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.
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.
Jack Wild
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.
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.
Mark Hamill
Forever Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill actually started his way as a voice actor. He later landed roles in shows such as "The Texas Wheelers" and "General Hospital" in the 1970s, which gained him great popularity even before landing the role of Luke.
Luke won Hamill two Saturn Awards and an honorable place in American cultural history. He keeps acting to this day and has several newly announced acting projects to look forward to.