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
Brenda Sykes Brenda Sykes Brenda Sykes (born June 25, 1949) is an American actress who made a number of films and appeared in television series in the 1970s. She was discovered on "The Dating Game". Sykes was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of a postal worker. Sykes played Jim Brown's love interest in "Black Gunn". According to Brown, he was responsible for her being cast in the role, an effort he made because he was attracted to her in real life. From 1973-74, she co-starred on "Ozzie's Girls" as a college student boarding with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. She played the