‘Willy Wonka’ Star In Critical Condition After Stroke – Family Calls For Prayers

The family of actress Denise Nickerson, who is best known for playing Violet Beauregarde in the classic film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is calling for prayers this week after announcing that she suffered a major stroke last month.

Daily Mail reported that Nickerson, 61, remains in critical condition in the ICU, and her family has set up a Facebook page to offer fans updates about her health. The family has explained that Nickerson recently had a pacemaker put in, but she had a bad reaction to it.

“Her nurse confirmed that she’s having the stomach feeding tube installed tomorrow morning,” Nickerson’s daughter-in-law wrote on the page in the last update. “She’s significantly more comfortable now that the temp pacer (which for those who don’t know, is installed in the neck so they rest all the tubing on the shoulder and it’s very sensitive to the touch) and other shoulder and neck tubing is removed. The temporary feeding tube was also removed (by her own doing is entirely plausible) so she’s not as agitated.”

Nickerson retired from acting in 1978 after starring in television shows like “Search for Tomorrow,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Dark Shadows” and “The Electric Company.” Her best-known role has always been that of Violet, the little girl who blows up into a big blueberry shape after breaking factory rules in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The film is beloved by fans to this day, and Nickerson enjoyed participating in various fan conventions in the years before her stroke.

It’s sad to see someone who is still so young suffer such a serious medical crisis. We can only hope that Nickerson is able to make a full recovery and get back to living her life!