Paris Themmen first had moviegoers laughing more than five decades ago with his memorable turn in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Now 67, the former child actor is best known for playing Mike Teavee, the TV-addicted youngster in the beloved Gene Wilder film, which has grown into a cult classic since its release 55 years ago.
After his early brush with fame, Themmen largely stepped away from the spotlight. His most recent significant screen appearance came in 2000, when he played a “fawning fan” on Star Trek: Voyager.
Before that, he appeared in the 1999 TV movie Screenplay and lent his voice to the 1994 mini-series Macross Plus.
Still, longtime fans were thrilled to spot him back on television in 2018, when he turned up as a contestant on an episode of Jeopardy!.
Most recently, Themmen was seen out and about in Los Angeles last week, where he was photographed shopping for plants.
Paris Themmen became a fan favorite after appearing in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 55 years ago
The actor, now 67, played television-obsessed Mike Teavee at age 11 in the Gene Wilder classic; pictured L-R: Michael Bollner, Denise Nickerson, Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn, Themmen, with Wilder behind them
He wore a dark T-shirt and green sweatpants, rounding out the casual and comfortable look with black sneakers.
The Boston native added a beige ball cap and took it off at one point to reveal a semi-bald head.
Themmen kept his back story under wraps eight years ago when appearing in Jeopardy!, but was recognized by Willy Wonka super fans.
He made no mention of his former entertainment career, instead telling then-host Alex Trebek he was an ‘entrepreneur and backpacker’ from North Hollywood, California.
Themmen talked about his travels, revealing he’s been to 61 countries and six continents.
After the show, viewers took to social media to announce they’d noticed the movie star.
‘Pretty darn proud that I recognized @ParisThemmen on @Jeopardy tonight before Alex even did the intros,’ tweeted Elizabeth Nervegna. ‘You go, Mike Teevee!!’
‘I recognized you pretty quickly. Willy Wonka is my favorite movie! So cool to see you on Jeopardy,’ Brandy Ostrander tweeted to Themmen after the show.
Our News Outlet has contacted the former actor for comment.
Last week Themmen was spotted buying plants in Los Angeles
He wore a dark T-shirt and green sweatpants
He looked comfortable in a pair of black sneakers as he carried a cream and navy tote bag
Themmen threw on a baseball cap and showed off a tattoo on his inner right arm
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory saw the iconic characters of the 1971 classic – Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Mike Teavee, Violet Beauregarde and Augustus Gloop – win the chance to enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory after nabbing a Golden Ticket.
Based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 book, the movie followed the children’s trip to the factory, in which they all suffered very varied fates.
Speaking about his time on set with Gene and his castmates in Munich, where the film was largely shot, Themmen told Collider: ‘It was surprising because we were in Germany, right next to Switzerland and Holland, where they make gorgeous chocolate.
‘And yet, they shipped Hershey bars, Almond Joys and Mounds to us from America, so that was a bit of a crime against chocolate and humanity that they did that. There were definitely things for us to eat, dummy leaves and some marzipan things.
‘I liked the gum, which wasn’t gum. It was actually taffy. It was the three-course gum, which wasn’t gum. It was taffy, but it was very yummy. I liked that one.’
Themmen now signs autographs at movie conventions, runs a photography business, and makes sporadic appearances in commercials, plays and on TV shows.
In his early 20s, he founded Access International, a travel service that arranged Europe-bound charter flights for backpackers.
Themmen resides in Los Angeles with his wife of nine years, Nikki Grillos.
