Jack Wilde was born September 30th 1952 in roit in England he moved to Hounslow in Middlesex
with his parents and his older brother Arthur he was discovered while playing football with
his brother and the future famous singer Phil Collins in the park by theatrical agent June
Collins Phil Collins mother Collins enrolled both Jack and Arthur in the barber Speak stage
school in West London the wild brother sought acting roles to supplement their parents income
and Jack first appeared on TV by the age of 13 he was in episodes of z-cars the newcomers and
George and the dragon in the autumn of 1964 the pair were cast in the West End theatre
production of Oliver Arthur in the title role in Jack as Charley Bates a member of fake ins
gang in the spring of 1966 while left a stage show of Oliver to make his film serial Danny
the dragon for the children's film foundation wilde was chosen to play The Artful Dodger for
the 1968 movie version of Oliver his performance received critical acclaim and several nominations
including Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe Award for most promising newcomer
and the BAFTA Award for most promising newcomer while is also known for his role as Jimmy in the
NBC children's TV series HR Pufnstuf in 1969 and the follow-up feature film in 1970 Pufnstuf other
roles followed including in 1971 the films of melody and flight of the doves in 1972 he also
appeared as a stowaway in an episode of the BBC TVs own eatin line in 1973 he played reg in the
14 a British film directed by David Hemmings while also embarked on a recording career
recording three albums one for Capitol Records and two albums for Buddha Records in the early
1970s however by now Wilde was becoming tired of being typecast in younger roles he was 17 years
old when he played the eleven-year-old lead in HR Pufnstuf in 1999 while lamented when I first
entered in show business of course I didn't mind playing young rolls however it did bug me when
I would be 21 offered the role of an 13 year old I'm not saying I didn't enjoy playing these roles
I had barrels of fun I just wanted more serious and dramatic roles it's that simple during the
early 1970s Jack was considered a teen heartthrob alongside David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman and
appeared on the cover of many teen magazines by 1973 age 21 he was an alcoholic and a diabetic
after spending his remaining fortune while lived with his father for a few years his alcoholism
caused three cardiac arrests and resulted in many hospital stays his excessive drinking ruined both
his career and marriage stick gainer Jones who he had married in 1976 and she left him in 1985
due to his alcoholism Jack finally stopped drinking in 1989 after joining the Christian
support group alcoholics victorious he returned to the big screen and a few minor roles such as
in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and as a peddler in Brazil in 1998
sadly in the year 2000 Wilde was diagnosed with oral cancer blaming the disease on his drinking
and smoking habits he underwent chemotherapy immediately and had a piece of his tongue and
both vocal cords removed leaving him unable to speak Jack had to communicate through his
second wife Claire Harding for the rest of his life they had married in September of 2005 Jack
Wilde died on March 1st 2006 he was only 53 years old he is buried in tithing 10% airy Bedfordshire
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