Denise Nickerson

Denise Marie Nickerson (April 1, 1957 – July 10, 2019) to Florence Bickford, a clerical worker, and Fred Nickerson, a mail carrier. The family, along with older sister Carol, moved to Miami. Nickerson, at the age of two, appeared in a television commercial for a Florida heating company. At the age of four, she was discovered at a fashion show by Broadway theatre producer Zev Buffman of drama school the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Career

Theatre In 1962, when she was five, Nickerson was in a play of Peter Pan alongside Betsy Palmer at Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse, where she played Wendy Darling's daughter, Jane. Buffman selected Nickerson to go on the road with the play, which ended its run when she was nine. Her parents moved Carol and Nickerson back to New York City at 56th and Lexington in a studio apartment, while they stayed with her grandmother in Massachusetts.

In 1971, Nickerson, at 13, was cast as Dolores Haze in the ill-fated musical, Lolita, My Love during its run in Boston, replacing the original actress Annette Ferra. The musical closed on the road before reaching Broadway.

Film and television

Nickerson made appearances in the 1960s on such shows as The Doctors as Kate Harris, opposite Bill Bixby in an unsold television pilot called Rome Sweet Rome, and on The New Phil Silvers Show. Nickerson's big break came in 1968, when she joined the cast of ABC Daytime's Dark Shadows, appearing as recurring characters Amy Jennings, Nora Collins, and Amy Collins from 1968 to 1970. That year, she appeared in her signature role as gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, based on Roald Dahl's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Also in 1974, Nickerson was Sophie Pennington, alongside Teddy Eccles, in the unsold television pilot If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?, based on M. E. Kerr's novel of the same name. In 1975 she appeared in the satiric, beauty pageant inspired motion picture Smile, as Miss San Diego Shirley Tolstoy, also starring a young Melanie Griffith and Annette O'Toole.

In 1978, Nickerson appeared in the film Zero to Sixty opposite Darren McGavin and Sylvia Miles, and the TV film Child of Glass. She uncredited in the film hit Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Post-acting career

Nickerson quit acting and subsequently began nursing school, but ultimately worked as a receptionist and later as an office manager/accountant in a doctor's office.

Nickerson was a longtime attendee at fan conventions for both Willy Wonka and Dark Shadows.

In 2001, Nickerson appeared in the documentary Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, directed by J.M. Kenny.

In later years, Nickerson appeared on television sporadically, including an appearance on an episode of the 2000–2002 version of To Tell the Truth.

In 2003, Nickerson and some of her Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory castmates appeared on an episode of the British television documentary series, After They Were Famous, also directed by J.M. Kenny.

In 2011, some of the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory cast members, which included Nickerson, reunited for an episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts, which challenged the contestants to create an edible world of wonder. The partial Wonka cast reunited in 2011 and again in 2015 on The Today Show.

Personal life Nickerson was married twice. Her first marriage was to Rick Keller in 1981; he died two years later of a brain aneurysm. Her second marriage was to Mark Willard in 1995; they had one son, Joshua Nickerson, before divorcing in 1998.

In 1976, Nickerson was hit by a car while crossing the street and was left in a full leg cast for eight months.

Health In June 2018, Nickerson suffered a severe stroke and was hospitalized in intensive care. She was discharged to a rehabilitation center the following month. In August, she went home to live under her family's care. In September 2018, her Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory co-stars Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen visited Nickerson after she was discharged from a rehabilitation center.

Death On July 8, 2019, Nickerson took an overdose of prescription medicines while her son Joshua and daughter-in-law Jasime were out; her son took her to a hospital in respiratory distress. While in intensive care, she developed pneumonia. She suffered a massive seizure the following day and slipped into a coma. She had a do not resuscitate order in place, and on July 10, her family removed her from life support. She died later that day from pneumonia at the age of 62. 1975 Smile Shirley DeLuxe Color satirical comedy-drama film directed by Michael Ritchie 1978 Grease ‘High School Student Comedy musical film directed by Randal Kleiser (uncredited) 1978 Zero to Sixty 'Larry' Wilde Comedy film directed by Don Weis 1991 Dark Shadows: Behind the Scenes Archival footage of Amy Jennings, Nora Collins, & Amy Collins Direct-to-video documentary directed by Dan Curtis 1996 Dark Shadows 30th Anniversary Tribute

Documentary 2001 Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Documentary directed by J.M. Kenny 2012 Celluloid Bloodbath: More Prevues from Hell Direct-to-video documentary directed by Jim Monaco and James F. Murray Jr. Television Year Title Role Notes 1963 The Doctors Kate Harris Pilot episode 1964 Rome Sweet Rome Unsold television pilot on The New Phil Silvers Show 1965 Flipper Tina Episode: "Bud Minds Baby" 1968–1970 Dark Shadows Amy Jennings, Nora Collins (1897), & Amy Collins (1970 PT) 71 episodes 1971 The Neon Ceiling Paula Miller Made-for-TV movie directed by Frank Pierson 1971–1972 Search for Tomorrow Liza Walton Kaslo Sentell Kendall 2 episodes 1972 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Ardis Carpenter Episode: "Words of Summer" 1972–1973 The Electric Company Allison 130 episodes 1973 The Man Who Could Talk to Kids Dena Pingitore Made-for-TV movie directed by Donald Wrye 1974 The Brady Bunch Pamela Phillips Episode: "Two Petes in a Pod" If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever? Sophie Pennington 1976 The Dark Side of Innocence Gabriela Hancock Made-for-TV movie directed by Jerry Thorpe Bert D'Angelo/Superstar Episode: "What Kind of Cop Are You?" 1978 The Wonderful World of Disney Connie Sue Armsworth 2003 After They Were Famous Herself Episode: "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" 2011 Top Chef: Just Desserts Episode: "Pure Imagination" 2012 Beyond the Marquee Episode: "Meet the Wonka Kids"

Theatre Title Role Location Dates Notes Sherry! Ensemble Alvin Theatre March 28 – May 27, 1967 Based on The Man Who Came to Dinner by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart Our Town Rebecca Gibbs Anta Playhouse November 27 – December 27, 1969 Metatheatrical three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder