Original Oompa Loompa Actor Recalls "Filthy" Chocolate River, Gene Wilder's Demeanor

Rusty Goffe, one of the surviving Oompa Loompas from the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," has revealed details about the original production and his participation in the new Netflix reality series "Wonka: The Golden Ticket." Goffe, now 77, noted a significant difference in the iconic chocolate river between the two productions.

"Fifty-five years ago, it was just dirty water," Goffe told the Daily Mail. "The crew were throwing cigarette ends and bits of old script into it. Then they poured real sugar and real cream in it. After a few days under hot lights, everything started smelling terribly." In contrast, he described the river in the new show as "actually just a lovely chocolate river."

The new reality show recreates Willy Wonka's factory, with 12 pairs of contestants competing for a £2.25 million prize. Goffe leads a new group of Oompa Loompas in the series. He is joined in the new show by his son, Ben Goffe, who also follows in his father's footsteps as an actor.

Gene Wilder's voice, from the original 1971 film, is recreated using AI for the Netflix series, a decision that some fans have found "creepy." However, Goffe found hearing the AI-generated voice of Wilder, who died in 2016, to be "magical."

Donning a familiar green wig, orange face paint, and dungarees, Goffe felt transported back in time. He recalled his early days on the set of the 1971 film, where he was 22 and it was his first movie. He credited the director and his fellow Oompa Loompas, whom they called 'Oomphs,' for guidance, as well as actor Roy Kinnear, who played Mr. Salt.

Regarding Gene Wilder, Goffe described him as a "funny man yet serious. He knew what he wanted - but he was gentle."

While the original film featured ten Oompa Loompas of short stature, the Netflix version includes a more diverse cast, including 6-foot-8-inch actor Mitchell Marion. Goffe mentioned that the original Oompa Loompa costumes were challenging, particularly the amount of orange powder applied daily, which had to be scraped off. The wigs also fit poorly in 1971, unlike the well-fitting wigs used in the new series. However, he noted that the heavy boots required for dancing in the new show were less comfortable than the ballet pumps worn previously.

Goffe's acting career, which began with "Willy Wonka," also includes roles in "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," "Willow," and five "Harry Potter" films, though he maintains that "Wonka" remains his favorite. He expressed disapproval of Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation.

Filming for the new series took place over six weeks in Australia. Goffe and his son were under strict contracts preventing them from speaking to the contestants to maintain the show's immersive atmosphere.

Goffe indicated he has not retired and is open to future "Wonka" projects.