Oliver! (film) in the United States, and Oliver Reed, who played Bill Sikes, had just begun to make a name for himself. Producer John Woolf suggested Oliver Reed for the role to the director Reed, without knowing that the two were in fact related. Ron Moody, who was also well known in Britain but not the US, recreated his London stage performance, after Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Peter O'Toole reportedly turned down the role. Elizabeth Taylor turned down the role of Nancy as well. Julie Andrews was also considered. Director Reed also had Shirley Bassey in mind, but his choice
Bill Oliver Bill Oliver Bill "Brother" Oliver (born November 1, 1939) is a former American football player and coach. He served as a head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1980 to 1983 and at Auburn University for the final five games of the 1998 season, compiling a career college football record of 31–17–1. Oliver attended the University of Alabama, where he played for Bear Bryant from 1959 to 1961 as a defensive back. After coaching for high schools in Alabama, Oliver joined Auburn as a secondary coach in 1966 under coach Ralph Jordan. Oliver remained at Auburn