{{Short description|English former child actor (born 1958)}} {{For|the film director|Mark L. Lester}} {{Use British English|date=February 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Mark Lester | image = Mark Lester 3 Allan Warren.jpg | caption = Lester in 1975 | image_size = | birth_name = Mark A. Letzer | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|7|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Oxford, England | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|osteopath|acupuncturist}} | years_active = 1964–1977 (actor) | spouse = {{marriage|Jane|1993|2005|end=divorced}}<br/>{{marriage|Lisa|2006|2009|end=div}} | children = 4 }} '''Mark Lester''' (born '''Mark A. Letzer''';<ref>{{cite web| url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/18409| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202061844/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/18409| url-status=dead| archive-date=2 December 2008| title=Mark Lester| website=British Film Institute| access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> 11 July 1958) is an English former child actor who starred in a number of British and European films in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968 he played the title role in the film ''Oliver!'', a musical version of the stage production by Lionel Bart based on Charles Dickens' novel ''Oliver Twist''. He also made several appearances in many British television series. In 1977, after appearing in ''The Prince and the Pauper'', an all-star international action adventure film, he retired from acting. In the 1980s, he trained as an osteopath specialising in sports injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://carltonclinic.co.uk/index.php/about-us/ |title=About Us |website=Carlton Clinic |access-date=14 June 2018}}</ref>
==Early life== Mark Lester was born in Oxford, England to Rita Keene Lester, an actress, and Michael Lester (originally Michael Boris Letzer), an actor and producer. His father is Jewish and his mother Anglican.<ref name="book">{{cite journal| last=McNeill| first=Ruby Simonson| journal=Cain Connections |title=article unknown |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_FU5AAAAMAAJ |year=1982| location=Spokane, Washington| issn=0899-1375}}</ref> He was educated at three independent schools, Corona Theatre School in Ravenscourt Park in West London, then Tower House School, a boys' preparatory school near Richmond Park (West London), and at Halliford School in Shepperton in Surrey.
==Acting career== ===Early performances=== Lester initially had small roles in several British television series including ''The Human Jungle'' and ''Danger Man''. In 1964, at the age of six, Lester was cast in Robert Dhéry's film ''Allez France!'' (1964). The English title of the movie is ''The Counterfeit Constable'' and Diana Dors starred in it.
Mark Lester appeared in ''Spaceflight IC-1: An Adventure in Space'' (1965), played a small part as the second schoolboy in ''Fahrenheit 451'' (1966) and had a larger role in ''Our Mother's House'' (1967).
===''Oliver!'' and child stardom=== In 1967, at eight, Lester was cast in the title role in the film version of Lionel Bart's musical ''Oliver!'' (1968).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b208402| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811123505/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b208402| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 August 2016| title=Oliver! (1968)| website=British Film Institute| access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref> The multiple Academy Award-winning adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel co-starred Jack Wild, Ron Moody, Harry Secombe, Shani Wallis, and Oliver Reed. It was directed by Carol Reed. Since Lester could not sing, his singing was dubbed by Kathe Green, daughter of the film's music arranger Johnny Green.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-19/oliver-twists-voice-dubbed-by-girl-report/605010| work=ABC News| title=Oliver Twist's voice dubbed by girl: report| date=19 December 2004| access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref> Lester received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a dysfunctional and withdrawn only child in ''Run Wild, Run Free'' (1969), starring opposite John Mills, released by Columbia Pictures who financed ''Oliver!''. He played a disturbed child in the first regular episode of ''Then Came Bronson'' ("The Runner") and guest starred on ''The Ghost & Mrs. Muir''. Columbia wanted to sign him to a long-term contract but Lester's parents refused.<ref>{{cite news| title=Mark Lester Wants to Be Normal| url=https://newspapers.com/clip/120824342/mark-lester/| last=Essoe| first=Gabe| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=14 December 1969| page=R28| access-date=13 March 2023| url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Lester had leading roles in ''Eyewitness'' (1970), a British thriller with Susan George shot on Malta; ''The Boy Who Stole the Elephant'' (1970), a TV movie for Disney; and the horror film ''Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?'' (1971), with Shelley Winters.<ref>{{cite news| title=National General Slates 'Terror'| url=https://newspapers.com/clip/120824853/sudden-terror-film| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=25 December 1970| page=D25| url-access=subscription}}</ref> He was reunited with Wild in ''Melody'' (1971), which depicted schoolchildren in love, based on a script by Alan Parker. Tracy Hyde played the role of Melody in the film, which used music from the Bee Gees and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Lester starred in a film version of ''Black Beauty'' (1971). He was announced for a version of ''Treasure Island'' but it was never made.<ref>{{cite news| title=What a Honeymoon!: Honeymoon| first=A.H.| last=Weiler| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/03/archives/what-a-honeymoon-honeymoon.html| newspaper=The New York Times| date=3 October 1971| page=D13| url-access=subscription}}</ref> After this period, his acting roles in the UK would begin to wane. This coincided with a decline in the British film industry.
===European films=== Lester remained in demand for films outside England: ''What the Peeper Saw'' (1972) with Britt Ekland; ''Senza ragione'' (1973), in Italy with Franco Nero; ''Little Adventurer'' (1973), a Japanese film; ''Scalawag'' (1973), a pirate film with Kirk Douglas shot in Yugoslavia;<ref name="rex">{{cite news| first=Rex| last=Reed| authorlink=Rex Reed| title=Doin' what comes naturally, Kirk takes on Mr. Hyde| newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date=March 4, 1973}}</ref> and the costume drama ''La Prima volta sull'erba'' (English title ''The First Time on the Grass'', 1974), which was nominated for the Golden Bear prize at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.<ref>{{cite news| title=Bated breath| first=Derek| last=Malcolm| newspaper=The Guardian| location=London| date=16 November 1972| issue=12}}</ref>
Lester ended his film career playing the dual role as Edward VI of England and Tom Canty in the all-star film ''The Prince and the Pauper'' (U.S. title: ''Crossed Swords'', 1977) starring Raquel Welch, Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, George C. Scott, and Oliver Reed, who had played Bill Sikes in ''Oliver!''.<ref>{{cite news| first=Bart| last=Mills| title=What the paupers play| newspaper=The Guardian| location=London| date=24 August 1976}}</ref> After that, he said, "I bought myself a Ferrari and set off traveling through Europe for 18 months."<ref>{{cite news| first=Jane| last=Crinnion| title=Famous Back Then: Mark Lester| newspaper=The Guardian| location=London| date=2 December 2000| page=102}}</ref>
==Later life== At the age of 28, he took his A-levels, passing chemistry and biology.<ref name=Indy>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/long-after-the-stardom-another-twist-mark-lester-was-the-child-star-of-oliver-who-asked-for-more-but-1464248.html| title=Long after the stardom, another twist: Mark Lester was the child star| date=30 August 1993| newspaper=The Independent|location=London| access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> He became an osteopath, studying at the British School of Osteopathy, and in 1993, Lester opened the Carlton Clinic, an acupuncture clinic in Cheltenham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carltonclinic.com |title=Welcome |website=Carlton Clinic |access-date=3 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2009/08/08/star-report-beatles-fans-swarm-abbey-road-on-album-anniversary/| title=Star Report: Beatles fans swarm Abbey Road on album anniversary| date=8 August 2009| newspaper=The Mercury News| location=San Jose, Calif.| access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref> He is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themusichallguild.com/about.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727224136/http://www.themusichallguild.com/about.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 July 2011|title=Patrons of The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America| website=The Music Hall Guild|access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref>thumb|right|Lester in 2022
==Personal life== Lester has four children with his first wife, Jane, whom he married in January 1993 and divorced in 2005. In 2006<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywood.com/general/actor-mark-lester-set-to-marry-for-third-time-60687022 | title=Actor Mark Lester set to marry for third time | date=3 May 2017 }}</ref> he and Lisa, a psychiatric nurse and his second wife, married.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/120875/Lester-will-leave-test-decision-to-Paris| title=Lester will leave test decision to Paris| newspaper=Daily Express| location=London| date=August 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ciaranbrown.com/lester.html| title=Mark Lester| website=Ciaran Meets the Stars| access-date=14 June 2018}}</ref> They divorced in 2009.
Lester was a close friend of Michael Jackson and is the godfather of Jackson's three children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/6002778/Michael-Jackson-lawyer-rejects-Mark-Lester-claims-he-is-Paris-father.html|title=Michael Jackson lawyer rejects Mark Lester claims he is Paris' father|date=10 August 2009|access-date=18 May 2019|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> In August 2009 in an interview with ''News of the World'' (a British tabloid) after Jackson's death, Lester claimed that he could be the biological father of Paris, the late singer's daughter. Lester said he was a sperm donor for Jackson in 1996 and announced that he was willing to take a paternity test to determine whether he was the father.<ref>{{cite news| title=Jackson friend claims paternity| work=BBC News| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8192030.stm|access-date= 9 August 2009| date=10 August 2009}}</ref> Brian Oxman, former lawyer for the Jackson family, rejected the claim in a television interview and said, "The thing I always heard from Michael was that Michael was the father of these children, and I believe Michael."<ref>{{cite news|first=Aislinn|last=Lang| title=Michael Jackson lawyer rejects Mark Lester claims he is Paris' father| work=The Daily Telegraph| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/6002778/Michael-Jackson-lawyer-rejects-Mark-Lester-claims-he-is-Paris-father.html|access-date=10 August 2009| date=10 August 2009}}</ref> In 2019, Lester said that he was one of 20 sperm donors for Jackson.<ref>{{cite news|first=Cydney|last=Yeates|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/25/mark-lester-opens-michael-jackson-asking-sperm-donor-painfully-awkward-interview-8390515/|title=Mark Lester opens up about being one of Michael Jackson's 20 sperm donors|date=25 January 2019|work=Metro|access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> Lester appears in the documentary, ''Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth'', in which he doubts allegations of sexual misconduct that had been made against Jackson by Wade Robson, an Australian performer, and James Safechuck.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-documentary-chase-truth-defending-michael-jackson-released-2538518|title=New documentary 'Chase The Truth' defending Michael Jackson is released|first=Andrew|last=Trendell|date=August 15, 2019|magazine=NME|language=en-US|access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Maeve |last=McDermott|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2019/01/25/michael-jackson-allegations-mark-lester-leaving-neverland/2676117002/|title=Michael Jackson's friend defends him against allegations: 'He just didn't understand'|newspaper=USA Today|date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1964 | ''The Counterfeit Constable'' | Gérald | a.k.a. ''Allez France'' |- | 1965 | ''Spaceflight IC-1: An Adventure in Space'' | Don Saunders | |- | 1966 | ''Fahrenheit 451'' | Schoolboy | (uncredited) |- | 1967 | ''Our Mother's House'' | Jiminee | |- | 1968 | ''Oliver!'' | Oliver Twist | |- | 1969 | ''Run Wild, Run Free'' | Philip Ransome | |- | 1970 | ''The Boy Who Stole the Elephant'' | Davey | TV movie |- | 1970 | ''Eyewitness'' | Ziggy | |- | 1971 | ''Melody'' (released as S.W.A.L.K.) | Daniel Latimer | |- | 1971 | ''Black Beauty'' | Joe Evans | |- | 1971 | ''Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?'' | Christopher Coombs | |- | 1972 | ''What the Peeper Saw'' | Marcus | |- | 1973 | ''Redneck'' | Lennox Duncan | |- | 1973 | ''Little Adventurer'' | Mike Richard | |- | 1973 | ''Scalawag'' | Jamie | |- | 1975 | ''The First Time on the Grass'' | Franz Schmidt | a.k.a. ''La prima volta sull'erba'' |- | 1977 | ''The Prince and the Pauper'' | Prince Edward/Tom Canty | a.k.a. ''Crossed Swords'' |- | 2019 | ''Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth'' | Himself | Documentary film |- |}
===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1964 |''The Human Jungle'' | Small boy | TV series (1 episode ''The Twenty-Four Hour Man'') |- | 1966 | ''Danger Man'' | A boy | TV series (1 episode ''Dangerous Secret'') |- | 1966 | ''Court Martial'' | Paolo Stevens | TV series (1 episode ''Retreat from Life'') |- | 1969 |''Then Came Bronson'' | John Beaman | TV series (1 episode ''The Runner'') |- | 1969 | ''The Ghost & Mrs. Muir'' | Mark Helmore | TV series (2 episodes ''Puppy Love'' and ''Spirit of the Law'') |- | 1970 | ''Disneyland'' | Davey | (Film in two parts) |- |}
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
==Bibliography== * Holmstrom, John; ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995''; Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996; pp. 323–324 * Dye, David; ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985''; Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988; pp. 130–131
== External links == *{{IMDb name|504492}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Mark}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century English male actors Category:English male child actors Category:English male film actors Category:English male television actors Category:English people of Jewish descent Category:Osteopaths Category:People educated at Tower House School Category:Male actors from Oxford