medium-deek
03-02-2006, 08:07 PM
Actor Jack Wild, who played The Artful Dodger in 1968 film Oliver!, has died at the age of 53.
Wild was nominated for an Oscar when he was just 16 for the role. He also starred in late-1960s US children's fantasy TV series HR Pufnstuf.
He suffered from mouth cancer after years of heavy drinking and smoking and had his voice box and tongue removed.
Wild's agent Alex Jay said the actor "died peacefully at midnight last night after a long battle with oral cancer".
Mark Lester, who played Oliver in the musical film, paid tribute to him.
He told the BBC: "Jack was like a brother to me during the making of the film and always was very protective.
"I gained a lot. The chemistry between us was just something very, very special, which lasted throughout our lives."
Wild was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and was unable to speak, drink or eat after having surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
He had to communicate through his wife and his meals were delivered in liquid form via a tube that went straight into his stomach.
Wild recently said: "Until I was diagnosed with mouth cancer, I'd never heard of it.
"What I learned very quickly was that my lifestyle had made me a walking time bomb.
"I was a heavy smoker and an even heavier drinker and apparently together they are a deadly mixture."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4765996.stm
Reading this makes me glad I aint a smoker or a heavy drinker.
Wild was nominated for an Oscar when he was just 16 for the role. He also starred in late-1960s US children's fantasy TV series HR Pufnstuf.
He suffered from mouth cancer after years of heavy drinking and smoking and had his voice box and tongue removed.
Wild's agent Alex Jay said the actor "died peacefully at midnight last night after a long battle with oral cancer".
Mark Lester, who played Oliver in the musical film, paid tribute to him.
He told the BBC: "Jack was like a brother to me during the making of the film and always was very protective.
"I gained a lot. The chemistry between us was just something very, very special, which lasted throughout our lives."
Wild was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and was unable to speak, drink or eat after having surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
He had to communicate through his wife and his meals were delivered in liquid form via a tube that went straight into his stomach.
Wild recently said: "Until I was diagnosed with mouth cancer, I'd never heard of it.
"What I learned very quickly was that my lifestyle had made me a walking time bomb.
"I was a heavy smoker and an even heavier drinker and apparently together they are a deadly mixture."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4765996.stm
Reading this makes me glad I aint a smoker or a heavy drinker.