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Famed teen actor Jack Wild dies at 53

LONDON - Jack Wild, who earned an Oscar nomination as a teenager for playing the Artful Dodger in the film Oliver! and was known to a generation of children as the hero of H.R. Pufnstuf, has died from cancer, his agent said Thursday. He was 53.

Wild died Wednesday, Alex Jay said. The actor was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 after years of heavy drinking and smoking. He had had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and he was unable to eat, speak or drink because his voice box and tongue had been removed.

He had to communicate through his wife, and his meals were delivered in liquid form through a tube that went into his stomach.

Wild had said recently that his 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."

Born in Royton, northwest England, in 1952, Wild was spotted by a talent agent while playing soccer in a London park. He later attended stage school.

He appeared in the London stage production of Oliver!, Lionel Bart's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. Wild was cast in the 1968 film as cheeky pickpocket the Artful Dodger, and the 16-year-old earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

That role got Wild cast in H.R. Pufnstuf, a psychedelic TV series about a boy named Jimmy who was stranded on a fantastical island with a talking flute, a friendly dragon and eerie, chatty trees. A feature film, Pufnstuf, was released in 1970.

He became a teen music idol, releasing three albums, The Jack Wild Album, Everything's Coming up Roses and Beautiful World.

But Wild struggled with alcoholism, and his adult acting career was fitful. He last major credit was in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991.

Wild is survived by his wife, Claire Harding.

The BBC contributed to this report.

[Last modified March 3, 2006, 02:35:37]