Artful Dodger Actor Jack Wild Dies at 53 ...(kid from Puffinstuf')

[bliss_eternal]

Artful Dodger Actor Jack Wild Dies at 53


ZUMA Press
Jack Wild was a heavy smoker in his adulthood, and was diagnosed with cancer in 2001.

More on This Story:
· Jack Wild's Bio, Films
· 'Oliver!' Info

Talk About It: Post Thoughts


LONDON (Mar. 2) - Actor Jack Wild, best known for playing the Artful Dodger as a teenager in the 1968 film "Oliver!," has died from cancer at age 53.

Nominated for an Oscar for his "Oliver!" role when he was just 16, Wild went on to star in the U.S. television series "H.R. Pufnstuf" and in several films before his career began to derail, in part because of excessive drinking from an early age.

"Jack died peacefully at midnight last night after a long battle with oral cancer," his agent Alex Jay said Thursday.

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I checked his other films, I didn't know he also appeared in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.

May he rest in peace.

[Janice325]

1. Aww, man!!

That's so sad!! Oliver is one of my favorite films!
I didn't realize he was that old.
RIP

[bliss_eternal]

3. I know what you mean--

when you have a permanent impression of an actor in your mind as a child, you don't really think of them as growing up.

I didn't see Oliver, but have seen moments from it, he seemed amazing! I did watch a LOT of Puffinstuff, though.

:( I hope he didn't suffer...

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. I heard about this today. Poor Jack Wild. RIP.

[bliss_eternal]

4. Oh, I love your picture!

That's how I'll always remember him--the boy on Puffinstuf' with the magic flute!

[regnaD kciN]

5. It's always hard...

...when the "child stars" (O.K. - teenage stars) from your own childhood pass on.

:-(

[Wafture]

6. Jimmy and friends

[DearAbby]

7. Gawd I am old...I remember

Saturdays "H.R. Pufnstuf" as a kid myself, I am 50..It is hard when those you grew up with like that, passes. Rest in peace Jack. Thanks for the smiles laughs and giggles! And oogles and OOOOooooooo's - 16 magazine

[NVMojo]

8. how sad for him, he was a cute little actor back then ...

[Dervill Crow]

9. Oh my, I had such a crush on him.

Fifty-three is too young to die, and I am much too young to feel this damn old.

Darren McGavin, Don Knotts, Dennis Weaver. Shelley Winters. Al Lewis. Two of the Cowsills. I know this is not a huge number of people considering what's happening in Iraq and what happened with Katrina, but doesn't it seem like we're losing an awful lot of people?