Peter Gardner Ostrum is a retired American veterinarian and former child actor.
His only film role was as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. When he was just 12 years old, a talent agent chose him for the role after watching him perform in a middle school play.
Despite the film’s success, Ostrum chose not to pursue an acting career and instead pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
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- Full name: Peter Gardner Ostrum
- Stage name: Peter Ostrum
- Date of birth: November 1, 1957
- Age: 66 years old
- Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, USA
- Nationality: United States
- Occupation: Retired American veterinarian and former child actor
- Height: 1.75 m
- Parents: Sarepta Mabel, Dean Gardner Ostrum
- Siblings: 3, Kana Ostrum, Daniel Gross Ostrum, John Pierpoint Ostrum
- Spouse: Loretta Ostrum
- Children: 2, Helenka Ostrum, Leif Ostrum
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $500,000
early life and education
Peter Ostrum was born on November 1, 1957 in Dallas, Texas, USA. His parents, Sarepta Mabel and Dean Gardner Ostrum, raised him along with three siblings: Cana Ostrum Karna Ostrum, Daniel Gross Ostrum and John Pierpoint Ostrum.
He is of American descent and believes in Christianity. Although he attended North Hunterdon Regional High School and initially planned to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine, he eventually changed his mind.
He decided to attend Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1984, Peter Ostrum earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, solidifying his passion for caring for animals.
Profession
Peter Ostrum, best known for his role as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, retired from acting as a Veterinarian has a successful career.
He plays the eponymous character Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who wins a golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
However, after the film’s success, Ostrum chose a different path, turning down a three-film contract to focus on his education and personal life.
He went on to have a successful career as a veterinarian, proving that sometimes the best decisions for personal growth and happiness may not be the most obvious or glamorous.
Peter Ostrum, a former child actor who played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” left the entertainment industry to pursue a career as a veterinarian.
In 1984, he graduated from Cornell University with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He worked for many years at the Rural Veterinary Clinic in Lowville, New York, specializing in large animals such as horses and cattle.
Ostrum will retire from the practice in September 2023. Still, he continued to be involved in the veterinary field through other projects, such as appearing in a Pfizer-sponsored video series highlighting the work of large animal veterinarians and serving as Dairy Health & Management Services.
His education and experience have prepared him for a successful and fulfilling career in the veterinary field.
social media
Peter Ostrum’s social media accounts have not been discovered by the media.
personal life
Peter Ostrum, best known for his role as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, also had an eventful personal life.
He married Loretta Lepkowski in 1987 or 1988, and the couple had two children: Helenka and Leif. They currently reside in Glenfield, New York. In 2023, Ostrum retired from his successful career as a veterinarian.
Although Ostrum was offered several roles after starring in Willy Wonka, he chose to turn them down and pursue a different path.
film chronology
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) – Charlie Bucket
net worth
Peter Ostrum is a retired American veterinarian and former child actor. His only film role was as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Although Ostrum had a successful acting career as a child, he decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
While Ostrum’s net worth is estimated at $500,000, it’s clear that Ostrum’s true passion lies outside the entertainment industry.