Where are the Wonka kids now?: Charlie Bucket

I don't know about you, but I well remember when and where I saw the classic 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And since then, I've seen it numerous other times and have enjoyed watching it with my own children. I've only just learned that a British documentary about the Wonka kids was released in 2007, where the five got together and shared about their experiences of making the beloved film and about where their lives have taken them since. I was around the same age as all of these children when the film was made, so I relate to them as part of my generation.

I found the documentary, After They Were Famous: Willy Wonka, on YouTube, divided into five parts, which is perfect for presenting the five videos along with a feature for each child.

I chose to feature first, Peter Ostrum, who played the young hero of the story, Charlie Bucket. Peter was born on November 1st, 1957 in Dallas Texas, but grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. He landed the part of Charlie after he was discovered by a casting agency through a play he did at the Cleveland Playhouse children's theater.

"It was the pre-video era, so they took a few Polaroid pictures and tape-recorded me reading from the book," Ostrum recalled. The casting agents returned to New York, offering nothing more than "Don't call us--we'll call you if we're interested." Approximately two months later, however, they did call, and he went to New York for a screen test. Another month passed before he got the word, "Pack your bags and be ready to fly to Munich, Germany in 10 days to begin filming."

One of the things Ostrum treasures from his German odyssey was being 12 and living abroad. "It was sort of like being an exchange student for five months," he said. The film was shot prior to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. "They were building the Olympic city at that time, and that was exciting."

"Everybody thinks that acting is such a glamorous profession, but it's a difficult profession." After the picture wrapped, the studio heads were prepared to offer him a three-picture deal if he signed on the dotted line.

So what did Ostrum do? He said "no" to acting and went to veterinary school instead. After he finished high school and led a really normal kid's life, he went on to veterinary school, graduating from Cornell University in 1984. Yep! that's right! "Charlie Bucket" takes care of dairy cattle in Glenfield, NY and loves it! He has a wife and kids and is leading the life he says that he always dreamed of and is very happy with his choice to pursue veterinary medicine instead of acting.

Information source: Dr. Ostrum and the chocolate factory, AVMA Journal website