Jack Wild
Encyclopedia
Jack Wild was a British
actor
who is best remembered for his performances in both stage and screen productions of the Lionel Bart
musical Oliver!
with Ron Moody
, Shani Wallis
, and Oliver Reed
. He received an Academy Award
nomination for Best Supporting Actor
at the age of 16 for the role of the Artful Dodger
in Oliver! (1968). He is also known for his leading role in the 1969 children's television series H.R. Pufnstuf
(1969–71) and for his significant position in the 1976 HBO mini-series, The Tale of Charlie Niebanck.
family in Royton
, near Oldham
, Lancashire
, to a labourer father and a mother who worked as a butcher. Wild moved to Hounslow
, west London
, with his parents in 1960. He was discovered whilst playing football, by June Collins, mother of Genesis
member Phil Collins
, who asked if he wanted a job. He was educated at the independent Barbara Speake Stage School in Acton, London
, and had to supplement his parents' modest incomes by working on a stage production of Oliver! in order to pay his school fees.
, who thought he would make a good lead for a show they were developing called H.R. Pufnstuf
. Wild starred in this American
family television series that launched in 1969, and he was paid $1,000,000 to play "Jimmy", a boy washed up on "Living Island" (a magic island) with his best friend Freddy, a talking flute. He was also in the movie Pufnstuf
.
Wild also embarked on a recording career, cutting one album for Capitol Records
and two for Buddah Records
in the early 1970s. The three albums were called The Jack Wild Album, Everything's Coming Up Roses, and Beautiful World.
Wild had an older brother named Arthur, who was also an actor and appeared in the London stage version of Oliver!. Arthur Wild died in September 2000, aged 49.
in a series about a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde for British television, but it was cancelled at the last minute. His alcoholism
ruined both his career and his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Gaynor Jones, who left him in 1985 because of his excessive drinking. For a few years, Wild was forced to live with his retired father, having squandered his fortune. His alcoholism caused three near-fatal cardiac arrests and resulted in several hospital stays until he stopped drinking in 1989.
film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
. For the most part, Wild spent the remainder of his career working in theatre. His last major appearance was as the male lead, "Mouse", in Tayla Goodman
's rock musical Virus. The show ran for two weeks at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham
. Wild received rave reviews and left the audience laughing. Director Peter Everett said that he was a true actor of the old school and a perfect gentleman.
, which he believed was caused by his alcoholism
and smoking
. Diagnosed with the disease in 2000, he initially underwent chemotherapy
, but later had part of his tongue
and both vocal cords removed in July 2004. Because of this surgery, he had lost his speech and had to communicate through his wife, Claire Harding, whom he met when they were appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk in Worthing. Jack is buried in Toddington
Parish Cemetery.
Jack Wild appeared with actor Mark Lester
in two films: Oliver! (1968) and Melody (1971).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who is best remembered for his performances in both stage and screen productions of the Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart was a writer and composer of British pop music and musicals, best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for Oliver!-Early life:...
musical Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
with Ron Moody
Ron Moody
Ron Moody is an English actor.- Personal life :Moody was born in Tottenham, North London, England, the son of Kate and Bernard Moodnick, a studio executive. His father was of Russian Jewish descent and his mother was a Lithuanian Jew. He is a cousin of director Laurence Moody and actress Clare...
, Shani Wallis
Shani Wallis
Shani Wallis is an English actress and singer.Wallis was born in Tottenham, London. Making her first stage appearance at the age of four, she later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on a scholarship...
, and Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
. He received an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
nomination for Best Supporting Actor
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
at the age of 16 for the role of the Artful Dodger
The Artful Dodger
Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist. Dodger is a pickpocket, so called for his skill and cunning in that respect. As a result he has become the leader of the gang of child criminals, trained by the elderly Fagin...
in Oliver! (1968). He is also known for his leading role in the 1969 children's television series H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971...
(1969–71) and for his significant position in the 1976 HBO mini-series, The Tale of Charlie Niebanck.
Early life
Wild was born into a working classWorking class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
family in Royton
Royton
Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a...
, near Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, to a labourer father and a mother who worked as a butcher. Wild moved to Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with his parents in 1960. He was discovered whilst playing football, by June Collins, mother of Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
member Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, who asked if he wanted a job. He was educated at the independent Barbara Speake Stage School in Acton, London
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, and had to supplement his parents' modest incomes by working on a stage production of Oliver! in order to pay his school fees.
Entertainment career
It was at the premiere of the 1968 film version of Oliver! that Wild met brothers Sid and Marty KrofftSid and Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft and Marty Krofft , are a sibling team of television producers who were influential in children's television and variety show programs in the USA, particularly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s....
, who thought he would make a good lead for a show they were developing called H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf
H.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971...
. Wild starred in this American
Television in the United States
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one...
family television series that launched in 1969, and he was paid $1,000,000 to play "Jimmy", a boy washed up on "Living Island" (a magic island) with his best friend Freddy, a talking flute. He was also in the movie Pufnstuf
Pufnstuf (film)
Pufnstuf is a 1970 feature film based on the television series H.R. Pufnstuf.-Plot:Jimmy ventures to Living Island with his magical, talking flute, Freddy...
.
Wild also embarked on a recording career, cutting one album for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and two for Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
in the early 1970s. The three albums were called The Jack Wild Album, Everything's Coming Up Roses, and Beautiful World.
Wild had an older brother named Arthur, who was also an actor and appeared in the London stage version of Oliver!. Arthur Wild died in September 2000, aged 49.
Challenges
Like many child stars, Wild struggled to make the transition to adult stardom, and by 1976 his film career was over. He began drinking and smoking regularly at the age of twelve. By the age of 21, he was already a registered alcoholic and a diabetic. In 1981 he was supposed to star with Suzi QuatroSuzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
in a series about a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde for British television, but it was cancelled at the last minute. His alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
ruined both his career and his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Gaynor Jones, who left him in 1985 because of his excessive drinking. For a few years, Wild was forced to live with his retired father, having squandered his fortune. His alcoholism caused three near-fatal cardiac arrests and resulted in several hospital stays until he stopped drinking in 1989.
Career restarts
Wild went into an alcoholism rehabilitation program in 1988, and gave up drinking on 6 March 1989 after joining Alcoholics Victorious. He returned to the big screen in a few minor roles, such as in the 1991 Kevin CostnerKevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
. For the most part, Wild spent the remainder of his career working in theatre. His last major appearance was as the male lead, "Mouse", in Tayla Goodman
Tayla Goodman
Tayla Tracey Goodman is a British Actress born in Nottingham on the 24th December 1968. She trained at The Central Television Junior Workshop at the age of 9 with Sue Nott, who is now the head of CBBC. Tayla appeared in programmes such as 'Your Mother Wouldn't Like It', 'Murphy's mob', 'Lunar', and...
's rock musical Virus. The show ran for two weeks at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
The Theatre Royal, Nottingham in Nottingham, England, is part of the city's Royal Centre, which also incorporates the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall. The theatre is in the heart of Nottingham City Centre and is owned by Nottingham City Council...
. Wild received rave reviews and left the audience laughing. Director Peter Everett said that he was a true actor of the old school and a perfect gentleman.
Death
Wild died on 1 March 2006, aged 53, after a long battle with oral cancerOral cancer
Oral cancer is a subtype of head and neck cancer, is any cancerous tissue growth located in the oral cavity. It may arise as a primary lesion originating in any of the oral tissues, by metastasis from a distant site of origin, or by extension from a neighboring anatomic structure, such as the...
, which he believed was caused by his alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and smoking
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
. Diagnosed with the disease in 2000, he initially underwent chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
, but later had part of his tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
and both vocal cords removed in July 2004. Because of this surgery, he had lost his speech and had to communicate through his wife, Claire Harding, whom he met when they were appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk in Worthing. Jack is buried in Toddington
Toddington, Bedfordshire
Toddington is a large village and civil parish in the county of Bedfordshire, England which is situated 5 miles NNW of Luton, north of Dunstable, south west of Woburn and 35 miles NNW of London on the A5120 and B579. It is 0.5 miles from Junction 12 of the M1 motorway and lends its...
Parish Cemetery.
Filmography
| Title | Year | Alternate titles | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny the Dragon | 1967 | |||
| Oliver | 1968 | The Artful Dodger | nominated- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the... |
|
| H.R. Pufnstuf H.R. Pufnstuf H.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971... |
1969–1971 | Jimmy | television series | |
| Pufnstuf Pufnstuf (film) Pufnstuf is a 1970 feature film based on the television series H.R. Pufnstuf.-Plot:Jimmy ventures to Living Island with his magical, talking flute, Freddy... |
1970 | Pufnstuf Zaps the World | Jimmy | |
| Melody Melody (1971 film) Melody is a 1971 British film directed by Waris Hussein about "puppy love". It was released as S.W.A.L.K. in the United Kingdom . The film starred Jack Wild, Mark Lester and Tracy Hyde... |
1971 | Ornshaw | ||
| Flight of the Doves Flight of the Doves Flight of the Doves is a 1971 British film based on the novel by Walter Macken, the film was written by Frank Gabrielson and Ralph Nelson. Nelson also directed the film.-Cast:... |
1971 | Finn Dove | ||
| Caterpiller Taxis | 1972 | |||
| 1972 | Gavin | |||
| 1973 | Existence (USA) The Wild Little Bunch (USA) |
Reg | ||
| Keep It Up Downstairs Keep It Up Downstairs Keep It Up Downstairs is a 1976 British comedy film directed by Robert Young and starring Diana Dors, Jack Wild and William Rushton. The film depicts the adventures of the inhabitants of Cockshute Castle.-Cast:* Diana Dors ... Daisy Dureneck... |
1976 | Peregrine Cockshute | ||
| Alice Alice (1981 film) Alice is a 1982 musical-fantasy film co-produced by Belgian and Polish film companies. The film is a modern telling of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland story and stars French actress Sophie Barjac in the title role... |
1981 | |||
| Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood... |
1991 | |||
| Basil Basil (film) Basil is a 1998 British historical drama film directed by Radha Bharadwaj and starring Jared Leto, Derek Jacobi, Claire Forlani, and Christian Slater. It was based on the 1852 novel of the same name by Wilkie Collins. The adaptation was by Bharadwaj.-Plot:... |
1998 | Peddler | ||
| Moussaka & Chips | 2005 |
Jack Wild appeared with actor Mark Lester
Mark Lester
Mark Lester is an English former child actor known for playing the title role in the 1968 musical film version of Oliver! and starring in a number of other British and European films of the 1960s and 70s and in a number of television series.-Early life and film career:Lester was born in Oxford,...
in two films: Oliver! (1968) and Melody (1971).
Albums
- The Jack Wild Album (1970)
- Everything's Coming Up RosesEverything's Coming up Roses"Everything's Coming Up Roses" is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne in which it was introduced by Ethel Merman....
(1971) - A Beautiful World (1972)
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
||
| "Some Beautiful" | 1970 | 46 | 92 |
| "Wait For Summer" | 1970 | — | 115 |
| "(Holy Moses) Everything's Coming Up Roses Everything's Coming up Roses "Everything's Coming Up Roses" is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne in which it was introduced by Ethel Merman.... " |
1971 | — | 107 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
External links
- Sunshine Day - biographical notes
- Jack Wild Official Website New