View Full Version : Denise Nickerson, Violet in 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,' Dies at 62


MA
07-10-2019, 03:02 PM
"Willy Wonka" actress Denise Nickerson has been taken off life support one year after suffering a stroke.

Her son Josh, and his wife, Jasmine, announced the news via Facebook on Wednesday. "They just took off all the equipment. None of it was helping, but making her only more uncomfortable. We're telling her it's okay to let go."

Nickerson's family also told TMZ that the 62-year-old has been taken off a respirator and she is no longer receiving medication.

'WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY' ACTRESS DENISE NICKERSON SUFFERED A STROKE

Nickerson is best known for her role as Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder.

According to her son and daughter-in-law, Nickerson suffered a "major medical emergency" at home on Monday and was admitted to the ICU.

According to an update on the family's GoFundMe page, Nickerson, "got into her medicines and took as much as she could" while Josh and Jasmine were away at a doctor's appointment. Josh reportedly stopped her and brought her to the ER, where her condition got worse.

"She’s had seizures this morning and is in pulmonary and respiratory distress. The doctors have found that she aspirated and has developed pneumonia,” Jasmine shared on Facebook. "They have upped her oxygen. She’s under a DNR order so they aren’t putting her on a ventilator or feeding tube."

Jasmine later wrote on Tuesday that Nickerson's condition worsened and she was unable to breathe on her own, saying the former actress was in a "coma-like state." Jasmine also asked for prayers for her husband, who has "never really experienced a major loss like this."

GENE WILDER WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED MORE FOR 'YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN' THAN 'WILLY WONKA,' AUTHOR CLAIMS

"He is just coming to terms with the reality of the situation and doesn’t know how to process it. He says to me a few minutes ago that she won’t ever get to see or hold or know her granddaughter."

Nickerson was previously admitted to the hospital in June 2018 after having a stroke.

In “Willy Wonka” Nickerson played one of the spoiled children who wins a tour of the chocolate factory. An avid gum-chewer, she steals an experimental piece from Wonka’s factory that leads to her blowing up like a giant blueberry. Her career also saw her appear in roles on “The Brady Bunch,” "Dark Shadows” and “The Electric Company.”

She later became a nurse.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/willy-wonka-denise-nickerson-life-support-stroke

rusty spike
07-10-2019, 09:13 PM
Strokes are terrible.

Sounds like she hasn't been able to recuperate. Hopefully, she and her family can find peace.

MrCleveland
07-10-2019, 09:26 PM
This is sad...

The children of the film became best friends after Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's release....

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/30/11/37B5DD5500000578-3764738-The_cast_have_regularly_met_up_at_key_anniversaries_Pictured_fro-m-9_1472552274019.jpg

MA
07-11-2019, 06:19 AM
The child actor also starred in 'Dark Shadows' and 'The Electric Company.'

Denise Nickerson, the child star who played Violet Beauregarde in the Gene Wilder-starring film adaptation Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, died Wednesday night. She was 62.

Nickerson was taken off life support Tuesday night after she suffered a seizure.

Her family announced her death in a Facebook post, which read, "She's gone." Earlier Wednesday, the family shared, "They just took off all the equipment. None of it was helping, but making her only more uncomfortable. We're telling her it's okay to let go." According to previous posts, the actress had pneumonia before she suffered a seizure, which complicated her health issue. On Tuesday night, her family created a GoFundMe to help cover her medical costs.

In 2018, Nickerson also suffered a severe stroke and was treated in the ICU. Her family also kept fans updated on Facebook at the time and expressed worry about how to treat her.

Born in New York City in 1957, Nickerson had her first major acting role when she played Amy Jennings and Nora Collins on Dark Shadows between 1968-70.

When she was 13, she was cast as the gum-snapping Violet Beauregarde, who has bad manners but a competitive edge due to her participation in gum-chewing competitions; she is eventually second to leave the story's eponymous chocolate factory.

In 2016, Nickerson remembered Wilder, who died in 2016, during her time making the Mel Stuart-directed 1971 film. “I’m a very fortunate lady to have been chosen to be a part of something that brings smiles to so many faces,” she told People at the time. “And working with Gene, he talked in a very soft whisper, nothing much furled his feathers, you know? He was such a kind, tenderhearted man. And for him to put up with us, my God what patience he must’ve needed for five of us running around [on set].”

After starring in titles including The Electric Company, Search for Tomorrow and Zero to Sixty, Nickerson left the business in 1978 to pursue nursing.

The GoFundMe page that Nickerson's family set up is now raising money in part to fulfill her final wish — to turn her ashes into a piece of glass art.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/news/denise-nickerson-dead-willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-violet-actress-was-62-1223701

MA
07-11-2019, 06:22 AM
She passed away last night due to complications from a stroke.

Schmoopie
07-12-2019, 02:04 AM
Oh that's so sad.

Bonniegirl
07-12-2019, 02:17 AM
She was my favorite Willy Wonka character!;) I also remember her in Dark Shadows ! Very sad and sorry to hear of her passing! :(

May she RIP ! Hoping there is lots of chewing gum in heaven for her, but not so much that she turns into a giant blueberry!! :eek::D


https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2017/1/27/7/f/a/7fa00428-e4af-11e6-8737-e3139ecdeeba.jpg


https://darkshadowseveryday.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/652-dark-shadows-amy-barnabas-scold.jpg?w=604

Bonniegirl
07-12-2019, 02:27 AM
http://dtlon6z3v1kfl.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/29154024/EJm91Dx.jpg

Denise also guest starred as Pamela Phillips in the Brady Bunch ep. "Two Pete's in a pod" !;)