Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in 1971, has never acted again but still receives money for his only role.
Despite his success, Ostrum, now 67, chose to pursue a career as a veterinarian. He has two children with his wife, Loretta Lepkowski, whom he married in 1987.
But even though he no longer acts, Ostrum still receives some money for his role. In a 2018 interview, the former actor, born in Texas, said he received a payment from the film every three months.
How much? Around $8 to $10, which shocked internet users. “Man, that kid got a terrible contract,” commented one user on X (Twitter). “40 dollars a year? That’s crazy. At least he moved on and got a good job,” said another.
Ostrum also revealed that his decision to not act again wasn’t due to lack of opportunity, admitting that he had turned down an offer to star in a big film. “Do I regret turning down the movie offer?” he said.
“I don’t think I do. I love the work I’m doing now. Of course, it’s as far away from Hollywood as possible. I made a choice that fit what I wanted, and it shaped how my life turned out.”
“Would life have been better if I had accepted the movie offer? Maybe, but I’ll never know, and it’s something I will never question,” added Ostrum.
Photo and video: Creative Commons. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.