Wonka star dishes on Oompa Loompas-Colo Chocolate Festival

[Charla1606]

@chamberl I agree!

[chamberl]

you are right, headhurtz, but I would have called him a dork instead of a schmuck. And apparently the Johnny Depp version was truer to the story, until that idiotic part where he went and searched for his father. What the was that? And even though it may have been truer to the story, the original one (Gene Wilder) was much better.

[Tonyo1221]

what an idiot reporter!

[DNickersViolet]

@Tonyo1221 OMG! How wonderful to see this post! Please contact me at Denise_Nickerson@comcast.net

[Tonyo1221]

@DNickersViolet Are you Violet from Willy Wonka??

[dtw1958]

My boss for 12 years and mentor, Marion Dougherty cast Denise in Dark Shadows, Willie Wonka, and Smile. I didn't know that about The Exorcist, but it would make sense as Marion and her Asscoiate Juliet cast The Exorcist too. There is a documentary being made about Marion and "Casting", and would love to be able to get a hold of Denise to tell her audition stories.

[DRIVEIN101]

I first knew Denise on "The Electric Company", then "Willy Wonka". She's the only one from the movie I have met thus far at an autograph show about six years ago. She still looks wonderful and is a sweetheart!

[oceanbreathessalty]

Green faces and orange hair? You mean green hair and orange faces? Hahaha

[grumpypant]

I'm really with you on the original version, Chris; the remake with Johnny Depp mucho sucko---in my opinion!

[migsly]

That's right MVR326. But her parents pulled her out at the last minute because of the scene with the crucifix. I don't blame them.

[MVR326]

I read somewhere that she was the original choice for THE EXORCIST. is that true??

[silentmoviemusicfrk]

yes that's true.

[robbiesyohn]

@MVR326 Dana Plato (Different Strokes), Denise Nickerson,Susan Swift (Audrey Rose, Harper Valley PTA, Halloween H20) all auditioned for the part of Regan McNeil. Jane Fonda was to be cast as Chris McNeil but turned down the part. Shirley McLaine was also to be Chris mcNeil.

[freedomnow29]

@MVR326 Yes, Denise was originally going to be cast as Regan Mcneil but her parents pulled her out and Linda Blair was used instead.

[toasted900]

you mean orange faces and green hair haha lol

[SpruceGroveAB]

she was also great in the disney movie child of glass

[shirtandtiewilldo]

Not only "The Electric Company," but real Denise Nickerson fans also recognize her as the little girl from "Dark Shadows" in the late '60s and early '70s.

[MissLizaMay]

I agree, she'll always be Amy Jennings to me!

[daffylatke]

He was quite annoying actually. It would have been nice (as well as respectful) to at least once refer to her by her real name for folks who might actually WANT to know who played Violet. Yes, he was star struck (I would be, too). But c'mon...

[headhurtz8]

the schmuck reporter kept calling denise nickerson "violet" as if it were her real name! i'm sure denise loves to be recognized and appear at wonka reunions but she does have a non-stage identity--denise nickerson!!! i always had a crush on denise on "electric company " and in the movie "smile"(when she was 17 or 18) and she is just as cute now as then!!

[danacain7]

Actually, Chris Parente is a FABULOUS reporter, and a HUGE fan of Denise and she loves him to pieces, too. He's interviewed her more than once and she adores him! And - being called "Violet" isn't a bad as when I screwed up her name tag and it said "Dense Nickerson!" Who knew that was such an easy typo!?

[headhurtz8]

sorry to call him a schmuck then

[jdbff1]

i am so glad to hear about this and will bring my girls down to try to meet you. my daughter is into theater and acting and i hope to have her meet you. I grew up in that era and I would ove to meet

[fanofisengard88]

he definately made 2 many 'violet' references.

[yohnrob]

Denise is very small isn't she?

[NantoVision]

Denise is still adorable.

[Qermaq]

What was that last comment from the anchor? Wow, that was a litte funny.

[MuzikJunkyAES]

The original "Wonka" movie scared the livin' you-know-what outta me, but I loved her on "The Electric Company"! Peace.

[A1l2l2e2n4]

The grown-up Denise Nickerson didn't look that different in this clip from the way she did in the movie.

[bgdjohnny]

Excellent - she was definitely everyone's favorite brat!

[MAinsworth0375]

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