Child actor who played Charlie in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory never had another acting job and still gets paid for it

The actor who played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory went on to live a very different life after deciding Hollywood wasn't for him.

There are loads of famous faces who got their start as child actors – notably, Drew Barrymore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kirsten Dunst – all of whom went on to enjoy long and illustrious careers which continue to this day.

Other child actors, who may have played a cherished role in our childhoods, may have become one-hit wonders, rarely gracing our screens again. Looking at you Jeff Cohen, it's not just Sloth that loves Chunk, many of us would love a Goonies sequel.

There are of course other familiar faces you may recognise who never went on to act again. Peter Ostrum, beloved star of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of them.

In 1971, Ostrum played the role of Charlie Bucket, the kind-hearted protagonist who went on a tour of the magical chocolate factory after finding the coveted Golden Ticket, along with four other plucky kids.

Peter Ostrum as Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Paramount)

54 years after it was released, the film, starring the late Gene Wilder, is beloved to families around the world, but its young lead was never to be seen again.

What happened to Peter Ostrum?

Ostrum was 12 years old when selected by talent agents for Willy Wonka. Though he enjoyed the experience of shooting the film, he opted not to sign up for more films, despite the film becoming hugely successful.

Now 67, Ostrum became interested in his family's horses when he returned from shooting Willy Wonka and was particularly influenced by the veterinarian who tended to them, later becoming a vet himself.

After a long career as a vet, he retired by late 2023, living in New York with his wife Loretta Lepkowski, having raised two children with her.

Peter Ostrum pictured last year (Chuck Fishman/Getty Images)

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

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

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, as he earns between $8 and $10 every few months.

After the news came out, many went online to share that he should've got more for his lead role.

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."

Though he could've enjoyed more Hollywood success, Ostrum turned down a three-picture deal and decided pretty early on that he didn't want to be a movie star.

Peter Ostrum at a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory fan event (Chuck Fishman/Getty Images)

Speaking of his decision in 2018, he 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.