Jack Wild facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack Wild
Wild as the Artful Dodger in Oliver! (1968)
Born	(1952-09-30)30 September 1952 Royton, Lancashire, England
Died	1 March 2006(2006-03-01) (aged 53) Tebworth, Bedfordshire, England
Resting place	Toddington Parish Cemetery
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	1964–2006
Spouse(s)	Gaynor Jones ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1985)​ Claire Harding ​ ​ (m. 2005)​

Jack Wild (born September 30, 1952 – died March 1, 2006) was an English actor and singer. He is most famous for playing the Artful Dodger in the 1968 movie Oliver!. For this role, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor when he was only 16 years old. This made him one of the youngest people ever nominated in that category! He also received nominations for BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards for his performance.

Jack Wild also starred in the TV show H.R. Pufnstuf (1969) and its movie Pufnstuf (1970). You might also know him from the films Melody (1971) and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).

Early Life and Discovering Acting

Jack Wild was born in Royton, England, on September 30, 1952. When he was eight, his family moved to Hounslow. One day, while playing football with his brother Arthur, a talent agent named June Collins spotted them. She was the mother of famous musician Phil Collins!

June helped Jack and Arthur join the Barbara Speake Stage School in London. This school helped young people learn how to act.

Acting Career

Starring in Oliver!

Jack Wild (right) with Oliver! co-star Mark Lester at the 41st Annual Academy Awards, 14 April 1969

Jack and his brother Arthur started acting to help their family. In 1964, they both got roles in the stage play Oliver!. Arthur played the main character, Oliver, and Jack played Charley Bates.

Later, Jack was chosen to play the Artful Dodger in the 1968 movie version of Oliver!. His acting was highly praised, and he received several important nominations:

• He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
• He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
• He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

Early TV Roles

Wild with the title character in the NBC children's series H.R. Pufnstuf, 1969

In 1966, Jack left the Oliver! stage show to make a film called Danny the Dragon. He also started getting speaking roles on TV. He appeared in shows like Out of the Unknown, Z-Cars, and The Newcomers.

After Oliver!

After the movie Oliver! came out in 1968, Jack met brothers Sid and Marty Krofft. They thought he would be perfect for their new TV show, H.R. Pufnstuf. Jack starred as Jimmy in the show, which ran in 1969. He also appeared in the movie Pufnstuf (1970).

Jack then acted in the movie Melody (1971) with his Oliver! co-star Mark Lester. He also appeared in Flight of the Doves (1971) with another Oliver! co-star, Ron Moody. In the early 1970s, Jack Wild was a very popular teen actor.

He also started a singing career, releasing albums like The Jack Wild Album and Everything's Coming Up Roses.

Later Acting Work

Later in his career, Jack Wild took on smaller roles in movies. These included the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner. He also appeared in Basil (1998).

Most of his later work was in theatre. His last major role was in a rock musical called Virus in 1999. His final movie appearance was a small part in Moussaka & Chips (2005), where he worked with Ron Moody again.

Personal Life

Jack Wild first met actress Gaynor Jones when they were about 12 years old at the Barbara Speake stage school. They married on February 14, 1976. They later separated in 1985.

Jack met his second wife, Claire Harding, while they were working together in a play called Jack and the Beanstalk. They married in September 2005.

In 2001, Jack Wild was diagnosed with oral cancer. In July 2004, he had surgery to remove his tongue and voice box. This meant he could no longer speak. For the rest of his life, his wife Claire helped him communicate.

Death and Legacy

Jack Wild passed away on March 1, 2006, from oral cancer. He is buried in Toddington Parish Cemetery in Bedfordshire.

Before he died, Jack and his wife Claire were working on his autobiography (a book about his life). Claire finished the book, called It's a Dodger's Life, which was published in 2016.

Filmography

Discography

Albums

Singles

The Jack Wild Album

See Also

• List of British actors
• Youngest Academy Award nominees for Best Supporting Actor
• List of British Academy Award nominees and winners
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations