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Peter Ostrum has had only one acting credit to speak of, that of Charlie Bucket in the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s seminal novel,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. While the actor had a great time on set, it seemed that an acting career was not in the cards for the star, as he shifted careers to something as far from acting as salt is from being sweet.
Ostrum would not go on to star in anything after Willy Wonk and the Chocolate Factory, deciding to go for something a little bit more conventional. However, that does not mean that his acting career did not yield any fruits for him, as the actor still receives a minuscule amount of royalties from his appearance in the film, more than half a century ago.
Peter Ostrum receives about $10 every three months for his appearance inWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Ostrum, viaNNY360, revealed in 2018 that almost 50 years after the film was in theatres, the former actor still received a very, very, VERY modest amount as royalties from the film, quarterly. According to Ostrum himself, he receives something to the likes of $8-$10 as royalties from the film, every three months. This is something that has left fans online with more than a few things to say.
Oh man, that kid got a terrible contract 🤣
— Kyan (@Kyantweets)June 24, 2025
Talk about a terrible investment
— nehe.0x (@theotherayo)July 12, 2025
$40 a year? that’s crazy. Glad he got out and had a good job.
— Orah Petri (@notyouneek)August 21, 2025
That’s pretty wild. Imagine being a part of such an iconic movie and then just going on to have a totally different career.
— Vicky Cruz (@babevickycruz)August 11, 2025
However, it seems that Peter Ostrum was able to eke out quite the life for himself outside of acting, as the former child star would go on to become a veterinarian, specializing in horses and cows. The actor decided on this pretty early on,choosing not to sign a three-picture dealafter the success ofWilly Wonka and the Chocolate FactorySpeaking withVeterinary Practice News, Ostrum revealed a lot about how he got into animal care. He said:
I met the veterinarian there and I thought he had the greatest job in the world. Once I realized veterinary medicine was something I wanted to pursue, I knew I had to buckle down and do well in my math and science courses.
The actor also revealed his work with beef cattle and the Friendship Farm, where he first saw high-level equine practitioners work with horses. This is something that interested Ostrum, who began beefing up his resume immediately. The actor would go on to get a DVM and spend 37 years in the ministry. The former actor retired from his profession in late 2022.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryremains one of the best adaptations of Roald Dahl’s works
Roald Dahl’s work with children’s literature is something that has remained unparalleled in modern times. Be itMatilda,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, orFantastic Mr. Fox, Roald Dahl’s novels have received some of the best adaptations in cinematic history, chief among them Wes Anderson’sFantastic Mr. Fox. However,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryhas remained one of the best versions ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,even after two more iterations of the material have been produced in recent memory.
“I wouldn’t have done the film”: Gene Wilder Almost Rejected His Iconic Role as Willy Wonka Due to 1 Crazy Ultimatum That Set the Tone for the Film
Gene Wilder‘s portrayal of Willy Wonka has been one of the most influential parts of Hollywood history, Wilder brought a lot of charm to the role of Willy Wonka, something that elevated the film and endeared it to audiences, a feat even Johnny Depp and Timothy Chalamet have been unable to replicate with their versions of the character.
Anuraag Chatterjee
Content Writer
Articles Published :1633
Anuraag Chatterjee, Web Content WriterWith a passion for writing fiction and non fiction content, Anuraag is a Media Science graduate with 2 year’s experience with Marketing and Content, with 3 published poetry anthologies. Anuraag holds a Bacherlor’s degree in Arts with a focus on Communication and Media Studies.
