Dennis Day

Dennis W. Day (July 12, 1942 – July 17, 2018) was an American actor, singer, dancer, and theater director, best known as one of the original cast members of The Mickey Mouse Club. After ending his career as a child actor, he went on to work as a theater director before relocating to Oregon in the 1980s.

Day disappeared in July 2018, and was found dead several months later. A roommate was charged with his death in 2019.

Life and career

Early life Day was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and later moved to Downey, California. At age 11, he appeared in a minor uncredited role in the film A Lion Is in the Streets (1953) with James Cagney.

He came out as gay to his family and moved to San Francisco when he turned 18, He continued to work as an actor and dancer, including at La MaMa Theatre in New York and in Los Angeles.

Later life Day married Henry Ernest Caswell, his partner since the early 1970s, in 2009. Day and Caswell at one time ran a guesthouse for gay actors in San Francisco; They moved in the mid-1980s to Oregon, first settling in Ashland and then in Phoenix, where they had a house. Caswell also worked for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, while Day made and sold wine jelly and worked seasonally for Harry & David.

Disappearance and death Day was reportedly last seen on July 17, 2018 when Caswell, who has dementia, had been admitted to hospital after a fall. but his cat and dog were left behind, and the dog was found roaming by neighbors. One neighbor had a letter written by Day mentioning being assaulted by the handyman, possibly in exchange for helping the handyman.

Phoenix police had searched Day's residence and elsewhere, by the Oregon State Police, who had taken over the case. The remains were reportedly under a pile of clothes. On June 6, 2019, the remains were confirmed as those of Day, though a cause of death was not announced. On July 5, 2019, Oregon State Police arrested the former handyman. After delays caused by some of the evidence being ruled inadmissible,

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1953 A Lion Is in the Streets Uncredited walk-on role 1955–1957 The Mickey Mouse Club Himself Main cast member