Denise Nickerson

 Denise Nickerson (April 1, 1957 – July 10, 2019)

She was a child actor who played Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Allison on The Electric Company, and Amy Jennings and Nora Collins in the soap opera Dark Shadows. Nickerson made appearances in the late 1960s on such shows as The Doctors as Kate Harris, and opposite Bill Bixby in an unsold television pilot called Rome Sweet Rome. Nickerson's big break came in 1968 when she joined the cast of Dark Shadows, appearing as recurring characters Amy Jennings and Nora Collins from 1968–1970. Upon leaving Dark Shadows, she appeared in the 1971 television movie The Neon Ceiling. In 1971, Nickerson was cast as the nymphet Lolita in the 1971 ill-fated musical, Lolita, My Love during its run on Boston, which closed on the road. Also at this time, Nickerson landed her signature role as gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, when she was 13 years old. She also auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil, a role that ultimately went to Linda Blair, in The Exorcist. Nickerson turned 21 in 1978, and opted to quit acting at that time. Since then, she has appeared on television sporadically, such as an episode of the 2000–2002 John O'Hurley version of To Tell the Truth, as contestant number two. In June 2018, Nickerson had a severe stroke and was hospitalized in an intensive care unit. She was discharged to a rehabilitation center in July. In August, she went home to live under her family's care. On July 9, she had a massive seizure and went comatose. On July 10, her family removed her from life support. She died later that day, at age 62.