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Peter Ostrum was just 14 years old when he stepped into the shoes of Charlie Bucket in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Playing the humble, golden-hearted boy who finds the final Golden Ticket alongside the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, portrayed by Gene Wilder, Ostrum seemed destined for a glittering Hollywood career.
But while the film went on to become one of the most beloved family movies of all time, Ostrum took a very different path, swapping the soundstage for a stable, and eventually a career in veterinary medicine.
Now, 54 years after the film’s release, the former actor has revealed that he still earns royalties from his one and only movie role… although it’s far from a fortune.
“I make around $8 to $9 in royalties every three months from the film being shown on TV,” Ostrum told the Daily Mirror.
While the pay may not be life-changing, it’s a reminder of how a single role can leave a lasting connection between an actor and their audience, and in Ostrum’s case, a connection to one of cinema’s most magical tales.
When Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was first released in 1971, it wasn’t an instant hit.
“Back then when the film came out there was no red carpet premiere,” Ostrum recalled. “I was in my hometown in Ohio and they had an opening there and I was the only one there. There was a little bit of fanfare but not much, and the film died a quiet death.”
Peter Ostrum reflects on the life of Gene Wilder in the 2023 doc Remembering Gene Wilder - Credit: Everett Collection
Reviews at the time were lukewarm, and many assumed the film would fade into obscurity. But a decade later, something unexpected happened. Thanks to repeated television broadcasts in the 1980s and the arrival of VHS tapes, the film found a whole new audience, and a new life.
Suddenly, families everywhere were falling in love with Charlie, Willy Wonka, the Oompa-Loompas, and that unforgettable chocolate river. The once modest release became a cultural phenomenon, cementing itself as a timeless classic for generations.
For Ostrum, however, Hollywood stardom wasn’t the dream. He chose instead to pursue his passion for animals, studying at the prestigious Cornell University and becoming a respected veterinarian. In fact, his very first purchase with his Willy Wonka pay cheque was a horse.
Today, Ostrum lives a quiet life away from the spotlight, but every few months, a small reminder of his time in the chocolate factory arrives in his bank account. And though the payments are tiny, the joy the film continues to bring people around the world is priceless.
