Entertainment career Jack Wild

wild title character in nbc children s series h.r. pufnstuf, 1969

the wild brothers sought acting roles supplement parents income and, in autumn of 1964, both cast in west end theatre production of lionel bart s oliver!, arthur in title role, , jack member of fagin s gang, charley bates. although jack auditioned artful dodger several subsequent stage productions of oliver!, turned down because short. stayed show until spring of 1966, when left make film serial danny dragon children s film foundation.

wild s first speaking roles on tv episode of out of unknown, , third part of bbc’s version of wesker trilogy, i’m talking jerusalem. time wild chosen portray artful dodger 1968 movie version of oliver! had appeared in episodes of z-cars, newcomers , george , dragon. received critical acclaim , several nominations appearance artful dodger:

academy award best supporting actor
golden globe award promising newcomer
bafta award promising newcomer

it @ 1968 premiere of oliver! wild met brothers sid , marty krofft, thought make lead show developing called h.r. pufnstuf. wild starred in american family television series launched in 1969. paid $1,000,000 play jimmy , boy washed on living island (a magic island) best friend freddy, talking flute, although jack stated in 2001 never received money. starred in movie pufnstuf (1970). other roles followed, including films melody (1971) (with oliver! co-star mark lester) , flight of doves (1971). latter film reunited him ron moody, had played fagin in oliver!.

wild embarked on recording career, cutting 1 album capitol records- containing single beautiful received lot of airplay on radio luxembourg, didn t chart highly - , 2 buddah records in 1970s. 3 albums called jack wild album, s coming roses , beautiful world.

at height of acting career, jack acted younger was. h.r. pufnstuf wild seventeen-year-old playing boy eleven.

when first entered in show business, wild said in 1999, of course didn t mind playing younger roles. did bug me when twenty-one being offered role of thirteen-year-old. m not saying didn t enjoy playing these roles; had barrels of fun, wanted more serious , dramatic roles; s simple.

during 1970s, wild considered 1 of world s teen heartthrobs, alongside david cassidy , barry williams. large hazel eyes, pug nose , freckles, jack loved , adored many girls across globe. received 2,000 fan letters week, stated in 1989. never left 1 of them blank. answered, if exhausted. thought 1 of important things.

while jack , arthur @ barbara speake stage school, jack met welsh-born actress gaynor jones when around twelve years old. after left school in 1966, didn t see again until christmas of 1970, when hosting christmas party. then, after seeing first time in 4 years, got telephone number , dating. married on valentine s day 1976; wild 23 years old , jones 22. afterwards, celebrated honeymoon paris. after returned bought home few weeks later in wealthy suburb of richmond in london.