Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in 1971 never acted again but still gets paid for his role in the iconic movie, but the number he gets to cash out every few months is shocking.
A lot of actors start their careers young
Many stars we know today started their careers young. Think of actors like Drew Barrymore who started in E.T. or Christian Bale whose early career saw him in Empire of the Sun.
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But unlike these two, Peter Ostrum didn’t choose to carry on with his career after his first hit role as a child.
Ostrum’s name may not be as recognizable as his face
Since Ostrum never acted again, his name might not sound that familiar. But for kids who saw him as the protagonist of the famous Roald Dahl story, his likeness is recognizable.
Ostrum starred as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
The movie was a hit
The movie saw a good-hearted Charlie win a Golden Ticket from a Willy Wonka chocolate bar alongside four bratty kids going on a tour of the chocolate factory.
As it remains today, the 1971 movie is still a family classic.
Ostrum never acted since
Despite the beloved movie becoming a hit, Ostrum never acted again. Instead, the now 67-year-old is a retired vet.
Ostrum also went on to form a family, marrying wife Loretta Lepkowski in 1987 and having two kids with her.
But he still makes money from the movie
Despite having left the acting world behind, Ostrum revealed he still receives checks from his short time as an actor.
But the number isn’t a large one; in fact, these royalties certainly aren’t enough to cover any expenses.
He gets paid every three months
The former actor said in a 2018 interview that he got a payment from his role as Charlie in the Willy Wonka movie every three months.
He shared that he only makes between $8 to $10 every few months from the movie.
People were shocked to hear the number
In this economy, that cash wouldn’t get you more than a couple bags of chips, and people couldn’t believe it.
When the news was shared online, one Twitter user noted, “Oh man, that kid got a terrible contract.”
Ostrum is happy with his decision
After the success of Willy Wonka, the vet received a three-picture deal, which he turned down. Despite this, he doesn’t think it was the wrong decision.
“Do I regret turning down the movie offer?” Ostrum said. “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.”
