When a Classic Child Actor Stepped Back Into the Spotlight

There he was, cool as a cucumber, calling himself an "entrepreneur" instead of a "former child actor." But no matter how hard he tried to play it down, TV viewers instantly recognized Paris Themmen on the March 13 episode of Jeopardy!. For those who remember the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Paris played Mike Teevee, the television-obsessed kid who got zapped into a tiny figure during his visit to Wonka's magical world. Fans on Twitter were buzzing with excitement, reminiscing about his iconic role while noting his intriguing journey since then.

Backpacking Over Chocolate Factories?

When Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek asked Paris for a fun fact, he didn't bring up his childhood adventure in a candy-coated dreamland. Instead, he talked about his love for backpacking, proudly sharing that he'd trekked across six of the seven continents. Some fans were left scratching their heads. One Twitter user joked, "@ParisThemmen, why talk about backpacking? Why wouldn't you mention the time you were shrunk to the size of a chocolate bar in Germany? That's a story worth telling!"

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via GIPHY

Life After Wonka: A Journey of Diverse Pursuits

After his unforgettable role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Paris didn't stick to acting. He ventured into a world of diverse interests and accomplishments. He attended New York University, earning a BFA in theater. Following that, he established a backpacking travel service called Access International, blending his passion for travel with entrepreneurship. His career path has been anything but ordinary. He's dabbled in real estate, film production, theme park design, retail, and even commercial casting. Paris has also appeared on other game shows, like Win Ben Stein's Money, where he emerged victorious, and Trivial Pursuit: The Game Show, where he didn't win but still showcased his trivia prowess.

WBZ interrupted the opening of Jeopardy! so I didn’t get his name until Alex Trebek repeated it – it’s @ParisThemmen, Mike Teevee from Willy Wonka! pic.twitter.com/NNPUQ09hV0
— Tim Colby (@timjcolby) March 13, 2018

Paris' 'Jeopardy!' Adventure: A Sweet Moment in Trivia History

Paris played with great spirit on Jeopardy!, answering the "Final Jeopardy!" question correctly and doubling his winnings by naming Atlas Shrugged as the 1,000-page, female-written novel that The New York Times called "one of the most influential books ever written." But despite his impressive performance, his final score of $6,800 couldn't match the $19,201 earned by the returning champion, Zach Dark. Still, it's safe to say that Paris' trivia skills had Mike Teevee's younger self glued to the screen, cheering him on every step of the way.