Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was released in 2005, and the film’s massive cast has been up to a number of different things in the 18 years since its release. While the modern adaptation isn’t considered in the same regard as 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, it was still a memorable film for many who grew up watching it. The ensemble contained a mix of veteran film stars and character actors, as well as young child actors.
From the young Golden Ticket holders to their parents, to the characters that make up the chocolate factory, most of the cast has continued to act since the film’s release. For the child actors, many of them were put in the spotlight at an early age, with one of Tim Burton’s best movies being the beginning of their careers. Here is what happened to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cast.
14 Freddie Highmore (Charlie Bucket)
Freddie Highmore, the actor who played Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘s titular character, has gone on to have a strong acting career. Since playing Charlie Bucket, Highmore has starred in two popular shows: Bates Motel and The Good Doctor. The latter is still an ongoing job for the 31-year-old actor, which has gone on to earn him multiple award nominations, including a Golden Globe. Earlier in 2023, a moment from the show, the “I am a surgeon!” scene, became a famous internet meme.
13 AnnaSophia Robb (Violet Beauregarde)
AnnaSophia Robb portrayed the obnoxious Violet Beauregarde. Following Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the actress has had a career in various film and television roles, including Bridge to Terabithia and The Way Way Back. With the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Robb has participated in the picket line and also uses her Instagram to raise awareness for various social causes. Her only upcoming project is titled Rebel Ridge which is described as an action thriller with suspense and dark humor, which she’ll be starring in.
12 Julia Winter (Veruca Salt)
Veruca Salt was Julia Winter’s first professional job as an actress, and ended up being her last, despite putting on an excellent performance as the aggravating rich girl. The Swedish actress reportedly didn’t take to acting and was most recently noted to be studying to become a nurse. Julia Winter has been pretty much off the radar since the film and has no known social media accounts.
11 Jordan Fry (Mike Teavee)
Following Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jordan Fry appeared in several films before taking a decade-long break from acting. He returned to the screen for a 2023 film called Big Life and has some more low-budget film projects on the horizon. The actor often interacts with his fans and posts about his time as a child actor on social media.
10 Philip Wiegratz (Augustus Gloop)
Augustus Gloop is the first of the children to be eliminated in the chocolate factory, falling into a river of chocolate. After appearing in the film, Philip Wiegratz went on to have a career acting in German films and series until 2013. The actor also has a presence on social media and is now reportedly a software development engineer.
9 David Kelly (Grandpa Joe)
Actor David Kelly was active in film and television from 1947 to 2009, when he retired. Kelly, who played the lovable Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, sadly passed away in 2012, at the age of 82. The actor was commonly cast in comedic and eccentric roles throughout his career, having appeared in a number of British sitcoms and comedy films.
8 Deep Roy (Oompa Loompa)
Deep Roy is known as an actor, puppeteer, and stuntman, and has appeared in tons of famous films and franchises. Aside from playing the main Oompa Loompa in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roy has been in Return of the Jedi, Star Trek, The Dark Crystal, and more. He’s had a long and successful career. His amount of roles has been reduced in the past decade, and he hasn’t appeared in a film since 2019. The actor does have a large following on TikTok, where he consistently uploads videos.
7 Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka)
As one of the most famous actors in the world, Johnny Depp is highly memorable as Willy Wonka. After legal issues caused Depp to take a break from starring in films, he appeared as Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry, the latter of which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 to a mixed reception.
6 Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Bucket)
Mrs. Bucket is far from Helena Bonham Carter’s most famous role, but the actress was known for consistently appearing in Tim Burton’s films in the 2000s. Her most notable work of late has been appearing in the Enola Holmes films and The Crown. Helena Bonham Carter currently working on a number of films, as well as an Audible series of David Copperfield, produced by Sam Mendes.
5 Christopher Lee (Dr. Wonka)
The great Sir Christopher Lee, who played Dr. Wonka in Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, sadly passed away in 2015. He lived to be 93 and had a storied career playing a number of iconic characters. He was most known for playing Count Dracula in the Hammer Horror films, not to mention his roles in major franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. The addition of Dr. Wonka and Willy Wonka’s backstory was one of the best changes to the Tim Burton remake, and Lee brought his usual excellence to the role.
4 Adam Godley (Mr. Teavee)
Adam Godley plays a small role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Mr. Teavee. The 59-year-old actor has played roles in huge shows like Breaking Bad, Succession, Suits, and The Great. Adam Godley has been nominated for two Tony Awards for plays such as The Lehman Trilogy. Most recently, he joined the cast of the musical, Once Upon a One More Time, which has been running since June 22.
3 Noah Taylor (Mr. Bucket)
Older fans re-watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory might recognize Mr. Bucket as the man who chopped Jaime Lannister’s hand off in Game of Thrones. Actor Noah Taylor has had a number of film and television roles, including Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, and the BBC’s adaptation of And Then There Were None. He recently appeared in Foundation season 2.
2 James Fox (Mr. Salt)
James Fox played Mr. Salt, the man who stole the Golden ticket from one of his factory workers to give to his daughter. Fox has had a career in film and television that’s lasted six decades, including films like Sherlock Holmes. As of 2023, the 84-year-old actor hasn’t appeared in a film in over two years and has only had two roles since 2015.
1 Missi Pyle (Mrs. Beauregarde)
Scarlett Beauregarde is the extremely competitive, neurotic mother of Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and is played by actress Missi Pyle. Pyle has had a successful career in film, appearing in movies like Gone Girl and Galaxy Quest. She also puts on a comedic performance in Dodgeball as the antagonist, Fran. Most recently, she’s appeared in the series Harlan Coben’s Shelter for Amazon Prime.
