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
Albert Sykes 1926. Sykes played 16 league games in two seasons with Brighton before signing for Lincoln City in June 1928. He remained with Lincoln for three seasons, playing 44 games in all competitions, of which 42 were in the Third Division North. He finished off his playing career in non-league football with successively Peterborough & Fletton United, Luton Town and Grantham, where he played in most of the fixtures of the 1932–33 season. Sykes died in Rotherham, South Yorkshire in 1994. Albert Sykes E. Albert A. Sykes (29 September 1900 – 1994) was an English professional footballer who played in the