Who was the American child actor who shot to fame with one film in 1971, but left Hollywood and is now a qualified veterinary doctor?

© 1971 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved Peter Ostrum, who played golden ticket-winner Charlie Bucket in “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,” will attend a meet and greet at The Redford Theatre, March 8-9.

This child actor was just 14 years of age when he gained stardom with the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. He worked with megastars such as Gene Wilder. But subsequently, he declined a good offer and later failed to get good roles. Thus, though talented, he was just a one film star. However, later, he acquired a doctorate in vet medicine and became a vet practitioner. Do you know his name?

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About the film Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a musical fantasy film of 1971 that Mel Stuart directed. The story revolves around a poor paperboy, Charlie Bucket who is unable to afford his favorite sweets and confectionery. But due to his honesty and moral values, he wins the prize of the chocolate factory owner who promises to make him heir of his factory on retirement.

The boy who was cast as Charlie was Peter Ostrum who was just 14 years of age at that time (Date of birth 1 November 1957). No doubt that Peter was a talented actor. But his entry into the entertainment industry was by luck. Talent agents noticed Peter when he was acting in Cleveland Play House Children’s theater. They offered him the role of Charlie Bucket in the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. Peter took up the offer and completed the film.

Peter Ostrum wins accolades

Peter’s acting in the movie was appreciated and he won the hearts of the viewers. Frawley Becker, the dialogue coach of the movie had this to say about Peter:

“Peter was a child who acted—he wasn’t a child actor. He had none of the obvious technique, tricks, or affectations of the kind that TV kid actors had, and continue to have. He was genuine, and his sincerity as a person shines through in his performance. He was an extremely intelligent kid, who was both self-aware and skilled at what he was doing.”

The movie was shot in West Germany and Peter enjoyed filming for it. He had stated that the experience was like he was an exchange student in Germany for five months. He also enjoyed working with bigwigs, Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson. Peter looked up at Gene Wilder as a parent.

After this film success, David L Wolper offered Peter a three-film contract. But Peter did not accept it because he wanted to have his freedom of choice over his future films and roles.

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Later, Peter gave auditions for several prominent roles but did not land any. He decided to not pursue acting and relocated to Lowville in New York. He avoided the paparazzi and did not tell anyone about his stardom of one film. Even his wife, Loretta did not know about it until she met his mother.

Peter chooses veterinary medicine as career

After completing filming for the movie, on his return home, Peter’s parents bought home a horse. Peter loved riding it. The vet who used to attend to the horse was Peter’s inspiration and he decided to take veterinary medicine as a vocation.

Peter took a break after high school and groomed horses at the Delaware Equine Center in Pennsylvania. He joined Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and obtained a doctorate in vet medicine in 1984. He began working at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville and retired from it. He had also served the Dairy Health & Management Services as a managing director for many years.

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