Despite being a firm favorite in many households over the years Peter Ostrum, who rose to stardom after portraying the loveable Charlie Bucket in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie, chose to pursue a different path after his successful debut and never returned to the big screen.
The 1971 film, starring the remarkable Gene Wilder – who sadly passed away in 2016 – as Willy Wonka, received critical acclaim, although it wasn’t a massive financial hit.
Playing Charlie brought Ostrum into the limelight as a poor boy whose life changed forever after discovering a golden ticket to tour Wonka’s magical chocolate factory.
The flick, based on Roald Dahl’s book, also featured other talented child actors – including Julie Dan Cole, Denise Nickerson, Paris Themmen, and Michael Böllner.
Despite their diverse careers after the movie, Ostrum eventually chose not to continue acting and ventured into a completely different field.
In fact, in 2021, during a reunion interview with the cast to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary, the now 65-year-old Ostrum explained his decision not to pursue Hollywood stardom.
“I guess I did have the option of a three-picture deal, but I had no idea. They had no idea of what those pictures were going to be. Maybe because I’m obsessive-compulsive a little bit, I didn’t like giving up that freedom of signing on the dotted line, not knowing what I was going to be asked to do,” Ostrum said, via NPR.
“I liked working on the film,” he continued, “but I wasn’t completely sold that I was to be an actor for the rest of my life. Nevertheless, it’s still delightful to know that people are watching and enjoying the film 50 years later. Who would have known? This was the film to make.”
Instead of pursuing a Hollywood career, Ostrum followed his passion for animals and became a veterinarian. Upon returning from the film, his family purchased a house, which led him to consider a career in veterinary medicine. Before attending college, he took some time to explore his options and eventually embarked on a successful career in the field.
Currently, Ostrum practices in Lowville, New York, specializing mainly in caring for horses and cows. Although it’s a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown, it has been a rewarding and fulfilling career for him.
I definitely didn’t expect that!
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