One of the most notable movie moments that millions of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory fans have etched into their memories is when Violet Beauregarde stupidly chewed on a piece of three-course-meal gum. It was then that she swole up into a blueberry when the dessert kicked in, and she was rolled off by the singing Oompa Loompas to be juiced.
Sadly, Denise Nickerson, the child actress who portrayed Violet in the 1971 adaptation of author Roald Dahl's novel, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 62. According to reports, last year Nickerson suffered a stroke and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Since that time, her family has shared updates about her status, hoping that Nickerson would recover. As medical bills stacked up, Nickerson's family even reached out for help through crowdfunding sources.
News began to circulate on Tuesday that the actress's family planned on removing her from life support following Nickerson's bout with pneumonia prior to her seizure. Julie Dawn Cole, the actress who played Veruca Salt opposite Nickerson, honored her co-star in a tweet. "So very sorry to say that my dear friend and Wonka sister, Denise Nickerson, has goneđź’”," Cole wrote. We send our condolences to Nickerson's family and friends.
