'Willy Wonka's Peter Ostrum Quit Acting at 13 to Devote Life to Dairy Cows after Meeting with Stranger

• Peter Ostrum was an ordinary sixth-grader until one day, he fatefully became a Hollywood star known as Charlie Bucket from "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."

• Then-13-year-old Ostrum declined a deal for other acting roles after meeting with a veterinarian.

• Now, his life is entirely devoted to dairy farms.

Former child star Peter Ostrum was discovered by Hollywood agents during a play while in sixth grade. Although he went on to star in one of the most iconic films of the '70s, Ostrum decided to leave the stardom life only a year after making his movie debut.

Former child actor Peter Ostrum was ordinary until he got cast as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 fantasy film, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."

Ostrum landed under casting agents' radar in sixth grade while performing at the Cleveland Playhouse children's theater. He made quite an impression on the agents, who were on a nationwide search for a young boy to portray Charlie Bucket and become the lead character in the film.

In October 2000, Ostrum recalled that period: "It was the pre-video era, so they took a few Polaroid pictures and tape-recorded me reading from the book."

After that, the agents told him they would contact him as they headed back to New York. Two months later, they called Ostrum for a screen test in the Big Apple.

The Texas native learned that he bagged the role a month later and traveled to Munich, Germany, where filming commenced.

Why Did 13-Year-Old Ostrum Quit His Acting Career after Meeting a Veterinarian?

Ostrum was 12 years old during that period and was living abroad for the duration of the filming. When speaking of the "exciting" experience, he said:

"It was sort of like being an exchange student for five months."

The "100 Greatest Kid Stars" alum shared some fond memories with his costars, including the late Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe) and Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka.

However, Ostrum noticed that filmmaking would not be one of his long-term ambitions very early on, stating that it was not as easy as actors made it out to be onscreen.

When filming wrapped, studio heads wanted to offer him a three-movie deal if he signed on the dotted line. Ostrum had turned 13 during the making of the movie then.

However, amid the acting stint, he developed another interest upon his return from Germany. His family bought a horse, and he started working at the stable where the animal was kept.

That was how Ostrum's love for horses came about, including one person's effect on him. He explained how the horse's veterinarian influenced his decision to pursue a similar career instead of acting:

"I can remember the veterinarian coming out and taking care of the horses, and it made a huge impression on me. This person enjoyed what he did for a living. Someone making a living from something he enjoyed so much sparked my interest."

Ostrum took a gap year to groom at several stables and began working at the Delaware Equine Center in Pennsylvania. Still, he struggled to get entry into veterinary school and decided to contact those he previously worked with on "Willy Wonka" to pursue acting either way.

Ostrum traveled to California to see whether he could succeed in showbiz, but his determination to enroll in veterinary school grew even more once he returned home.

Even so, he considered pursuing something else if things panned out differently with the veterinary school. Still, it was not something he could easily forget about, and he did not want to live in constant regret:

"I would always have in the back of my mind, 'you should've tried to get into veterinary school.' If I didn't pursue that, I'd always kick myself."

He eventually got admitted to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine because he refused to give up and graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) in 1984.

Inside Ostrum's Work at Dairy Farms Now

The former movie star is now known as Dr. Peter Ostrum, a practitioner specializing in dairy work. Before his "Willy Wonka" stint, Ostrum had not starred in any film production. Although the movie helped launch his acting career, that was the first and the last time he made a screen appearance.

Over a decade ago, he told "Veterinarians on Call" that as a large animal vet, he loves being outdoors and "traveling from farm to farm."

Ostrum said being a veterinarian is "the greatest job in the world" as he works with animals to ensure that milk and meat are safe for consumers. Of his thriving career, he stated: "I guess I've found my niche."

Ostrum added veterinary medicine is a stimulating profession that allows him to think more and solve problems. At the same time, it features the physical aspects, which he enjoys more than anything.

He joked that another thing he likes about his job is not gaining weight while working because he is always on the move and that each day differs from the next.

Ostrum does not consider himself famous and is, in fact, "amused" and "amazed" that people approach him still to date because of his role in "Willy Wonka."