History Creator / JackWild

Jack Wild (born in Royton, Lancashire, England, 30th September 1952 - 1st March 2006) was an English performer who was best known for playing the Artful Dodger in the film adaptation of ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}'' and for playing Jimmy in the trippy children's series ''Series/HRPufnstuf''.

Jack Wild (born in Royton, Lancashire, England, 30th of September 1952 - 1st March 2006) was an English performer who was best known for playing the Artful Dodger in the film adaptation of ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}'' and for playing Jimmy in the trippy children's series ''Series/HRPufnstuf''.

* DevelopmentHell: At the time of his death, he was writing an autobiography. His wife, Claire Harding, was going to finish it with a publishing date of September 2012, but that never eventuated.

* LimeyGoesToHollywood

* SillyLoveSongs
* TeenIdol
* TVTeen

His biography will be released in September 2012.

* '''Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor''' (Winner: Dustin Hoffman, ''TheGraduate'')

* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: His speech pattern -- this coupled with his Cockney accent reportedly made it difficult for American audiences to understand him, so on ''HRPufnstuf'' the Kroffts told him to mediate his accent with American pronunciation.

Jack Wild (born in Royton, Lancashire, England, 30th of September 1952 - 1st March 2006) was an English performer who was best known for playing the Artful Dodger in the film adaptation of ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}'' and for playing Jimmy in the trippy children's series ''HRPufnstuf''.

* BobHaircut: Was known for this style in the late sixties - early seventies, but he grew it out once his stint on ''Pufnstuf'' was over.

* CoverVersion: His debut record alone boasts renditions of songs from Music/TheBeatles and The Archies. He also dabbled in old British music hall tunes for his later records, as well as more contemporary songs.

In the late 1980s he admitted himself to rehab and became a born-again Christian. From then on played parts in theatre, but in 2004 he had to undergo surgery to remove his vocal cords due to excessive damage from smoking and drinking. He died of oral cancer in 2006. He is survived by his second wife, Claire Harding.

In the late 1980s he admitted himself to rehab and from then on played parts in theatre, but in 2004 he had to undergo surgery to remove his vocal cords due to excessive damage from smoking and drinking. He died of oral cancer in 2006. He is survived by his second wife, Claire Harding.

Not long after his enrollment, Wild and his older brother Arthur were cast in the West End production of Theatre/{{Oliver}} -- Arthur in the title role and Jack as one of Fagin's men. Jack sought to be cast as the Artful Dodger but was turned down because he was too short. However, he was cast in that very role in 1967 during pre-production of the film adaptation.

At the premiere of the film, Wild was with the American producers Sid and Marty Krofft, who were looking to cast a young boy in their latest project. Wild was then paid a million dollars for his role as Jimmy in ''HRPufnstuf'', and he and his brother then moved to Los Angeles where Wild stayed with Marty Krofft's family during the production of the show.

Around this time, Wild was ascending to TeenIdol status. He regularly appeared in teen magazines such as ''Tiger Beat'' and even made the transition to recording artist, cutting his debut record in 1969. In 1970, after production on ''HRPufnstuf'' had ceased, Wild began work on the film adaptation.

After the release of ''Pufnstuf'' Wild went on to star in films aimed at children and teens such as ''Melody'', ''The Fourteen'' and ''Flight of the Doves''. However, around this time his drinking habit was starting to debilitate his career and by the age of 21 he was a registered alcoholic and diabetic. His acting roles grew to be sporadic (in ten years he went from being the darling of British media to starring on a British educational show about maths), and while in 1981 he was given the chance to star in a TV series with Suzi Quatro, it was cancelled due to his erratic behaviour.

* ShinyMidnightBlack: His hair.

Jack Wild (born in Royton, Lancashire, England, 30th of September 1952 - 1st March 2006) was an English performer who was best known for playing the Artful Dodger in the film adaptation of Theatre/{{Oliver}} and for playing Jimmy in the trippy children's series HRPufnstuf.

* HazelEyes

Coming from a very modest background in west London, he was discovered while playing football. The lady who discovered him was the theatrical agent June Collins, mother of one PhilCollins (who played on the same team as Wild). She then enrolled him in the Barbara Speak Stage School in Acton, where during his studies he landed bit parts in various television series including ''Out of the Unknown'' and ''Z Cars''.

* FunetikAksent

* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: His speeech pattern -- this coupled with his Cockney accent reportedly made it difficult for American audiences to understand him, so on ''HRPufnstuf'' the Kroffts told him to mediate his accent with American pronunciation.

After the release of ''Pufnstuf'' Wild went on to star in films aimed at children and teens such as ''Melody'', ''The Fourteen'' and ''Flight of the Doves''. However, around this time his drinking habit was starting to debilitate his career and by the age of 21 he was a registered alcoholic and diabetic. His acting roles grew to be sporadic (in ten years he went from being the darling of British media to starring on a British educational show about maths, and while in 1981 he was given the chance to star in a TV series with Suzi Quatro, it was cancelled due to his erratic behaviour.

After the release of ''Pufnstuf'' Wild went on to star in films aimed at children and teens such as ''Melody'', ''The Wild Bunch'' and ''Flight of the Doves''. However, around this time his drinking habit was starting to debilitate his career and by the age of 21 he was a registered alcoholic and diabetic. His acting roles grew to be sporadic (in ten years he went from being the darling of British media to starring on a British educational show about maths, and while in 1981 he was given the chance to star in a TV series with Suzi Quatro, it was cancelled due to his erratic behaviour.