Forty-four years ago, the film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" brought Roald Dahl's magical candy wonderland to life. It also brought a group of kids together both on and off screen.
On Wednesday, the child actors -- now, very much adults -- from "Willy Wonka" reunited on the "Today" show to talk about filming the classic flick alongside the legendary Gene Wilder.
"Five kids clambering all over you, wanting his attention," Julie Dawn Cole, who played Veruca Salt, recalled. "There was never any, 'Please don't bother Mr. Wilder.' And we must have been pretty tiresome."
Most of them walked away from the film industry after making "Willy "Wonka," however, they still see each other at events all over the world that commemorate the film.
"We think of ourselves as a family, maybe a bit of a dysfunctional family, but a family!" Paris Themmen, who played Mike Teevee, said, laughing.
Peter Ostrum, who had the beloved role of Charlie Bucket in the movie, added, "Everybody could be so lucky to have an experience like this and then to go in a completely different direction!"
It's clear that they still feel like golden ticket winners, and it's so sweet.
Watch a clip from their interview below and head over to "Today" for more.
Also on HuffPost:
Support HuffPost
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.