Musicals Blog

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.