RIP the Artful Dodger

Jack Wild, who played the Artful Dodger in the 1968 film musical Oliver, is said to have died of mouth cancer. But that's impossible: everyone knows that character can't die. I saw that film at age 9, and knew instantly that, the ferocity of Oliver Reed ("Bill Sikes") and and the comic smarm of Ron Moody ("Fagin") notwithstanding, and regardless of Shani Willis's ("Nancy") heartbreaking and poignant sensuality, the Dodger was easily the coolest character in Regency London; that was obvious.

RIP, Dodger. May the fingers always be nimble and the wallets always full.