Born September 30, 1952, in Royton, near Oldham, England, Jack Wild was discovered by talent agent June Collins, mother of rock star Phil Collins. His breakthrough came when he landed the role of Oliver in the London stage production of "Oliver!" When it came to casting the film, the role of the Artful Dodger went to Jack, a role that resulted in his getting an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Fresh from this success, Jack was offered the lead role in the American television series "H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969). This Sid Krofft and Marty Krofft production featured Wild as a boy marooned in an enchanted land with puppets and actors in elaborate costumes. The success of this program led to Wild reprising the role for the film version, Pufnstuf (1970). Other roles followed, including Melody (1971) and Flight of the Doves (1971). Around the same time, Wild released three albums ("The Jack Wild Album"; "Everything's Coming up Roses", featuring along with cover numbers a couple of new songs written by up-and-coming songwriter Lynsey De Paul; and "Beautiful World"). By 1972, however, he was already being demoted to the role of supporting actor for The Pied Piper (1972). He also appeared in "Our Mutual Friend" (1976). He returned to films in two small roles: the miller's son in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and a peddler in Basil (1998). Wild underwent surgery for oral cancer in July 2004, and had some vocal cords and part of his tongue removed. Unfortunately, the cancer proved untreatable and he died on 1 March 2006.

Filmography

• 2005Moussaka & Chips — Durgen Fleece
• Lock, Stock... — Bill
• 1998Basil — Peddler
• E! True Hollywood Story
• 1991Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves — Much
• 1982Alice — Mock Turtle
• 1976Keep It Up Downstairs — Peregrine Cockshute
• Our Mutual Friend — Charles 'Charley' Hexam
• The Government Inspector — Osip
• 1973The 14 — Reg
• 1972The Pied Piper — Gavin
• 1971Flight of the Doves — Finn Dove
• 1971Melody — Ornshaw
• The Onedin Line — Peter Thompson
• Get It Together
• 1970Pufnstuf — Jimmy
• 1969First Confession — Jackie
• H.R. Pufnstuf — Jimmy
• 1968Oliver! — The Artful Dodger
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — Jacky Finch
• 1966A Game, Like, Only a Game — Peter
• 1966Dannicaforilithermidor — Gavin
• 1966Danny Gets Jet-Propelled — Gavin
• 1966Danny the Dragon
• 1966Dragon Hunt — Gavin
• 1966Dragon Trail — Gavin
• 1966In Search of Zoomite — Gavin
• 1966Potter in Pursuit — Gavin
• 1966Stranger from Dragonara — Gavin
• 1966The Invisible Space Bubble — Gavin
• 1966The Runaway Bubble — Gavin
• 1966The Tent with Four Legs — Gavin
• 1965Come Buttercup, Come Daisy, Come......? — Danny
• Out of the Unknown — Danny
• Thirty-Minute Theatre — Jackie
• Theatre 625 — Donny Simmonds, Edmund Tudor
• Z-Cars
• Armchair Theatre — Schoolboy
• The Liberace Show

Appearances as themselves (3)

• 1973The Big Screen — Self
• 1973The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl — Himself
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self