Denise Marie Nickerson (April 1, 1957 – July 10, 2019)[1] was an American former child actress. At the age of 13, she starred as Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. She later played Allison on The Electric Company, and had recurring roles as Amy Jennings, Nora Collins, and Amy Collins in the soap operaDark Shadows. She retired from acting in 1978 and later worked as a receptionist and office manager.
Early life
Nickerson was born on April 1, 1957,[2] in New York City,[3] to Florence Bickford, a clerical worker, and Fred Nickerson, a mail carrier. The family, along with older sister Carol moved to Miami.[2] 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.[2]
In 1971, Nickerson, at 13, was cast as the nymphet Lolita, replacing the original actress Annette Ferra in the ill-fated musical, Lolita, My Love during its run in Boston, which closed on the road before reaching Broadway.[3][5]
From 1972 to 1973, Nickerson joined the cast of The Electric Company as "Allison", a member of the Short Circus music group. Producers saw the potential in her fresh face and had her sing lead on several songs, including "The Sweet Sweet Sway". She guest starred as Pamela Phillips, one of two dates Peter Brady had on one night, in a final-season episode of The Brady Bunch titled "Two Petes in a Pod". She auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist, losing to Linda Blair.[14] 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.[15][16]
Nickerson created the role of Liza Walton on the CBS Daytime soap opera, Search for Tomorrow. She remained with the series until producers decided to age the character and make her one of the show's romantic heroines.[3][12]
After turning 21, 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.[10]
Nickerson was a longtime attendee at fan conventions for both Willy Wonka and Dark Shadows.[19]
In 2001, Nickerson appeared in the documentaryPure 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.[20] The partial Wonka cast reunited in 2011 and again in 2015 on The Today Show.[21][22][23][24]
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.[25]
In 1976, Nickerson was hit by a car while crossing the street and was left in a full leg cast for eight months.[26]
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.[27] In September 2018, Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory visited Nickerson after she was discharged from a rehabilitation center.[9][28]
Death
On July 8, 2019, Nickerson took an overdose of prescription medicines while her son and daughter-in-law were out; her son took her to a hospital in respiratory distress. While in intensive care, she developed pneumonia.[29] She suffered a massive seizure the following day and slipped into a coma. She had a do not resuscitate order in place,[30] and on July 10, her family removed her from life support.[31][32] She died later that day from pneumonia at the age of 62.[1][24]
^Orfanides, Effie (July 11, 2019). "Denise Nickerson Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Retrieved November 14, 2021. The family was clear in stating that Denise was not on life support and that she had a DNR — do not resuscitate — in place.
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