The Kids of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory All Grown Up
Does anyone recognize this AT&T commercial that aired like 950 times a day in the month of May? Hell the thing is still on sometimes. And every single time it played I had the song “Pure Imagination” in my head for the rest of that day. So naturally when I saw it again today I figured I’d do some kind of a Willy Wonka article.
And it reminded me of when I saw this crazy picture of Peter Ostrum. Guy looked like some kind of a pedophile. In case you’re wondering he still does look that way (he’s on the right in the photo above).
But what about the rest of the kids? I was able to dig up some videos of the Wonka kids all grown up. Enjoy!
Peter Ostrum AKA Charlie Bucket
I’m pretty sure that Ostrum is one of the weirdest people in the universe.
Julie Dawn Cole AKA Veruca Salt
Here Julie answers questions about what everyone was up to as of 2008. I’m pretty sure my favorite is Charlie Bucket being a veterinarian.
Denise Nickerson AKA Violet Beauregard
Jesus she looks like some sort of a nurse doesn’t she? Wow. Chris Parente interviews Denise Nickerson who played Violet Beauregard in the original Willy Wonka film in this promo for the annual Colorado Chocolate Festival. Turns out the oompa loompas were heavy drinkers. Awesome.
Paris Themmen AKA Mike Tee Vee
This was a Willy Wonka Birthday Party with around 20 guests that did not know that Paris Themmen AKA Mike Tee Vee was going to be there. The whole house was set up to look like the Willy Wonka factory with Wonka Bar Candy Boxes and Tons of Candy everywhere.
Michael Bollner AKA Augustus Gloop
I’m extremely pissed that I couldn’t find a video. If anyone has one please send one to us. Apparently Bollner is now a tax accountant in Munich.
“How Does winning make you feel Augustus?”
“Hungry!”
Glad to see much hasnt changed in the world of willy wonka……except for Charlie looking like Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones.
“Glad to see much hasnt changed in the world of willy wonka……except for Charlie looking like Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones.”
LOL, but you are so wrong for that J5. So wrong. Poor Peter/Charlie.
In any case, the original Wonka film is one of my favorite films of all time. It’s one of the few I never tired seeing repeatedly whenever it’s one–I can’t say that about The Wizard of Oz and the other classics are shown during specific holidays.
All the actors from the film seem to be lovely people who’ve made something of themselves outside of Hollywood. Denise seems like a hoot. She sounds exactly the same to me as she did from the film. I get nostalgic from this film (though I wasn’t even yet born when it came out). “Pure Imagination” truly a great song. This film gives me joy. Makes me smile now just thinking about it.
Thanks for the post.
I loved this movie for all my life and I will love it forever.
I love this movie, forever, as long as I live.
Omg they look so different… Not in a bad way. They look good for their ages. They just look so much different that what I am used to. Speaking of Willy Wonka, it’s on abc family right now and I’m watching it. 🙂