Child actor who played Charlie in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory never acted again and still gets paid for the role

Peter Ostrum went on to have a very different career

When you’re one of the lead actors in a beloved classic, it’s assumed you’ll go on to have an illustrious career in Hollywood.

Many actors got their start as a kid, whether it was Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun or Drew Barrymore in E.T.

But for some former child actors, they live the rest of their lives in a totally normal way and hang up their acting boots for good.

Peter Ostrum played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film (Warner Bros.)

Peter Ostrum is a classic example of that.

While he’s not a household name, his likeness is recognisable the world over.

In 1971, he starred in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in the role of Charlie Bucket, the plucky protagonist.

Alongside four bratty kids, the good-hearted Charlie went on a tour of the magical chocolate factory after finding the coveted Golden Ticket.

Kids fell down garbage chutes, kids got turned into human blueberries – all the elements you need for a family classic.

It’s still a film that is beloved by families 53 years after it was released.

But despite his explosive big screen debut, Ostrum has never acted since.

Peter Ostrum starred alongside four other kids as the visitors to Willy Wonka’s famous factory (Warner Bros.)

Where is Peter Ostrum now?

Ostrum, now 67, ended up pursing a career as a vet.

He also went on to have two kids with his wife Loretta Lepkowski, who he married in 1987.

But despite not having another acting credit to his name, Ostrum still receives some cash from his foray onto the silver screen.

However, these royalties aren’t enough to live off by any stretch.

In a 2018 interview, the Texas-born former actor said he received a payment from the Willy Wonka film every three months.

Ostrum left the limelight behind (David Livingston/Getty Images)

How much does Ostrum still make from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory?

Between $8 and $10 every few months.

In this economy, that kind of cash wouldn’t get you very far if you wanted to buy up a stack of Wonka bars.

Suffice to say, once news of this broke online, people had a lot to say on the matter.

One Twitter user remarked: “Oh man, that kid got a terrible contract.”

Another said: “$40 a year? That’s crazy. Glad he got out and had a good job.”

Ostrum decided pretty early on that he didn’t want to be a movie star, turning down a three-picture deal after the success of Willy Wonka.

Speaking of his decision, Ostrum later said: “Do I regret turning down the movie offer?

“I don’t think so, I love the job I am doing right now.

“Granted, it is about as far away from Hollywood as you can get.

“I made a choice that fit what I wanted, and it shaped how life unfolded for me.

“Would life have been better if I took the movie offer? Maybe, but I’ll never know, and it’s something I’ll never question.”

Sounds like he was the perfect person to play the thoughtful and conscientious Charlie Bucket.