Parenting

The Cast of 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' -- See Them Then & Now (PHOTOS)

ParentingPublished Nov 12, 2015
By Jenny Erikson
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It's been 44 years since the the Oompa Loompa song got stuck in our heads forever. Yup, it's the 44th anniversary of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the Gene Wilder insta-classic based on Roald Dahl's bestselling children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Charlie, Veruca, Mike, Violet, and Augustus weren't the only ones whose lives were changed by winning a Wonka Golden Ticket -- I know my childhood wouldn't be the same without this wonderful movie. After all -- it's a land of pure imagination.

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The five "kids" (now grown adults, obviously) and Rusty Goffe (one of the Oompa Loompas) sat down for an interview with the Today show, and wow, we can't believe how much they've changed!

Check out these then-and-now photos of the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars.

Image via Silver Screen Collection/Contributor/Getty Images

1/14
Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket-placeholder
Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket
Michael Ochs Archives/Handout/Getty Images

Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket

Has a chocolate bar ever changed anyone's life so much?

2/14
Peter Ostrum Now-placeholder
Peter Ostrum Now
Derek Storm/Splash News/Corbis

Peter Ostrum Now

Willy Wonka was the only movie Peter was ever in, believe it or not! He's now a veterinarian.

More from The StirThen & Now: 10 Awkward Male Child Stars Who Grew Up to Be Gorgeous (PHOTOS)

3/14
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka-placeholder
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka
Silver Screen Collection/Contributor/Getty Images

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka was one of the famed actor's most iconic roles.

4/14
Gene Wilder Now-placeholder
Gene Wilder Now
Ron Asadorian/Splash News/Corbis

Gene Wilder Now

Now 82, Wilder doesn't make many public appearances anymore. This was taken during an outing to the U.S. Men's Open in early 2015.

5/14
Denise Nickerson as Violet Beauregarde-placeholder
Denise Nickerson as Violet Beauregarde
Michael Ochs Archives/Handout/Getty Images

Denise Nickerson as Violet Beauregarde

You're turning violet, Violet! Hopefully this habitual gum-chewer learned her lesson.

More from The StirThen & Now: 10 Awkward Female Child Stars Who Grew Up to Be Gorgeous (PHOTOS)

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Denise Nickerson Now-placeholder
Denise Nickerson Now
Derek Storm/Splash News/Corbis

Denise Nickerson Now

Denise acted in a few films until she quit at age 21. She's made sporadic TV appearances since then.

7/14
Julie Dawn Cole as Veruca Salt-placeholder
Julie Dawn Cole as Veruca Salt
TODAY

Julie Dawn Cole as Veruca Salt

The brattiest of bratty children! Cole says that when her own daughter acted out when she was younger, she'd start calling her Veruca.

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Julie Dawn Cole Now-placeholder
Julie Dawn Cole Now
Derek Storm/Splash News/Corbis

Julie Dawn Cole Now

Cole now works as a psychotherapist, after acting on and off since playing Veruca.

9/14
Paris Themmen as Mike Teevee-placeholder
Paris Themmen as Mike Teevee
TODAY

Paris Themmen as Mike Teevee

Can you imagine this TV-loving kid in today's iPad world? Yeah, I don't want to either.

10/14
Paris Themmen Now-placeholder
Paris Themmen Now
Derek Storm/Splash News/Corbis

Paris Themmen Now

The former child star left acting at 14 to just be a kid, but acted in a few roles here and there through the years.

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11/14
Michael Bollner as Augustus Gloop-placeholder
Michael Bollner as Augustus Gloop
TODAY

Michael Bollner as Augustus Gloop

Ahh yes, the always hungry Augustus Gloop. The first to go in the candy factory, after falling into the chocolate river. Disappointingly, the actor tells us that it was really just colored water.

12/14
Michael Bollner Now-placeholder
Michael Bollner Now
Derek Storm/Splash News/Corbis

Michael Bollner Now

Bollner is now a successful tax attorney in Munich. Much better fate than drowning in a chocolate river!

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Rusty Goffe as an Oompa Loompa-placeholder
Rusty Goffe as an Oompa Loompa
TODAY

Rusty Goffe as an Oompa Loompa

You're singing in your head right now, I know it! Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do, I've got another puzzle for you.

More from The Stir: Then & Now: 14 Famous Actors Who Started Out on Soap Operas (PHOTOS)

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Rusty Goffe Now-placeholder
Rusty Goffe Now
Derek Storm/Splash News/Corbis

Rusty Goffe Now

Goffe is still working as an actor, most recently as the the "Aged Goblin" Chief Bank Teller in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

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