I was born Peter Ostrum on November 1, 1957 in Dallas, Texas. I was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and officially became a New Yorker in 1965. Currently I live in Lowville, New York with my wife Loretta and our three children, Charlie, Emily and Linus.

I attended the University at Buffalo where I earned a DVM degree in 1984. After completing an internship at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a three year residency at Cornell (large animal medicine/surgery), I joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Large Animal Medicine/Surgery. In 1993 I accepted a position at the Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York where I am currently employed as a large animal practitioner. My special interests include reproduction, neonatal medicine and preventive medicine.

I have many fond memories of working on Willy Wonka. The cast and crew could not have been more professional or easy to work with. The experience helped me develop confidence that has carried over into my life today – whether it is speaking to large groups of people or interacting with clients who bring their animals to me for care.”

Charlie Bucket – Peter Ostrum

Peter Ostrum only made one film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He was chosen for the part of Charlie Bucket after a nationwide search for fresh talent. In the end, he was selected from a field of 30,000 children. His performance was so natural that he never took another acting class again. After the film’s release, he returned to his home in Cleveland and resumed his childhood, attending school and playing sports (he was a star pitcher). Ostrum went on to study veterinary medicine at Cornell University and became a veterinarian specializing in large animals such as horses.

Charlie Bucket is the protagonist of the 1964 children’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, its 1972 sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, and the film adaptations of these books that followed.

In both the book and film, he is described as a boy who lives with his impoverished family in a tiny house on the edge of a great city. In the two books, he has four grandparents. Aided by a golden ticket, he wins a tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with four other children from around the world. He shows virtues of a hero – kind-heartedness and modesty. He is portrayed as an angelic child, but also one whose goodness shines so brightly that it is almost blinding to those around him.

Charlie Bucket was portrayed by Peter Ostrum in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971). In this film, his last name is not mentioned at all. Although there was talk about filming a sequel to this film during production, Ostrum did not return for any future films or television series based on Roald Dahl’s work.

In 2005, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was released with Freddie Highmore playing Charlie Bucket. In this adaptation directed by Tim Burton, Charlie’s last name is never mentioned in dialogue;

Charlie Bucket was played by Peter Ostrum, and this is his only film role to date. He was 11 at the time of filming. Ostrum went on to study veterinary medicine at Cornell University and currently works as a vet in Lowville, New York.

According to IMDb, Ostrum’s favorite movie is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and he turned down a 3 picture deal with Paramount because they would not allow him to continue his studies.

In July 2010, it was reported that Ostrum had declined an invitation from Warner Bros. Pictures to attend the premiere of Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake starring Johnny Depp.

Charlie Bucket: Peter Ostrum

Charlie Bucket is the central character of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, portrayed in the 1971 film adaption by Peter Ostrum. Charlie lives with his mother and father and four grandparents in a spacious, but dilapidated house near a gum factory. Although he comes from a poor family, Charlie is well mannered and kind-hearted. Charlie’s life changes dramatically after he finds one of five coveted “golden tickets” hidden in Wonka Bar chocolate bars. He wins the chance to tour Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory with three other children from around the globe, each of whom meets a terrible fate after violating one of Wonka’s rules.

Charlie’s grandfather is his only surviving relative who remains at the end of the story, which sees Charlie inherit Willy Wonka’s factory. Charlie is an honest and good-hearted child who always gets good grades in school, which earns him money that allows him to buy more Wonka Bars than his family ordinarily could afford. He is also very intelligent and adventurous for his age, as evidenced by his willingness to participate in such adventures as touring Wonka’s factory and riding on the “Great Glass Elevator.”

Peter Ostrum appeared as Charlie Bucket in Gene Wild

Charlie Bucket is the protagonist of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, its sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, and the film adaptations of these books that followed. When first introduced, he is a very poor boy living with his parents and all four grandparents in a tiny home under the shadow of a huge four-lane highway. He has never tasted chocolate until Willy Wonka opens his factory to five lucky children. (This was changed in the 1971 film adaptation to having at least tasted chocolate, which is his favorite food.) In the sequel, he and his family are transported in Mr. Wonka’s Great Glass Elevator to visit various places in outer space.

Charlie Bucket grew up in poverty in a tiny house with his parents and four grandparents. His grandfather regularly regales him with tales of the legendary chocolatier, Willy Wonka, who built an enormous chocolate factory near Charlie’s hometown and rarely allows anyone in.

One day, Wonka announces a contest in which five “Golden Tickets” have been hidden in chocolate bars worldwide, and the finders can tour the factory and receive a lifetime supply of chocolate. The first four tickets are found by gluttonous Augustus Gloop, spoiled Veruca Salt, gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde and TV addict Mike Teavee. Charlie finds the last ticket hidden inside a Wonka Bar he receives on his birthday as a gift from his parents. The tour does not go well: Wonka infuriates the other children via various means and sends them home on boats down the Chocolate River. He then takes Charlie to his office where he reveals that he chose Charlie for his honesty and kindness before revealing that he is actually Charlie’s long-lost grandfather.