RIP Jack Wild

[Rock'n Robin]

I looked for a thread when I got home from work but I didn't see one, so I hope this isn't redundant. Jack Wild has died in London. His agent announced it today. He was 53.
Jack Wild was not only the Artful Dodger in the film version of "Oliver", he may be best known as Jimmy on "HR Pufnstuf". He also had a small role in Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood".
He had cancer, and I read today that he had his larynx and some other things removed and could not speak, drink or eat. He had to take nutrition through a tube. He was cancer free as recently as November according to one thing I read, but it must have recurred because that was his announced cause of death. The kind of mouth/throat cancer he had can be attributed to heavy drinking as well as smoking, as he admitted he went through a hard living period in the 70s/80s.
I am bummed. This is the first one of my "teen idols" (although I was about 7 when I liked him) to pass on. He was just so adorable.
Robin M.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

That makes me sad. I remember him too, and Pufnstuff.

 

[zippeedee]

I used to love to read about him in Sixteen magazine when I was about 10. He was one of my first crushes. So sad.

 

[luv2nascar]

last time I saw him he looked really rough. The cancer would explain that though. RIP

 

[Buckalew11]

He was my first crush.
I had his picture on my closet door when I was about 8. Oh so sad, I didn't know about his rough life.

 

[SamRoc]

I was so sad when I read the news before. Jack Wild and Mark Lester were my first teen idols, I loved the movie Oliver. My Mom even painted pictures of them for me. And I used to love watching HR Pufnstuf on tv. I used to get 16 Magazine all the time just for their pictures, and I remember how jealous I was of the girl in the movie "Melody" when that came out as the 2 boys were both supposed to be in love with her!

 

[wide awake]

Jack Wild was so cute. I couldn't believe the picture I saw today. I think the last picture I remember seeing was from 1979...he was still very thin, long wild hair, very attractive. I was at work when I read the headline...exclaimed "Oh my God!"...happened to be w/ a woman 15 years younger, and another woman my age (44), that obviously wasn't w/ it...neither of them remembered him...well, I didn't expect the younger one to...but the one my age "Oh, the name sounds familiar"...I don't know, I adored "Oliver", and he was brilliant in it...hated the H.R. Pufenstuff garbage, but even in that he was worth watching. I'll watch "Oliver" tonight. My DH and I were watching "The Poseiden Adventure" the other day...talking about Eric Shea and Pamela Sue Martin...Eric Shea about our age, Pamela Sue Martin older...where are these people ?

 

[MsLeFever]

This made me so sad. Like some of the other posters I was just head over little kid heels in love with him from H.R. Pufenstuf!

RIP Jack.

 

[momsgoofy]

Ah, man! I am totally bummed now! I loved HR Puffnstuff when I was a kid! Then when I married DH, I found out I'm now related to WitchyPoo...she is a cousin of my MIL...too cool! It's a shame that he's gone now.

 

[gobledygook]

God Bless you Jack, you will be missed. You brought a great deal of joy to a lot of people, and I was totally, madly in love with you at age 13! I know you have found peace, and I pray for strength and comfort for Claire. (I have just heard the news tonight and am in tears as I'm writing this)

 

[luvthatduke]

"H.R. Puffnstuff, who's your friend when things get rough..."

*sigh*

I was sad to read the news before getting on the Dis,
I'm glad others remember him well ...
He was sooooooooo cute - I was totally in love with him!
I worked with a woman with mouth cancer, it was horrible for her.
She'd had her teeth and jaw completely removed,
and couldn't talk at all.

 

[Deb in IA]

Here's another thread that has a link to his obituary in the BBC website. It is so sad.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1045803

Buckalew, I had a crush on him too!!

He was SO GOOD as the Artful Dodger. Who would have suspected what a hard life he would lead after that movie . . .