Jack Wild made his acting debut as Dodger in the musical “Oliver!” in England in 1968 and went into the 70s as a full-fledged star. He was 16 at the time and was already nominated for an Oscar for that role. His stature in the industry at the time sent him to the US for a role in the kids’ show “H.R. Pufnstuf” — a role which paid him $1 million!
Success took its toll on Wild, who smoked and drank regularly. At 24 years old, the problem became so severe he could no longer act. After an extensive rehab process, he regained enough strength for short on-screen performances. He passed away in 2006 after battling aggressive cancer.
Sally Field
Sally Field’s career almost transcends time, so picking the peak decade of it is next to impossible. Still, she did have a pretty good run in the 1970s, topped with a 1979 Academy Award. Field starred in more timeless movies than we can count, such as "Forrest Gump" and "Mrs. Doubtfire."
She is incredibly talented and has even performed live on Broadway! In 2018, Field published a memoir, titled "In Pieces," and she is constantly working on new projects.
Leif Garrett
Garrett started making his way through the spotlight as a child actor. However, he didn't reach his teen idol status until he started making music in the 1970s. After acting in a number of films as a child, Garrett transitioned into music.
He released his first album in 1977, naming it after himself. It featured cover versions to hits from the previous two decades. His great popularity has seen highs and lows, normally as a result of legal troubles surrounding him.
Mark Lester
Mark Lester was also made a star at a very young age thanks to the musical film "Oliver!". He was quickly showered with other acting suggestions, including in European cinema, making him an international star.
Lester had a tough time dealing with his success. At 18 years old, he became reckless with his money and descended into substance abuse. A year later, he decided to retire from acting. He trained in martial arts and became a certified osteopath. Most of Lester's acting credits are grouped in the 70s, although he has a couple of on-screen blinks in the late 2000s.
Richard Thomas
Known to many as John-Boy from "The Waltons," Richard Thomas has built up an impressive acting record by his 20th birthday. One of his first major film roles was in "Winning," where he played alongside Paul Newman.
After leaving "The Waltons," Richard experienced a successful theater career, which included "Fifth of July" and "Richard II." In 2009-2010, Thomas appeared in the Broadway play "Race" by David Mamet. He acted alongside James Spader, Kerry Washington, and David Alan Grier.