entertainment

The Cast of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" Then and Now

Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket)
Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket) You might be surprised to learn that the role of Charlie Bucket was Ostrum's only film appearance. He was only 12 years old when he was selected for the role, and even after its massive success he decided not to sign a three-film contract after it ended.
Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket)
Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket) He went on to receive his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College and now practices and lives in Lowville, New York with his wife and two children.
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt)
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) "Willy Wonka" was Cole's first acting role, after which she went on to have a successful career in film and TV.
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) She played a trainee nurse in the first season of the British drama "Angels" in the 1970s and continued to act well into the mid 90s.
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt)
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) In August 2010 she co-starred in an Edinburgh Fringe show called "Willy Wonka Revisited: The Veruca Salt Sessions".
Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) She has two children.
Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee)
Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee) After starring in "Willy Wonka", Paris Themmen received a B.F.A. in theatre from New York University and dabbled in real estate, film production, and commercial casting.
Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee)
Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee) He currently runs a photography business and makes sporadic appearances in plays, TV shows, and commercials.
Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde)
Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde) Nickerson was a series regular on "Dark Shadows" before joining the cast of "Willy Wonka" in 1971.
Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde)
Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde) She continued to act through the 1970s, appearing in shows like "The Electric Company" and "The Brady Bunch" before retiring in 1978.
Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop)
Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop)
Michael Bollner's one and only acting credit came with "Willy Wonka".
Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop)
Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop) It's hard to find much information about him now, but supposedly he works as a tax accountant in Munich.
Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka)
Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka) Willy Wonka remains one of Gene Wilder's most beloved characters, but it was by no means his only. Other famous parts came before and after including "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein".
Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka)
Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka) He continued acting into the late 90s and even made a couple of appearances on the sitcom "Will and Grace" in the early 2000s, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor on a Comedy Series.

In Trending

What Happened to the Cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?

'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' debuted in theaters in 1971. Many decades later, most of us know what Gene Wilder has been up to, but what happened to Charlie, Augus…tus and Violet?Gene Wilder played Willy Wonka himself, and of course, he was already a huge star at that point. Wilder semi-retired from acting during the mid 1990s, but stepped back into the limelight during the early 2000s to appear on 'Will & Grace.' The appearance earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Guest Actor on a Comedy Series.' In 2008, Wilder publicly declared himself retired, and he now spends his time writing, painting, and giving back to various charities.Peter Ostrum played little Charlie Bucket, but now he is all grown up and far away from the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. Ostrum became fascinated with horses while filming 'Willy Wonka,' and his parents got him one when he finished the movie. He ended up attending veterinary school and still practices in upstate New York today, working primarily on large animals.German actor Michael Bollner played Augustus Gloop. After that, it appears he dropped off the face of the Earth. Okay, not really. He actually works as a tax accountant in Munich, though he has made the occasional 'Willy Wonka' related appearance throughout the years.It is hard to forget Julie Dawn Cole's appearance as Veruca Salt, and the British actress used that to help launch a fairly steady acting career. She appeared sporadically on TV and in film throughout the years, with her most recent appearances in 2013 on the series 'Holby City.' Cole also has a family with a son and a daughter.Paris Themmen played Mike Teevee, but after the film, he decided to step back from acting. He attended New York University where he received his B.F.A. in theater. He went on to start his own travel business and dabble in many industries, including casting, film production, and real estate. Themmen also acts occasionally, and in early 2015, he appeared on the 'TV Guidance Counselor Podcast.'Before playing Violet Beauregarde, Denise Nickerson had already found some stardom as a child actress in 'Dark Shadows.' After 'Willy Wonka,' she appeared on 'The Electric Company' and 'Search for Tomorrow.' In 1976, a car hit her, and she had to take a year off from acting to recover from her injuries. In 1978, she retired altogether, though she still makes the occasional public appearance. (MORE)

Diane Carbonell

Author of the book, "150 Pounds Gone Forever"

In Nutrition

Low Calorie Candies to Satisfy That Sweet Tooth

Whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 50, experts agree that you need to allow yourself freedom in your diet. You are more likely to stick to a weight loss diet if you allow yo…urself to have a treat on occasion. Many types of candy are low in calories and fat. However, most candy manufacturers, such as Willy Wonka Candy Company, offer sweet snacks that are low in calories and fat. If you make smart choices, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without blowing your diet.Resisting temptation is hard. It is compounded when your children leave buckets of Halloween candy sitting on the dining room table. Women's Health Magazine online provides a comprehensive list of the nutritional information of the most popular Halloween candies, including candy corn and various bite size candy bars. Go ahead, steal from the candy bucket without shame.Yahoo has helped dieters achieve their weight loss goals with this easy reference candy guide. If you visit this site, you will find a list of ten satisfyingly sweet candies that are not only delicious, but also low in fat and calories. Site visitors will find great candy options that will satisfy their cravings without using up an entire day's worth of calories.At the MyFitnessPal website, you will find nutritional information for every type of food that you can imagine. One of the most frequently visited pages on MFP is the page for Willy Wonka Nerds candy. Nerds are sweet and crunchy and can easily satisfy even the biggest sugar craving. At MyFitnessPal, you will find nutritional information for every flavor of Nerds available on the market.The folks at LiveStrong know that allowing yourself some flexibility in your diet is the best way to stay on track and meet your weight loss goals. The site lists many categories of candy that are compatible with nearly all diets and weight loss plans. These include sugar free candies and hard candies. You will also find information on proper portion control.3 Fat Chicks is a website that is dedicated to fitness and weight loss. The ladies that run the site understand your cravings for candy and sweets. Visitors to the site will learn information on portion control, and how to schedule treats into your diet in order to reward yourself for eating well throughout the day.Candy is delicious and sometimes, you just need to treat yourself. Anyone who has ever dieted successfully will agree that allowing yourself to indulge in a sweet treat once in awhile will not only help you stick to your diet, but it will also help you to ensure your success. Achieve your weight loss goals and satisfy your sweet tooth, grab yourself a few chocolate kisses or a handful of Willy Wonka's Nerds. You can have your candy and eat it too.If you accidentally over indulge in sweets, you can make up for it by logging in some extra exercise. Plan for an additional 10 to 15 minutes of aerobic exercise to burn off the effects of excessive candy consumption. (MORE)

Jason Liebig

One of the country's premier candy collectors and historians

In Culture and Candy

5 Willy Wonka Candies You Wish Were Real

The world of Willy Wonka was one of pure sweet imagination. The amazing candies looked so delectable in the movie that you wished they were real. While some candy companies ha…ve tried to make that happen, not many were successful.This is the candy that many children love most. The Everlasting Gobstopper was a jawbreaker that lasted forever. It would never finish or get smaller. It was virtually indestructible and budget friendly. Imagine licking this candy for days and having it be as tasty as it was on the first day. You do not have to buy another one for a really long time, if ever.Nestle created a real-life version of Everlasting Gobstoppers in 1976. The jawbreaker was composed of several layers to mimic the changing flavors you saw in the movie. Unlike the movie version, they did not last forever and you could bite them once they got small enough. To have a dinner of tomato soup, roast beef, and blueberry pie all from sticks of gum sounds a bit odd. But Violet loved it. She ever turned into a blueberry. But there are some clear benefits. Clean-up would never be a factor because dinner would consist of a stick of gum and plastic wrapping. Dinner would be quick and, if you save calories on the meal, you could theoretically have any decadent food you want. The idea is intriguing to say the least. There have been many incarnations of this product, but none really came close to the movie. The Wonka Bar is a mixture of graham cracker and chocolate. In order to promote the 1971 film, Quaker created the bar then recalled it due to production problems. Nestle, who owned the Willy Wonka brand, sold Wonka Bars until 2010. Nestle Europe sold Wonka bars, as depicted in the 2005 Johnny Depp version of the film. The flavors were Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, Nutty Crunch Surprise, and Triple Dazzle Caramel. Unfortunately the launch came up short.You may not want to go swimming in this river, but it is still a delicious idea. Imagine a never- ending river of pure chocolate that you can dip a cup or spoon in. The river bank and the surrounding trees would be edible too. Having picnics there would be excellent, especially with fresh strawberries or s'mores for dessert. A river like this would be the ultimate chocolate lover's dream.In the movie, Veruca Salt wanted geese to lay those giant Easter eggs. Wonka refuses Mr. Salts offer to buy one the geese. Veruca throws a tantrum and trashes the place. She is dropped down into the furnace after being labeled a "bad egg." Her father also sees the same fate. To appease the masses, Nestle created smaller versions of those eggs in 2007. There were four types of chocolate eggs in the collection. Many fans were holding out for the giant golden egg, but it was not meant to be. None of the kids were allowed to see the factory before filming the 1971 Willy Wonka movie so their awe was completely genuine. (MORE)

Gregg Anderton

Community Manager who loves to wrench on cars, grow plants in the garden, remodel my home, and observe nature.

In Musicals

The Kids from 2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory": Then and Now - Video

2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was an instant hit for kids and parents alike. The timeless story paired with the oddness of Johnny Depp made it a success…. But it's been almost 10 years since the movie's release - what are the child stars of the film up to these days?2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was an instant hit for kids and parents alike. The timeless story paired with the oddness of Johnny Depp made it a success. But it's been almost 10 years since the movie's release - what are the child stars of the film up to these days? Read on to find out. Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket "Charlie is lucky to be there." Johnny Depp was so impressed with Freddie Highmore's performance in "Finding Neverland" that he recommended Freddie for the role of Charlie. He got it. Freddie is still heavily involved in the industry - he has appeared in quite a few films in his 22 years. Freddie is currently the star of the tv drama "Bates Motel". Freddie plays Norman Bates, who grows up to be the serial killer from the movie "Psycho". Freddie does a great job, but is suuuuuuuuuuuper creepy. Jordan Fry as Mike Teavee "Mike thinks candy is a waste of time." Jordan has appeared in a couple of movies since 2005, including 'Raising Flagg' and 'The Journey'. He can be seen in the upcoming film 'Byrd and the Bees'. Jordan's mom in real life is Christine Fry, who is also an actress and producer. Julia Winter as Veruca Salt "Veruca is a very bad nut." Julia was completely unknown to the acting world previous to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and aside from an appearance in 2014's 'Dolphin Tale 2', she hasn't appeared in any other major works. AnnaSophia Robb as Violet Beauregarde "Violet keeps her eyes on the prize." AnnaSophia had to wear facial prosthetics for the transformation scene - although most of the body modifications were done digitally. AnnaSophia has appeared in a variety of films, including the lead role in 2011's 'Soul Surfer'. She also had the leading role in the tv series "The Carrie Diaries" on the CW. Philip Wiegratz as Augustus Gloop "Augustus IS what he eats." A native of Germany, Philip has appeared mainly in foreign films, such as Germany's 2006 film 'Wild Chicks' and Australia's 2012 film 'Lore'. Philip had to wear a fat suit for his role as Augustus, and he performed his own stunts! (MORE)

Aaron Newcom

In Celebs

The Kids from 2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory": Then and Now

2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was an instant hit for kids and parents alike. The timeless story paired with the oddness of Johnny Depp made it a success… (MORE)

Jaclyn Arguelles

commented on this article

In Entertainment

9 Delicious Movies Where Chocolate Is the Star

This 2005 remake of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" stars Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, the chocolate factory owner who holds a golden ticket lottery for child…ren to visit the factory. Five children win, but it is little Charlie's life that changed forever.Gene Wilder stars in this 1971 movie as Willy Wonka, a beloved eccentric character who holds a golden ticket lottery for a chance to see his amazing chocolate factory. Five children embark on an amazing journey through the factory before Wonka reveals the reason for the golden tickets.This 2007 film is based on the novel of the same title. Agnes Bruckner plays a teenage werewolf who is torn between keeping her family' lycanthropy secret and her growing love for a human man. Although the link between blood and chocolate is not obvious in the film, the novel explains the connection.A Thai mafia boss banishes his former girlfriend and young daughter in this 2008 foreign film. Zen, the daughter, lives next to a martial arts school. This autistic girl watches the practice and eventually becomes a powerful martial artist herself, determined to restore her mothers honor.Forbidden love and chocolate seem like a natural combination. In this 1992 film, Tita and Pedro are deeply in love but cannot be together because of an ancient family tradition. Pedro marries Tita's sister just so he can be near her while Tita prepares remarkable dishes and expresses her love for Pedro.This 1988 film is a dark, surreal look at a private Catholic school and the student/administration hierarchy. A new student, played by John Glover, must submit to bizarre hazing rituals and satisfy the school administration's expectations by selling chocolates.This 1994 movie starring Tom Hanks and Sally Field stems from a novel by Winston Groom. Forest, played by Hanks, delivers the famous line: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." The slow-witted character is actually quite wise.Mara Wilson plays Matilda in this 1996 kid's comedy; a little girl born for great things. If she can deal with her terrible parents and the despicable school principal, that is. Fortunately, her teacher is determined to keep her happy and safely away from them.This 2010 French romantic comedy centers around Jean-Rene, a chocolate factory owner, and Angelique, a gifted chocolate-maker. United by their passion for chocolate, they eventually fall in love. But love, like chocolate-making, is never easy or simple. (MORE)

In Severe Weather

The Willy Willy, or Australian Dust Devil

Dust devils occur wherever there is strong heating and a supply of dust, both of which are abundant in the Australian interior, leading to what the Australians call a willy wi…lly. Dust devils occur everywhere that powerful ground-level heat and dry conditions prevail. This includes the American southwest, the plains of southern Russia and Kazakhstan, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, and so on. Those found in Australia are typical of the rest, but serve to illustrate the meteorological principles of all these phenomena. The source of the name willy willy is probably from the indigenous Australian language, though it is used in English today. It is sometimes rendered as whirly whirly, which suggests a completely English source. However, this is an example of linguistics distorting a word to create a "false" origin in the speaker's native language. Whirly whirly is simply an Anglicization of the original term, based on the chance similarity of the word whirl. Dust devils in Australia and elsewhere are whirling columns of air laden with dust. Though they bear a slight resemblance to the larger whirlwinds, they are not tornadic in character. In fact, these weather events occur in dry, hot, sunny weather. The precise mechanism of their formation was not known for many thousands of years. For this reason, they were associated with evil or wrathful spirits, devils or demons, or djinn (genies) in various parts of the world.A flat surface is needed for a dust devil to take shape. This can be supplied by level ground, flat, dusty desert pavement, or literal pavement. Dust devils have been known to form on highways, city streets, and parking lots in the modern era. Intense heating by the sun just at the ground's surface and for a few feet or yards above it also helps create the situation needed for the formation of these small vortexes. They are thus usually summer phenomena, other than in regions where heat is the norm year-round such as the deserts and the equatorial regions.The start of a dust devil is air rising swiftly above extremely hot ground or pavement. This air is then given a twist or fillip by wind that bends around an obstacle such as trees, rocks, or buildings. Once a spin is imparted to the rising air, it tightens and turns into a self-sustaining vortex. The dust devil thus begins thanks to a mix of interacting factors, including heat, rising air, wind, and a flat surface to serve as the base for the vortex.Dust devils can be stationary, but they generally move along the ground's surface. They measure a few yards in diameter but can be several hundred feet high. A dust devil can last for some time if there is an abundant supply of ground level hot air. As soon as the vortex encounters a cooler surface, such as water or even just grass, it vanishes in matter of moments, blowing apart into dust that wafts away on the wind or sifts down quietly to the ground.The maximum strength of dust devil winds is about sixty miles per hour. This is enough to cause damage to lightweight structures such as tents, booths, or even sheds. A few people have been killed by objects toppled or thrown by one of these vortexes, though this is very rare. Being struck by a dust devil is unpleasant but not dangerous if it does not bring down an object onto the victim's head. The biggest risk is to aircraft, especially since the hot, flat surface of a runway is ideal for dust devil formation. As such, under certain circumstances, dust devils can be considered severe weather, especially since they form rapidly and with little warning. Australia's hot desert interior is obviously an excellent breeding ground for willy willies. Most of the time, these whirls have a whitish or reddish cast that blends in with the dust. However, due to the large wildfires that have afflicted the island continent recently, many of these dust devils pick up ash and acquire a dark grey or black tinge. This makes them visible at a great distance, though it has no other practical effect.The willy willy is a phenomenon that happens all over the globe, though it is given a quaint local name by the Australians. Dust devils have been known since antiquity and are a normal part of air flow over hot, flat surfaces. Their strength is usually not enough to cause serious inconvenience to people, though they can be noisy at times. These whirls usually blow apart within 20 minutes or less of their formation, but serve as a dramatic example of several details of atmospheric physics.Dust devils are one of the few weather patterns known to occur on other planets in the solar system. They are found specifically on Mars, confirmed by photos and films provided by the Mars rovers. They appear to be precisely the same as those found on Earth. (MORE)