unlike her husband. Perhaps because the little boy never tried to help her take aspirin with a slingshot.

The British actress is a veteran of the industry with two Golden Globes, an Academy, Tony, and Emmy Award, among many other recognitions. She appeared in over 30 movies, including "A Pyromaniac's Love Story," "101 Dalmatians," "Tea with Mussolini," and "Curious George."

In 2009, she was appointed the honorary president of the English Stage Company. Her vision slowly declined until her retirement in 2014, when she was almost blind. She announced her retirement publicly, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

Joan Plowright, 2007. Image Credit: Getty Images

WALTER MATTHAU

Walter Matthau, a veteran actor in the film and television industry since the '50s, graced the screen as Mr. Wilson.

As time progressed, Matthau took on less challenging roles and focused on family-friendly comedies, like "IQ," and reunited with Jack Lemmon in "Grumpy Old Men" and its sequel "Grumpier Old Men." He continued pairing with Lemmon in "Out to Sea."

Directed by Diane Keaton in 2000, Matthau starred in "Hanging Up" with Meg Ryan, Keaton, and Lisa Kudrow. It was his final appearance on screen as he battled colon cancer until his death at the age of 79, suffering a fatal heart attack.

Screenshot from "Dennis the Menace" film. | Source: Warmer Bros. Youtube.com/Movieclips

CHRISTOPHER LLOYD

The film's antagonist, Switchblade Sam, was well-played by Christopher Lloyd, known for "Back To The Future," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and "Clue." For "Dennis the Menace," Lloyd acted as a burglar who kidnapped the boy and suffered his annoying character.

Lloyd took on comedic roles in children's movies, including "Baby Geniuses" and "Santa Buddies." Conversely, he also appeared in thrillers like 'I Am Not a Serial Killer,' '88,' and satires like “Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie,” where he reprised his role as Doc Brown.

Christopher Lloyd in 2002. Image Credit: Getty Images

LEA THOMPSON

Lea Thompson is best known as Lorraine Baines, Marty McFly's mother in "Back to the Future," but she also starred in "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Howard the Duck." In "Dennis the Menace," she was the desperate mom looking for a babysitter for her hyper son.

After the film, Thompson appeared in many other movies, including "Beverly Hillbillies" and "Little Rascals," which were both remakes, and starred as Caroline in the sitcom "Caroline in the City."

Most recently, she appeared in "Literally, Right Before Aaron," "The Year of Spectacular Men," and Netflix's "Sierra Burgess is a Loser."

Lea Thompson, 2019. Image Credit: Getty Images

ROBERT STANTON

Robert Stanton played Dennis' busy father. Staton was trained as a stage actor, appearing on stage beginning in the mid-80s. His other movie roles include "Stepford Wives," "Confessions of a Shopaholic," "Mercury Rising," and "Jason Bourne." The actor also appeared in television shows "Law and Order," "Orange Is the New Black," "Frasier," and "Mr. Mercedes."

Robert Stanton speaking in a theater. | Source: Flickr.com

NATASHA LYONNE

One of Dennis' babysitters, Polly, played by Natasha Lyonne, was victimized by the child's vicious pranks. Lyonne was also a child actress but didn't see serious fame until Woody Allen's 1996 film "Everyone Says I Love You." She's been busy ever since, appearing in several films, including "American Pie," "Yoga Hosers," "Slums of Beverly Hills," "Blade: Trinity," "Hello, My Name is Doris," and "Addicted to Fresno." She also co-starred in the Netflix series "Orange Is The New Black" and "Russian Doll."

Natasha Lyonne. Image Credit: Getty Images

DEVIN RATRAY

Dennis' babysitter number two was Mickey, played by Devin Ratray. Ratray had extra practice working with tricky little kids - he was in "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2." Although the actor hasn't yet become an A-lister, he continued working and developing his skills in the industry.

He appeared in "The Good Wife," "RIPD," "The Prince and Me," and "The Tick." In late 2007, a documentary film crew followed Ratray in his attempts to win US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's heart.

From New York to Alabama, Denver, Palo Alto, and Washington DC, he attempted to win her over. In 2015, he appeared in the sitcoms "Elementary," "Louie," "Agent Carter," and "Chicago Med." Ratray is also a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Little Bill and the Beckleys.

Devin Ratray. Image Credit: Getty Images

PAUL WINFIELD

As the town's chief of police, Paul Winfield's role in the show may not have been a large one, but he had a long, distinguished career that began in 1965. Winfield had roles in era-defining movies like "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," "Terminator," and "Cliffhanger."

The twilight of his career included lighter fare like "Mars Attacks!" and "Relax... It's Just Sex." Meanwhile, his TV career included extended stints as the narrator of "City Confidential" and as Sam in "Touched By An Angel." The latter was the actor's last role as Winfield died of a heart attack in 2004.

Paul Winfield: Image Credit: Getty Images

HANK KETCHAM'S DENNIS

He terrorized Mr. Wilson on the daily despite just wanting to be friends with the grumpy old man. He was prone to making messes and had a cowlick as defiant. Before he was a smart-aleck who defeated a robber single handedly, he was cartoonist Hank Ketcham's little boy, Dennis Ketcham.

In 1950, Ketcham was a struggling cartoonist with a wife and four-year-old son. One morning, his wife, Alice, announced that their son, Dennis, had decorated his bedroom with the poo in his diaper.

Alice declared her son a menace, stormed out, and left Ketcham to ponder possible future fictional tribulations of a boy deemed as such. Within five months, 16 newspapers were printing "Dennis the Menace," a number that would soon grow to over 1000.

Hank Ketcham, 1999. Image Credit: Getty Images

THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!

It was truly stranger than fiction when Ketcham's "Dennis" debuted virtually the same minute as "Dennis the Menace'" launched in England.

The British Dennis was part of a weekly magazine called Beano. It told the tales of an older boy who wasn't exactly an accidental troublemaker but more of a highly-focused and intentioned one. The British comic strip was later retitled "Dennis the Menace and Gnasher."

Dennis the Menace and Gnasher. Image Source: BBC. YouTube/Beano

ZERO TOLERANCE

Two decades into his comic strip, Ketcham made an addition to the neighborhood with a black character named Jackson.

His portrayal was alarmingly stereotypical; however, Ketcham attempted to incorporate messages of tolerance, with Dennis claiming he had race issues because Jackson could run faster than him.

Although they were well-intentioned, Ketcham's choices were not popular with readers. In St. Louis, protesters threw glass bottles and rocks through the windows of the paper's building; in Detroit and Little Rock, Arkansas, crowds amassed to complain. Ketcham apologized and retired Jackson.

image Source: CBS. YouTube/Baboi Dennis

FAR FROM CUTE

The Dennis of the '90s is a likable, even charming, rambunctious kid, but generally not a total delinquent. That wasn't the case when Ketcham illustrated Dennis.

He incited physical fights between adults, hitting other kids with a shovel, then laughing about it, filling his sock with sand to use as a bludgeon, and tying swan necks into knots. It took several years for Dennis to settle down.

Image Source: Warner Bros. YouTube/YouTube Movies

HE ALMOST HELPED FIGHT A WAR

In 1959, the US State Department asked Ketcham and his wife to tour Russia. Ketcham's modern, middle American depictions of appliances and cars were seen as the perfect talking point to critique Communist regimes.

The US government also wanted Ketcham to doodle cartoons about anything he saw as subversive. Despite that, Ketcham was paranoid about being caught by the Soviets.

He drew over all his sketches, including any that may have proven useful. A US government employee later said they didn't bother sending any other cartoonists on missions.

Hank Ketcham, 1971. Image SourcE: YouTube/UCLACommStudies

DENNIS WAS A "SPOKESTOON" FOR DAIRY QUEEN

Does it get any more American than Dairy Queen? "Dennis" spent a remarkable 30 years as a mascot for Dairy Queen, the frozen treat chain.

He appeared in commercials and on the packaging before the restaurant company decided the cartoon had lost appeal among today's young consumers. 'Dennis' retired from endorsing ice cream in 2001.

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Dairy Queen and Dennis the Menace. Image Source: YouTube/augustv123

KETCHAM DISLIKED THE 'DENNIS' BOOK COLLECTIONS

Plenty of cartoonists dream of someday having their strips collected in paperback. Not only does it signify great success, but the book royalties can also make for a substantial boost in income.

Although he sold millions of copies of "Dennis" strips, Ketcham took them off the book market as he felt the reproduction of his artwork wasn't acceptable.

"I backed out of the paperback business because the paper was so cheesy and the reproduction was so bad, and the space allotted was ill-suited," he told the Los Angeles Times in 1986. "I spend too much time on my graphics not to have them treated a little better."

Mason Gamble, 1993. Image Credit: Getty Images

THE REAL MENACE REMAINS AT LARGE

In 1986, a three-foot-tall "Dennis the Menace" statue was erected in Monterey, California. It became the target of another troublemaker in 2006.

An unknown person (or persons) stole it from its perch in a city park known as "Dennis the Menace Playground." It was unaccounted for for nearly ten years before it reappeared in Florida—at least, that's what authorities assumed.

It was found among a pile of material to be melted down. Curators later discovered it was another 'Dennis' statue, stolen from a Florida hospital. The Monterey statue is still missing.

Image Source: YouTube/xzulas

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN REMAKE

Ketcham's son outgrew his destructive habits. Still, trials and tribulations led to life significantly less idyllic than his cartoon counterpart and quite reminiscent of Christopher Robin Milne, the son and the subject of A.A. Milne's famed "Winnie the Pooh."

Dennis Ketcham attended and suffered through boarding school until being expelled. He served in the Vietnam War, afterward suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dennis and Hank Ketcham. Image Source: Warner Bros. YouTube/American Treasure

He maintained almost no contact with his father up until Hank Ketcham died in 2001. The cartoonist once disclosed regrets about naming his creation after his son, saying it confused the young boy.

What's your favorite Dennis the Menace - the comic strip, the black and white TV show, the animated version, the movie, or the ice cream treat? Let us know in the comments below!