Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Then And Now

Peter Ostrum (Charlie) THEN

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Charlie Bucket was the lucky kid living in poverty who won the iconic golden ticket to go to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Charlie was the main character of the movie, and the most likeable of course, which is probably why Wonka wanted him to take over the chocolate business.

Peter Ostrum (Charlie) NOW

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You'd think that in such a legendary movie, and with playing the main character, that the child actor would go on to have a successful career with opportunities being thrown at him. But actor Peter Ostrum actually retired from acting and went on to become a veterinarian instead!

Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) THEN

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Veruca Salt was the little girl whose name pretty much summed up her personality - but how much could you blame that spoiled attitude on her parents? She ended up going missing down the garbage shoot after angering the Chocolate Factory with her bratty behaviour.

Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) NOW

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Julie Dawn Cole, now 65 years old, continued her acting career after Willy Wonka, with acting roles in TV and film. She's also put her acting chops towards voice work and even pantomimes (a UK stage performance tradition that usually happens every Christmas!).

Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde) THEN

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We all remember how Violet turned - well.. violet, when she turned into a blueberry at Wonka's chocolate factory. This came after the child ignored the strict instructions given by Willy Wonka not to eat the gum - but, of course, she did it anyway, and paid the price.

Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde) NOW

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Denise Nickerson sadly passed away in 2019, at the age of 62. After her child acting performance in Willy Wonka, she went on to play other roles in TV, including the soap opera Dark Shadows. In her later years, she actually retired from acting and switched to office work.

Paris Themmen (Mike Teavee) THEN

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Mike Teavee is another young kid lucky enough to win a golden ticket - all sounds above board, right? Well, it would be if he actually liked chocolate in the first place. The ungrateful little boy would instead rather be at home all day watching television and playing video games.

Paris Themmen (Mike Teavee) NOW

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Denise Nickerson wasn't the only child actor from this movie to switch to a different career later in life. Paris Themmen is best known in the world of acting for his role as Mike Teavee, and he then went on to become a real estate broker, as well as a casting director.

Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop) THEN

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If there's anyone that looked at home in a chocolate factory, it's the gluttonous Augustus Gloop. Any opportunity for the German boy to stuff his face! Unfortunately for him, his greediness meant he fell into the chocolate river and sucked up into the plumbing system.

Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop) NOW

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Michael Bollner was actually born in Germany, so yes he really was German when he played Augustus Gloop! The actor is best known for his role at the chocolate factory, but he also went on to star in M.U.G.E.N and Bizarre Transmissions from the Bermuda Triangle.

Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe) THEN

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Grandpa Joe was of course one of the main characters of the movie, along with Charlie and Wonka himself. Grandpa Joe accompanied Charlie to the famous chocolate factory, but he also seemed to have a sneaky side when he was angry about Wonka's dismissal of Charlie and even suggested giving Wonka's rival, Slugworth, a gobstobber in revenge.

Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe) NOW

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Jack Albertson was already an old man when he appeared in the 1971 version of Willy Wonka, and he sadly passed away in 1981. Over his long and successful career, he'd worked as an actor, singer, dancer, comedian and had won many awards for his talents.

Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka) THEN

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Willy Wonka was, of course, the owner of the chocolate factory and the poor man who had to put up with some very spoilt kids in the hope of finding a new heir for his chocolate fortune. Wonka was quirky, strange and - in the end - a very heartwarming character, with great fashion sense let's be honest.

Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka) NOW

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Gene Wilder was already a legendary actor when he took on the role of Willy Wonka. The rest of his career passed in the same way, and he also worked as a talented writer, comedian and filmmaker. He sadly passed away in 2016, at 83 years old, after being diagnosed with Alzeimer's.

Roy Kinnear (Mr Salt) THEN

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Mr Salt was the father of Veruca Salt, who escorted his daughter to the factory. We saw Mr Salt as a bad father who enabled his daughter's bad behavior by telling her she could have whatever she wanted. If she clicked her fingers and said she wanted a pony, he'd make sure she got a pony!

Roy Kinnear (Mr Salt) NOW

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You may recognize Roy Kinnear as the father of another well-known British actor these days, Rory Kinnear. Roy was a famous English character actor who had a hugely successful career before his death in 1988, at only 54 years old, after suffering injuries sustained after filming a movie.

Leonard Stone (Mr Beauregarde) THEN

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Mr Beauregarde is the father of Violet, who accompanies his daughter to the factory - and, like Mr Salt, he seems to very much enable her bratty behaviour. It's no surprise that he also seems to get along with the other father at the factory tour, Mr Salt.

Leonard Stone (Mr Beauregarde) NOW

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Leonard Stone was almost 50 years old when he appeared as Violet's father in the Willy Wonka film - his successful acting career continued until his death in 2011, at the age of 87. The character actor played over a 135 roles in TV and film over the course of his lifetime.

Nora Denney (Mrs Teavee) THEN

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Mrs Teavee is the mother of Mike Teavee who accompanies her son to the factory. It's clear that Mrs Teavee is a bit of a pushover when it comes to her son's forceful personality, and she seems very easily rattled - but then again, why wouldn't you be when your son has been shrunk small enough to fit in your purse?

Nora Denney (Mrs Teavee) NOW

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Also known as Dodo Denney, this Willy Wonka actress had a successful career, including roles in movies like Splash and I Walk the Line, as well as TV roles in popular shows like Bewitched. She sadly died of cancer in 2005, at the age of 78, leaving behind a husband and two children.

Ursula Reit (Mrs Gloop) THEN

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Mrs Gloop is the mother of Augustus Gloop who doesn't seem to be batting an eye at her son's unhealthy eating habits. How much of a child's obesity can you blame on the parent? She seemed particularly shocked when her son fell into the river, but that at least was a valid parental reaction.

Ursula Reit (Mrs Gloop) NOW

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Ursula Reit was a German actress who starred in television shows as well as movies, but one of her most well-known roles was as Mrs Gloop in Willy Wonka before she quietly slipped into retirement. Ursula Reit actually passed away in 1998, in her home country of Germany, at the age of 84.

Diana Sowle (Mrs Bucket) THEN

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Mrs Bucket is the mother of Charlie, trying to do her best for her poor family whilst being a supportive mother at the same time. She hits the jackpot when her son Charlie manages to win the chocolate factory - with his whole family allowed to move in to boot. Win!

Diana Sowle (Mrs Bucket) NOW

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The American actress who played Charlie's mother was best known for her role in Willy Wonka, as she only had a few minor other roles on screen, including Clear and Present Danger and Guarding Tess in the 90s. She did also provide voice acting for the video game Fallout 3. She passed away in 2018, at the age of 88.

Günter Meiser (Mr Slugworth) THEN

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In the 1971 movie, Mr Slugworth was first portrayed as a sleazy competitor to Wonka who was trying to convince the children to give away the chocolate factory secrets. We find out at the end of the movie that Slugworth was actually an employee of Willy Wonka when he wanted to test their loyalties.

Günter Meiser (Mr Slugworth) NOW

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The actor who played the mysterious Mr Slugworth passed away in 1994, at the age of 68. The German film and television actor had many key roles, including as Adolf Hitler in more than one movie performance. He was also fluent in four different languages, appearing in many German, French and English roles.

David Battley (Mr Turkentine) THEN

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Charlie's teacher didn't get a lot of screen time, but boy did he own it. He came in with a serious look and a hairdo with need for improvement, and then gave a mind puzzle about work on Friday being given on a Monday, but it doesn't matter because it's Tuesday... or something to that effect. Go back and watch, see if you can work it out!

David Battley (Mr Turkentine) NOW

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David John Battley was a British actor who was known for a wide variety of stage and screen roles, with a talent for comedy - that makes sense why his role as Charlie's teacher was an effortlessly comic one! Sadly, the actor passed away in 2003 at the age of 67.

Peter Capell (The Tinker) THEN

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The Tinker is a very mysterious minor character in the movie, with a rather ominous warning for Charlie as he's walking by. As Charlie is stopped outside the chocolate factory, the passing Tinker remarks that "Nobody ever goes in... nobody ever comes out...". And we never see him again!

Peter Capell (The Tinker) NOW

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You may think that the actor playing the Tinker in the movie, with such a short screen time, might just be an extra or someone without a huge career, but Peter Capell was a talented actor known for appearing in many films and TV roles. He passed away in 1986.

Then And Now: The 2005 Tim Burton Version! First Up, Freddie Highmore (Charlie) THEN

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In Tim Burton's version, Charlie Bucket has a story that's a little different - in the end, he returns home with Willy Wonka and tells him that he wouldn't give up his family for all the chocolate in the world - because apparently Wonka has a big NOPE against parents.

Freddie Highmore (Charlie) NOW

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Freddie Highmore has had an amazing career, and so much so that 'Charlie from that Willy Wonka film' isn't even what he's best known for. He's all grown up now, and he's starred in dramas like The Good Doctor, and even taking on less sweet roles like Bates Motel!

AnnaSophia Robb (Violet Beauregarde) THEN

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Violet, complete with bright blue (berry) tracksuit and her matching mother in two is an award-winning gum chewer. As we all know, someone chewing gum in your face is one of the most annoying things in the world - and even worse when a bratty little kid is doing it.

AnnaSophia Robb (Violet Beauregarde) NOW

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Actress AnnaSophia Robb, now 29 years old, continued a successful acting career, as well as a modelling career (because of course she did, look at her!). She's also had luck in love as she recently got married, too. She's also appeared in the music video for Ed Sheeran's 'Shivers'!

Julia Winter (Veruca Salt) THEN

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In the 2005, Veruca Salt honestly acts like a 40 year old in a child's body with that snarky stare and her whole demeanor. Except when she's having a tantrum about wanting a pony, of course. She also wants a squirrel - which inevitably leads to her downfall... right down the garbage chute.

Julia Winter (Veruca Salt) NOW

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Veruca Salt in the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is actually the only acting role Julia Winters has had - which is a shame, because she was so good in it! It's heard on the grapevine that she's actually gone after a medical career in her home country of Sweden instead!

Jordan Fry (Mike Teavee) THEN

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This later adaption of Mike Teavee is actually very much like the original, minus the cowboy hat - he's still an ungrateful brat, he still loves playing video games and watching television all day, and shows his ingratitude during every shot he's in. But he obviously gets his comeuppance in the end!

Jordan Fry (Mike Teavee) NOW

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Jordan Fry is still known as an American actor, but his best role is still as Mike in the chocolate factory. He starred in a couple more things after this movie, including Meet the Robinsons and Raising Flagg, but it seems he's now living a quiet life in Southern California.

Philip Wiegratz (Augustus Gloop) THEN

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Tim Burton's version of Augustus Gloop was completely unrealistic. Know why? Because there's no way you could be that unhealthy and eat that amount of chocolate and have such perfect porcelain skin. I mean look at it! Gloop met his fate in the chocolate river, of course.

Philip Wiegratz (Augustus Gloop) NOW

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Is this the same guy?? Despite his movie star good looks, Philip decided not to pursue a long term acting career, and is now a 'former' actor. He appeared in a few other things, but his role as Augustus is his most well known. Instead, he is now working as a software engineer in Germany!

Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs Bucket) THEN

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Well of course Helena Bonham Carter was going to be cast in this movie somehow, a long-time favorite of her ex Tim Burton. But he couldn't cast her as Willy Wonka so he settled for the matronly Mrs Bucket, Charlie's mother, who likes to make cabbage. A lot of cabbage.

Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs Bucket) NOW

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Of course, Bonham Carter had a successful acting career way before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and has continued to do so since. She's starred in pretty much everything under the sun, including Harry Potter, Oceans 8, The Crown and The King's Speech.

Noah Taylor (Mr Bucket) THEN

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With Burton's new backstory for the movie that saw a toothpaste factory and Wonka having a dentist as a father, Mr Bucket was a man who had been laid off after becoming obsolete when a robot arm could do his job for him. Sound familiar? We bet he isn't a fan of 'unexpected item in bagging area'.

Noah Taylor (Mr Bucket) NOW

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Noah Taylor is an Australian actor who, like Bonham Carter, already had a great career before this movie, and one after it! He's starred in other big roles like in Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, Preacher and Max. He currently lives in London and likes painting and music alongside playing on screen!

Missi Pyle (Mrs. Beauregarde) THEN

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In this updated version of the movie, Violet's mother was given a different look - and by different, we mean identical to her daughter. Either Violet modelled her look after her mother's, or Mrs Beauregarde is one of those mothers in denial and living through her children.

Missi Pyle (Mrs. Beauregarde) NOW

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Miss Pyle has been a great actress, both in serious roles and comedy ones (and yes, that's her with the unibrow in Dodgeball). These days, the 50-year-old actress can be seen on both television and film, as well as starring in a web series or two. She has one daughter.

Blair Dunlop (Young Willy Wonka) THEN

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We get to see an adorable young Willy Wonka, complete with head brace, in the 2005 version, a young boy who was told he could never have candy because of his strict dentist father, and a young boy who wanted nothing more to travel the world and find all the exciting candy flavors!

Blair Dunlop (Young Willy Wonka) NOW

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Did you ever even give thought to what happened to the guy who played young Willy Wonka? You probably thought this was his first and only role! Well, Blair Dunlop is actually now a well-known musician, specialising in folk music, and has released more than one successful album!

Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka) THEN

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And, of course, we have the chocolatier himself - Willy Wonka. A little bit different than Gene Wilder's frazzled-hair look in the original movie, but no less stylish with that hat and sleek bob. This version of Willy Wonka saw some unresolved daddy issues, before he eventually moved Charlie and his whole family into the factory.

Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka) NOW

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Well, we all know what Johnny Depp has been doing most recently, down to his highly publicised and messy divorce from Amber Heard. He's still been acting since Willy Wonka, of course, and that was only one of his many, many roles (and collaborations with Tim Burton!).