Artful Dodger dies

Jack Wild, star of the hit musical 'Oliver!', passed away last night following a battle with cancer.

Mar  1 2006

Actor Jack Wild, who shot to fame playing 'The Artful Dodger' in the 1968 film 'Oliver!', died last night following a battle with cancer. He was 53.

Wild's agent Alex Jay said the actor 'died peacefully at midnight last night after a long battle with oral cancer.'

Wild was discovered by talent scout June Collins while playing football with his friends, and following a spell at stage school, he landed the role of Oliver in the London production of the musical.

When director Carol Reed was casting for the film version of the show, Wild auditioned for and won the role of famous pickpocket 'The Artful Dodger'.

The performance won him an Oscar nomination and a role in the brilliant, if slightly bonkers, US children's series 'HR Pufnstuf'.

He went on to star in a 'Pufnstuf' film as well as the 1971 features 'The Pied Piper' and 'Flight of the Doves', before both his career and his personal life hit the rocks and he became an alcoholic.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Wild had surgery to have his voice box and tongue removed, yet despite not being able to speak, he nevertheless continued to perform in panto, with his wife speaking and lip-reading for the actor.