‘Willy Wonka’ Cast Reunite For Film’s 44th Anniversary

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory cast has reunited for the classic film’s 44th anniversary.

Willy Wonka Reunion

All of the child stars in Willy Wonka – Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee) and Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop) sat down for an interview on NBC’s Today show to reminisce about filming the 1971 picture. Rusty Goffe, who played the head Oompa-Loompa, was present for the interview as well.

More than 40 years after the movie starring Gene Wilder in the titular role hit theaters, the former costars remain close.”We think of ourselves as part of a family,” said Themmen. “Maybe a bit of a dysfunctional family, but a family really.”

Themmen and the rest bond over their shared love of the movie they were all a part of making. They’re all in agreement that if given the chance, they’d go back and experience being on that set again. One of the many rewards of the experience is seeing people smile when they learn they were in the cast. “We call it the Wonka Effect,” said Cole.

 

Though the cast were hesitant to shatter the illusions of Willy Wonka, they did reveal that the Chocolate River was not, in fact, chocolate. Bollner, whose character Augustus Gloop fell into the river, revealed it was only water. Goffe added, “It was disgusting.”

While the lack of chocolate in the Chocolate River might be disappointing to some fans, they are sure to be thrilled to know that Wilder was quite a bit more patient with the child actors than his character was with his young visitors.

“Five kids clambering all over you, wanting his attention,” Cole described set life for the Oscar-nominated star. “There was never any ‘Please don’t follow Mr. Wilder’ – and we must have been pretty tiresome.”

These days, only Goffe and Cole have continued in the acting profession, while Themmen has moved behind the scenes to work in production and casting. Nickerson continued in Hollywood until the late 70s before becoming an accountant. Bollner is a tax accountant, and Ostrum works as a veterinarian.