Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory actor Leonard Stone dies aged 87

American actor Leonard Stone has died a day before his 88th birthday after losing a brief battle with cancer.

Stone was perhaps best known for his role in the 1971 musical film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

He played the father (Sam) of obnoxious gum-chewing Violet Beauregard in the movie, which is based on the 1964 Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Stone married Carole H. Kleinman in 1964 and the couple had a daughter.

He would have turned 88 today (Thursday) and has an extensive back catalogue of TV and film work.

The actor starred in around 120 television shows and 35 films since 1956 as well as performing on Broadway.
Ripe old age: Stone died a day before his 88th birthday after losing his short battle to cancer

Ripe old age: Stone died a day before his 88th birthday after losing his short battle to cancer

Stone, who was born in Salem, Oregon, made appearances on NBC legal drama L.A. Law between 1988 and 1994 as Judge Paul Hanson.

He also took turns in General Hospital, M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, Night Court, Alice, Barney Miller, All in the Family and Mission: Impossible, according to his credit lists on the Internet Movie Database.

He received a Tony nomination for his role in the 1959 Broadway musical Redhead playing George Poppett, starring alongside Gwen Verdon in the production which was set in London at the time of mass murderer Jack the Ripper.

In 2000 he won $4,250 and a trip to Bermuda after appearing as a contestant on TV game show Wheel of Fortune.

His latest role was in 2006, playing the minor character of a neighbour in the 2006 TV movie Surrender Dorothy, which starred Diane Keaton.

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Source and Photo: Daily Mail


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