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Jack Wild, 'HR Pufnstuf's' 'Jimmy'dies at 53
mainichi-msn ^ | March 2, 2006

Posted on 03/02/2006 3:25:44 AM PST by lunarbicep

LONDON -- Jack Wild, the actor appeared who in the movie musical "Oliver!" as the irrepressible Artful Dodger, has died, his agent said Thursday. He was 53.

Wild died Wednesday after a battle with mouth cancer, agent Alex Jay said.

As a child actor, Wild appeared in a London stage production of "Oliver!", Lionel Bart's adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist." He was cast in the film as cheeky pickpocket the Artful Dodger, earning an Academy Award nomination at the age of 16.

He was known to a generation of children as the hero of "HR Pufnstuf," a U.S. television series about a boy stranded on a fantastical island with a talking flute, a friendly dragon and eerie, chatty trees. A feature film, "Pufnstuf," appeared in 1970.

Wild's adult acting career was fitful and he struggled with alcoholism. He had a role as one of the Merry Men in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" in 1991.

Wild was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000, and surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy had left him unable to speak.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bananasplits; hrpufnstuf; jackwild; obituary; oliver
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1 posted on 03/02/2006 3:25:46 AM PST by lunarbicep
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To: lunarbicep

All those Kroft shows used to set my teeth on edge, but Rest in Peace.


2 posted on 03/02/2006 3:29:34 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro

That's too young to die. I guess his doctors couldn't do a little 'cause they couldn't do enough.


3 posted on 03/02/2006 3:34:24 AM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: Petronski; cyborg
I guess his doctors couldn't do a little 'cause they couldn't do enough.

You're evil. Evil.

4 posted on 03/02/2006 3:37:43 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: lunarbicep

Poor man. May he rest in peace.


5 posted on 03/02/2006 3:46:52 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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To: lunarbicep
I blame that freaky flute.
6 posted on 03/02/2006 4:02:43 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (E)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

This makes me feel real old.

Rest in Peace, Dodger.


7 posted on 03/02/2006 4:06:54 AM PST by babble-on
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To: lunarbicep

Wow, do I feel old.

Can't do a little cause he can't do enough


8 posted on 03/02/2006 4:08:56 AM PST by Republican Red ("How good is it? Al-Jazeera gave it 4 1/2 pipe bombs")
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To: ClearCase_guy
I blame that freaky flute.

Witchy-poo did it.

9 posted on 03/02/2006 4:12:46 AM PST by Junior (Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
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To: martin_fierro; Petronski
I guess his doctors couldn't do a little 'cause they couldn't do enough. You're evil. Evil.

You are both evil!

But funny, so I forgive you.

Don't forget about Witchy-Poo and the Zoom Broom...

10 posted on 03/02/2006 4:42:21 AM PST by backhoe
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To: lunarbicep

That show always creeped me out.


11 posted on 03/02/2006 4:44:28 AM PST by SlowBoat407 (The best stuff happens just before the thread snaps.)
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To: martin_fierro
I think Sid and Marty used to drop acid, then come up with ideas for TV shows...

...Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Lidsville, Land of the Lost, The Bugaloos...

Crazy and colorful stuff. It is still better than the cheapo low-quality Saturday cartoons that are on now.
12 posted on 03/02/2006 4:46:26 AM PST by baltodog (R.I.P. Balto: 2001(?) - 2005)
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To: backhoe
Are they the guys who did The Banana Splits?

(really showing my age now...)

L

13 posted on 03/02/2006 4:47:51 AM PST by Lurker (In God I trust. Everybody else shows me their hands.)
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To: lunarbicep

Hey! I just got! After all these years, I finally undersatand!!!

Pufnstuf....puffing stuff...(cough, cough)...


14 posted on 03/02/2006 4:51:35 AM PST by baltodog (R.I.P. Balto: 2001(?) - 2005)
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To: lunarbicep
I loved those shows. This is very sad.

I'll have to see if I can get them on DVD for the kids. It was one of my favorites as a kid.

*sigh*

15 posted on 03/02/2006 4:54:47 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Lurker
Are they the guys who did The Banana Splits?

na na na
na-na na na
na na-na na na
na-na na na

16 posted on 03/02/2006 4:57:06 AM PST by jimfree (Freep and ye shall find.)
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To: lunarbicep
Wow. What a reminder of how old I'm getting. I used to love that show when I was a kid (though now it creeps me out when I think about it.)

RIP, Jack.
17 posted on 03/02/2006 4:57:54 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Darwinism is a belief in the meaninglessness of existence - R. Kirk)
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To: Lurker
Are they the guys who did The Banana Splits? (really showing my age now...) L

Hullo, Lurker-- my age is really showing- I can't remember!

But I do remember a snippet of that danged theme song...

One banana, two banana, three banana, four!

Four bananas make a bunch, and so do many more...

( shuffling offstage now to find my Zimmer Frame ( walker ) and spike my Geritol with a snort of vodka... )

18 posted on 03/02/2006 4:58:45 AM PST by backhoe
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To: jimfree
"Uh oh..Chongo!"

L

19 posted on 03/02/2006 5:00:56 AM PST by Lurker (In God I trust. Everybody else shows me their hands.)
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To: All
And in The Department of Weird Stuff?

Ponch, John,
and Pufnstuf

Source: http://www.70slivekidvid.com/pufn.htm

20 posted on 03/02/2006 5:11:36 AM PST by backhoe
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