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
Ken Sykes the Third Division for Hartlepools in April 1950, a 1–0 home defeat against former club Darlington, he moved into non-league football with Murton Colliery Welfare. When he was 28, he gave up football. Sykes died in Darlington in 2008 at the age of 82. Ken Sykes Kenneth "Ken" Sykes (29 January 1926 – 2008) was an English footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Darlington and Hartlepool United. He was also on Middlesbrough's books without playing League football for the club, and also played non-league football for Murton Colliery Welfare. Sykes was born in Darlington, County