Peter Ostrum Biography

(Veterinarian and Former Child Actor Known for His Role in the Film ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’)

Birthday: November 1, 1957 (Scorpio)

Born In: Dallas, Texas, United States

Peter Ostrum, born as Peter Gardner Ostrum, is an American former child actor and currently a veterinarian. His only movie role was as Charlie Bucket in the musical fantasy film ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’. Though he enjoyed shooting for the flick, he opted not to act further. After giving up acting, he became reluctant to even talk about his one starring role. Ostrum, who later started an annual tradition of speaking to school kids about his film, became a subject of interest once again when the flick ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ was released in 2005. He became interested in horses during the filming of Willy Wonka and decided to work with animals in future. He later attended the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to receive his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine following which he practiced as a veterinarian. He now enjoys a successful career as a veterinarian. He lives with his wife, a son, and a daughter in Lowville, New York.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Peter Gardner Ostrum

Age: 67 Years, 67 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Loretta Lepkowski (m. 1987)

children: Helenka Ostrum, Leif Ostrum

Former Child Actors American Men

Notable Alumni: Cornell University College Of Veterinary Medicine, North Hunterdon Regional High School

City: Dallas, Texas

U.S. State: Texas

More Facts

education: Cornell University College Of Veterinary Medicine, North Hunterdon Regional High School

Acting Career
In his sixth grade, while performing at the Cleveland Play House children's theatre, Peter Ostrum was noticed by talent agents who were looking for a child actor to play the role of Charlie Bucket in the movie ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’. The talent agents took Ostrum’s Polaroid photos and recorded him. Two months later, Ostrum gave a screen test and a month later, he was signed for the film. The film, which was released in 1971, became a major hit, catapulting the young boy to international fame. Even though he received several offers after this role, he declined all of them and decided not to act further.
In 1990, Ostrum was invited to speak to kids at the Lowville Academy and has since spoken there once a year.
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Veterinary Career
After Peter Ostrum returned home from filming the flick, his parents acquired a horse. As a teenager he took a break from studies and began grooming horses. He even started working at Delaware Equine Center (located in Pennsylvania). He then decided to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. He attended the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1984.
As of February 2018, Ostrum is serving at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic in New York, where he generally works with horses and cows. The American veterinarian has taken part in the video series titled ‘Veterinarians on Call’ in which he highlighted the tasks of large animal veterinarians.
Personal Life
Peter Ostrum was born on November 1, 1957 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He studied at the North Hunterdon Regional High School and later obtained a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Coming to Ostrum’s love life, he has been married to Loretta Lepkowski since 1987. The couple has two kids: a daughter named Helenka and a son named Leif. Currently, Ostrum lives with his wife and children in Lowville, New York, USA. As of now, he is not active on any social networking platform.

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Article Title
- Peter Ostrum Biography
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Website
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URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/peter-ostrum-35483.php

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