1. Jack Wild received BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for the role.
22 Facts About Jack Wild
1. 2.
The Jack Wild brothers sought acting roles to supplement their parents' income.
3.
Jack Wild's first speaking roles on TV were in an episode of Out of the Unknown, and in the third part of the BBC's version of the Wesker trilogy, I'm Talking About Jerusalem.
4.
Jack Wild appeared in episodes of Z-Cars, The Newcomers, and George and the Dragon.
5.
Jack Wild starred as Jimmy in Pufnstuf's only season, as well as in the film Pufnstuf, which was released shortly after the show was concluded.
6.
Jack Wild then appeared in Melody and Flight of the Doves.
7.
In 1972, Jack Wild appeared as a stowaway in an episode of BBC TV's The Onedin Line.
8.
On television, Jack Wild appeared in a BBC adaptation of Our Mutual Friend in 1976.
9.
Jack Wild embarked on a recording career, releasing The Jack Wild Album for Capitol Records, which contained the single "Some Beautiful".
10.
Jack Wild returned to the big screen in a few minor roles, such as in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and as a peddler in Basil.
11.
Jack Wild first met Welsh-born actress Gaynor Jones when they were around 12 years old at the Barbara Speake stage school.
12.
Jack Wild left him in 1985 because of his chronic drinking.
13.
In 2001, Jack Wild was diagnosed with oral cancer; he blamed the disease on his drinking and smoking habits.
14.
Jack Wild underwent chemotherapy immediately, and had his tongue and voice box removed in July 2004, leaving him unable to speak.
15.
Jack Wild had to communicate through his wife for the rest of his life.
16.
Jack Wild's alcoholism caused three cardiac arrests and resulted in numerous hospital stays.
17.
Jack Wild was diagnosed with diabetes on 14 March 1983.
18.
Jack Wild's alcoholism ruined both his career and first marriage, as his wife left him in 1985 because of his drinking.
19.
Jack Wild later admitted his alcoholism was so debilitating that he was incapable of performing any kind of work.
20.
Jack Wild once attended a drying-out clinic for drug addicts and alcoholics, run by Pete Townshend, but after being "dry" for six weeks, he bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate that he had stopped drinking.
21.
Jack Wild eventually became sober on 6 March 1989, after joining a support group, Alcoholics Victorious.
22.
Jack Wild was unable to speak for the last two years of his life following the operation in which his vocal cords and part of his tongue were removed.