Paris Themmen, the former child actor who played television-obsessed Mike Teavee in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has been seen stepping out in Los Angeles at the age of 67.
The actor was 11 when he appeared alongside Gene Wilder in the 1971 film, which followed five children on a tour of the eccentric chocolatier’s mysterious factory.
Themmen’s character was one of the lucky winners of a Golden Ticket, but his fascination with television and violent Westerns soon became a source of trouble during the tour.
Born in Boston on June 25, 1959, Themmen began performing as a child and had already appeared on stage and in commercials before being cast in the Roald Dahl adaptation.
He later stepped away from regular acting, working in areas including film production, commercial casting and real estate. He has continued to make occasional appearances connected with the enduring classic.
