Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 musical fantasy Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, began acting with the Cleveland Playhouse Children’s Theater in Ohio. Officials at the theater were asked to suggest children for a new movie, and the next thing Peter knew, he was cast as Charlie. The film was a life-changing event for the then-13-year-old, who flew with his father to Munich, Germany, for the filming. Peter was there filming from August to November of 1970, making lifelong friends with the other kids on the set. When filming was over, he was offered a 3-picture deal with the studio, but decided not to pursue acting. Instead, he took his earnings and bought a horse. That spawned a love for animals, which eventually led him to become a vet. He attended Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and now practices at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville, New York, where he and his wife Loretta have raised two children.
