‘Willy Wonka’ Child Star Appears On Jeopardy

Social media was in an excited uproar over the discovery that “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” star, Paris Themmen was a contestant on Tuesday’s episode of Jeopardy.

Themmen is best known for playing Mike Teevee in the classic film. His character was one of the few lucky ones to be granted entrance into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Throughout the episode, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek spoke to each contestant about their interests and hobbies.

Themmen said he was a backpacker and has visited 61 different countries. Themmen made no mention of his role in the beloved childhood film, but it was reported on TMZ that Trebek purposely did not mention his role in the movie.

According to Themmen, Trebek is given three quick facts about each contestant to bring up during the interview portion of the episode. “Alex chooses the one that interests him the most and then discusses it, with the contestant,” Themmen said.

“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek decided to discuss Themmen’s love for backpacking instead of his acting career. Apparently Themmen’s wife told Trebek about his role in the movie and Trebek seemed uninterested.

Social media users quickly mentioned that Themmen was the boy from “Willy Wonka.” One person on Twitter said “A contestant on Wednesday’s ‘Jeopardy!’ played Mike Teevee in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory…and his interesting fact about himself was about backpacking.”

Mike Teevee got on Jeopardy. This is the world we live in. pic.twitter.com/uYf83CgMY2

— Hobbes Youngblood (@LogoCornerTiger) March 14, 2018

Paris Themmen did not end up winning, but managed to secure a second place finish winning $6,000 dollars. In 2015, Themmen was part of a “Willy Wonka” cast reunion that included Peter Ostrum (who played Charlie Bucket), Michael Bollner (who played Augustus Gloop), Julie Dawn Cole (who played Veruca Salt), Denise Nickerson (who played Violet Beauregarde) and Rusty Goffe (who played an Oompa Loompa) on the “Today” show, where he said all the cast members keep in touch and that they saw themselves a dysfunctional family.