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Just heard that Jack Wild had died. Very sad news. We were only watching Oliver a while ago and saying what a good actor he was for someone so young
philgrove
02-03-2006, 16:46
what sad news. i understand he has been poorly for a while. R.I.P.
The Grove Family.
LiesaAnna
02-03-2006, 16:55
poor Jack, have thought of hm often lately as i have been speaking with someone similar looking and surname wild, bless him no more pain, this week has been awful for sad news,
Gosh, he couldn't have been very old.
julieanne
02-03-2006, 17:52
I used to have his poster on my bedroom wall [msncry]
Jack Wild 1952 - 2006
Jack Wild, the actor who played the Artful Dodger in the 1968 film Oliver, has died after a battle with cancer, his agent says.
The former child star, who was just 16 when he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the classic film, was 53.
Wild's agent Alex Jay said: "My client Jack Wild died peacefully after a long battle with oral cancer."
Wild was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000, and after surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he was unable to speak. Wild was born on September 30, 1952, in Royton, near Oldham, Lancashire.
He was discovered by talent agent June Collins, mother of rock star Phil Collins, while playing football.
After attending stage school, his breakthrough came when he landed the role of Oliver in the London stage production of the show.
He then joined hundreds of other members of the cast at the audition for the film.
His performance as the infamous pickpocket in Oliver, starring Oliver Reed, resulted in an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
Wild will be best remembered by a generation of television lovers as Jimmy, the young boy lost in a magical land run by a dragon mayor in the US children's series HR Pufnstuf which ran from 1969-70.
I remember seeing him in the stage show of Oliver with Ron Moody as Fagin and Georgia Brown as Nancy. Electricfying, I think is the word for the performances (so much more real than in the film) and I shall never forget it or Jack.
chrizzy100
02-03-2006, 20:01
A school friend of mine was in Oliver..the movie......I remember having a thing for Jack Wild...
E. Cosgrove
02-03-2006, 21:36
I have no other picture of him in my head other than that of The Artful Dodger, how very sad.
Ray&Sarah
02-03-2006, 22:04
How sad, loved the Oliver film when I was young, may he rest in peace.
steph_goodrum
03-03-2006, 00:27
Not wishing to show my age, but as well as Oliver the only other thing I can really remember Jack Wild appearing in was H.R. Puffnstuff.
orlandodaze
03-03-2006, 03:01
The poor man what a dreadful illness , how he must have suffered, may he rest in peace. To most of us he will always be The Artful Dodger .
andrew01
05-03-2006, 14:23
I know that there is a new Oliver film out but I have not felt inclined to go and see it. It just seems wrong to make a new film when the old one will always be so special, like making a remake of Sound Of Music, or Grease.
Margaret
LiesaAnna
05-03-2006, 14:47
i agree with you Margaret, they'll never beat the old film, the oldies were always the best!! but i suppose like everything else we must move along with the times!