‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’: Why did the Charlie imitator disappear?

The teenager performed in children’s theater at the Cleveland Play House from an early age. It was during one of the shows He was noticed by a talent agent and offered to participate in casting.

After the hearings, the actor’s family had to act quickly; Ostrom He only had 10 days to pack the most important thingsThen go to Munich for five months.

Playing Charlie was a huge challenge for Ostrom. However, from the very beginning, he could count on the support of an experienced actor with whom he had to take his first steps in the industry – Gene Wilder.

Years later, the actor described the legendary Wonka impersonator as… Quirky but kind, he treats everyone around him with respect and dignity. Wilder died in 2016, and although he never saw Ostrom again after the film was made, he compared his death to the loss of a biological parent.

Shortly after the premiere of the story about the chocolate factory, the young actor received an offer to sign a contract for three more films, which, despite the fun on the set, he ultimately refused. He explained his decision by saying that he wanted to have the freedom to choose titles for himself.

When Ostrom returned to regular life, he tried out some small theatrical roles. But in the end, it turned out that he didn’t feel like acting was his thing. more He was busy taking care of the horseWhich was purchased by the boy’s family shortly after his return from the group. He then became fascinated with veterinary medicine and decided that his future would be with him.

After graduating from high school, Ostrom decided to take a break before college to gain experience working with his beloved animals. finally He completed his education as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. He worked at a clinic in Lovell most of his life, retiring from there last year.

Ostrom usually refrains from talking about his short experience in the film industry. He didn’t want to be judged based on his role; He wanted people to judge him based on the kind of person he was.

It took years for him to open up to others about this information. Previously, he tried to convince people around him that his brother played the lead role in the production. He didn’t even reveal this to his future wife until she was about to meet his mother for the first time.

When the truth officially came to light, the local community and university students often wondered about the details of the production and the fate of the characters. man Every year he visits the academy as a special guest at the end of the school year to talk about his experiences working on set and his veterinary career.

Today, Peter Ostrom is 66 years old and lives happily with his wife, Loretta, whom he married in 1987. Together they enjoy their free time in retirement. They also had two children, a daughter, Helena, and a son, Leif, who is trying out acting by playing in school musicals.