All 20 Actors Who Played The Artful Dodger in Movies & TV

The 2023 Hulu series, The Artful Dodger, puts a spin on a classic tale and looks at what happened to one of the popular Dickens characters. A supporting character in Charles Dickens’s classic, Oliver Twist, Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, recruits the titular orphan Oliver into his gang of pickpockets and thieves, led by the sinister Fagin. His fate is left widely uncertain in the Dickens classic, but The Artful Dodger offers a new insight into what happened to the Dodger after Oliver finds his happy ending.

The Hulu series is set 15 years after the events of Oliver Twistand sees Dodger settled in Australia, working as a respectable surgeon; he has made a new life for himself, but old faces from the past threaten his future. The series has been regarded by critics as a “darkly comedic” sequel to the original story. Thomas Brodie-Sangster stars in the series as the titular character, and he joins the list of many acclaimed actors who have portrayed different variations of the popular Dickens character in both film and television adaptations.

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The Artful Dodger Cast & Character Guide

The 2023 Hulu television series The Artful Dodger is inspired by Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist – read on for the cast and who they play in the show.

1 Charley Rogers

Oliver Twist (Silent Film, 1912)

The first actor to portray the Artful Dodger in film, was British actor Charley Rogers in his film debut. This marked the first time the character appeared in an Oliver Twist film and is one of the earliest full-length silent films that still exists today. Rogers continued acting for several years before moving into directing and screenwriting. A lifelong friend of Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy, Rogers spent the remainder of his career as a screenwriter for Laurel and Hardy skits until his retirement in 1944.

2 Willie West

Oliver Twist (Silent Film, 1912)

This early British silent film saw Willie West portray Dodger alongside silent film actress, Ivy Millais as Oliver. This film is notable as the film debut of director, Thomas Bentley. West’s only other acting credit was in a 1913 adaptation of another Dickens story, The Old Curiosity Shop, where he played the role of Dick Swiveller.

3 Raymond Hatton

Oliver Twist (Lost Silent Film, 1916)

Having started his career in 1911, Raymond Hatton landed the role of Dodger in this lost 1916 film. He continued to make silent films, later successfully transitioning to sound roles. Hatton went on to appear in more than 500 productions across his career and later received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before he died in 1971.

4 Edouard Trebaol

Oliver Twist (Silent Film, 1922)

This 1922 film saw American-French actor, Edouard Trebaol star as Dodger alongside legendary child actor, Jackie Coogan as Oliver Twist. Trebaol was one of 13 siblings who worked in the film industry, with his role as Dodger being his most recognizable performance. Trebaol retired from acting in 1923 and became an electrician before dying in an accident in 1935, at just 30 years of age.

5 Anthony Newley

Oliver Twist (Black-and-White Drama Film, 1948)

English actor and singer-songwriter Anthony Newley went on to have a very successful career after his role as Dodger in this 1948 adaptation, where he starred alongside Alec Guinness as Fagin. Among his many acting credits, Newley starred in No Time to Die (1958) and Doctor Dolittle (1967), as well as devising the British cult comedy show The Strange World of Gurney Slade in 1960. Newley is also the writer of many popular songs, including Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good”, and he received an Oscar nomination in 1972 for composing the musical score of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory with Leslie Bricusse. Newley was later inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.

6 Melvyn Hayes

Oliver Twist (TV Series, 1962)

This BBC TV series proved controversial upon release, as it aired its darker moments during the day before the watershed. Melvyn Hayes played the Artful Dodger for 5 out of 13 aired episodes. Hayes went on to have further success in acting, having roles in TV shows including the soap opera Eastenders, and The Curse of Frankenstein.

7 Jack Wild

Oliver! (Musical Drama Film, 1968)

Arguably the best adaptation of Dickens’ story, Oliver! is regarded as one of the greatest musical drama movies in history. It won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Picture in 1969. Jack Wild received worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of the Artful Dodger, becoming one of the youngest nominees for an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award. He went on to have roles in the TV series H.R. Pufnstuf and several movies, including Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves; his autobiography, It’s a Dodger’s Life, was released after his death in 2006.

8 Davy Jones

Oliver Twist (Animated Movie, 1974)

This was the first animated adaptation of the Dickens story and Dodger was voiced by actor Davy Jones. Davy Jones had originated the role of Dodger in both the Broadway and London adaptations of Oliver!, and received a Tony nomination for his portrayal in the musical. In 1966, Jones joined the American pop-rock group The Monkees, who went on to release more than 75 million records worldwide. After the group’s disbandment in 1970, Jones gained further success as a solo artist and is widely remembered as a teen icon.

9 Martin Tempest

Oliver Twist (TV Serial, 1982)

This American TV movie aired on CBS in 1982 with Tim Curry as Sikes and George C. Scott as Fagin. Martin Tempest landed the role of Dodger in his first credited acting role. Tempest went on to work in small roles in TV shows such as Grange Hill and The Minder and worked as a director for independent films including Gate 38 and Bank.

10 David Garlick

Oliver Twist (TV Series, 1985)

Before his appearance in the 1985 TV series, Garlick had already portrayed the Artful Dodger in both the Broadway and West End revivals of Oliver!. He appeared in the series for 5 episodes, as the scheming pickpocket. Garlick has since acted mainly in TV roles, appearing in the British soap operas Coronation Street and Eastenders, and in an episode of Game of Thrones in 2015.

11 Billy Joel

Oliver & Company (Disney Animated Film, 1988)

Walt Disney Studios released an animated retelling of the story in 1998, portraying Oliver as an orphaned kitten, being recruited into a gang of street dogs in New York City, led by Dodger, voiced by Billy Joel. The character was modeled on Joel himself, down to the dark sunglasses and savoir-faire attitude. Oliver & Company has gained a cult following since its release, thanks in large part to Joel’s voice acting and his performance of the popular song ‘Why Should I Worry?’. Already an acclaimed singer and performer before his role as Dodger, Joel has furthered his success in the music industry and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

12 Jean Loup Wolfman

Twisted (Drama Film, 1996)

This 1996 film brings Oliver Twist to the modern era, into a world of drug abuse, prostitution, and drag queens. The character of Dodger, played by Jean Loup Wolfman, is morphed into Arthur, a rent boy who befriends Lee, a runaway orphan. Arthur attempts to take advantage of Lee’s young age for money, but his plan ultimately fails. Jean Loup Wolfman has since acted in the 2007 film The Lucky Man but has mainly worked in modeling for brands including Coca-Cola and Nike.

13 Brianne Siddall

Saban’s Adventures of Oliver Twist (Animated Series, 1996-1997)

Similar to Disney’s movie, this animated TV series sees Dickens’ characters as anthropomorphic animals. Oliver, a runaway dog, befriends Dodger, a mischievous rabbit who helps Oliver search for his lost mother. The series ran for 52 episodes and voice actress, Brianne Siddall played Dodger. Siddall has since lent her voice to multiple anime shows, including Digimon, Blue Exorcist, and Naruto.

14 Elijah Wood

Oliver Twist (Disney TV Film, 1997)

This television movie stars Elijah Wood as the Artful Dodger alongside Richard Dreyfuss as Fagin. It premiered on ABC in 1997 as part of The Wonderful World of Disney and received warm reviews from critics. Wood was highly praised for his portrayal of Dodger and received the YoungStar Award for Best Young Actor in a Miniseries/Made-for-TV Movie. He has since forged a successful career, with his many acclaimed movie roles, including Sin City, Maniac, and the Lord of the Rings franchise.

15 Alex Crowley

Oliver Twist (TV Series, 1999)

This 1999 TV miniseries was produced by British company ITV and ran for 4 episodes. Child actor Alex Crowley starred as Dodger alongside Julie Walters and Andy Serkis and appeared in 3 episodes. He has since made appearances in shows such as Real Crime and The Bill and directed the mockumentary, I Am A Great Man in 2011.

16 Luke O’Loughlin

Escape of the Artful Dodger (TV Series, 2001)

Similar to the 2023 series, Escape of the Artful Dodger acts as a sequel to Oliver Twist, seeing Dodger being deported to Australia for his crimes. The Australian series stars Luke O’Loughlin and Rowan Witt and depicts Dodger unexpectedly reuniting with Oliver and trying to escape from corrupt Officer Bates. O’Loughin won an Australian Film Institute Award for his portrayal of Dodger; he has transitioned from acting to singing, as the lead vocalist of pop-rock band I Know Leopold.

17 Nick Stahl

Twist (Drama Film, 2003)

A modern LGBT retelling of the story, Twist is told from the point-of-view of Dodge, an out-of-luck man who takes Oliver under his wing and introduces him to the world of prostitution and drug abuse. Both young men face their demons and try to escape their situation. Despite the movie receiving mixed reviews, Nick Stahl was highly praised for his role as Dodge and received a Genie Award nomination for his performance. He has moved on to roles in movies such as In The Bedroom, Bully, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

18 Harry Eden

Oliver Twist (Drama Film, 2005)

Directed by Roman Polanski, this was the first feature adaptation of Oliver Twist in nearly 40 years. The movie starred Ben Kingsley as Fagin and Jamie Foreman and Sikes, with Harry Eden acting as Dodger. Eden has acted in several different films, including Flashbacks of a Fool and The Spoiler, and made appearances in 2 episodes of the BBC medical drama Casualty.

19 Adam Arnold

Oliver Twist (BBC TV Series, 2007)

The 2007 miniseries produced by the BBC stars Timothy Spall as Fagin and Tom Hardy as Bill Sikes and was released as a Christmas special series. In this series, Adam Arnold portrays Dodger as a darker, crueler version of the pickpocket who is destined to become as cruel as Sikes. Aside from an appearance in the British crime drama series, The Bill, Arnold does not have any further credited acting roles.

20 Rita Ora

Twist (Crime Drama Film, 2021)

British singer-songwriter Rita Ora is the first actor to portray a female version of the Artful Dodger in this latest modern retelling. Twist sees Oliver running away after his mother dies and joining a street gang led by Ora’s Dodge and Isaac “Fagin” Solomon, played by Michael Caine. Despite receiving lukewarm reviews from critics, Twist provides an interesting take on Charles Dickens’ story. Ora released her third studio album You & I in 2023 and has new projects currently in the works.