Oliver - Jack Wild and Mark Lester
by Claire J Rottenberg
Mark Lester started acting professionally at the age
of only 6, first in movies and then on British
television. After "Oliver," Lester
continued to work in movies in England and Italy, but
in 1977, he left the business to become an
osteopath.
Jack Wild had a much more tragic ending. He started
working in theater, movies and television as a teen
to help his parents pay for his schooling. His
success in the film version of "Oliver"
(he was nominated for an Academy Award for his
performance) led to the lead role in a successful
television show (H.R. Pufnstuf). Unfortunately, by
the 1980s, Wild had succumbed to alcohol addiction
and he died at the age of only 53 from oral
cancer.