Trivia

He was a close, long-time friend of American rock singer and songwriter Michael Jackson, and they were godfathers to each other's children. Lester spent Christmas 2003 at the Neverland Ranch, and vocally defended Jackson throughout his trial on child molestation charges in 2005.

By the age of 14, he was earning £100,000 a year as he starred in an average of two films a year.

In an interview with the British newspaper "News of the World", he confirmed that he had donated sperm to his longtime friend Michael Jackson as a gift. He claims that Michael's daughter Paris Jackson could be his own child and expressed a willingness to take a paternity test to prove either way. (August 2009)

Remained close friends with his Oliver! (1968) co-star Ron Moody.

Gave up acting in the early 1980s, but was coaxed back to acting for the first time in over 30 years in 2012 as King Harold in a historical drama about the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

Made several films in Italy when he was not receiving film offers in Britain.

Mark is an osteopath in Cheltenham, England. He and his ex-wife, Jane, lived in a three-story Georgian house with their four children until their 2005 divorce. (2004)

A drunken Oliver Reed brought a prostitute as a gift for him to celebrate his 18th birthday. (July 11, 1976)

He is a black belt in karate.

Appeared under the direction of three Oscar winners (Carol Reed, James Hill, and Richard Fleischer) and three Oscar nominees (François Truffaut, Jack Clayton, and Kirk Douglas).

His father was a Russian Jew and his mother was English.

Trained at the Corona Academy, founded by Rona Knight.

There was some talk of him being in a film version of The Jungle Boy but it was never made. (1996)

It was revealed his singing in the musical Oliver! (1968) was dubbed by Kathe Green, daughter of music director Johnny Green. (1988)

Father of Lucy Lester and Harriet Lester.

To make him cry in Oliver! (1968), a string of onions was hung around his neck.