Willy Wonka film’s Violet dies aged 62

THE actress who played gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory has died.

Denise Nickerson’s son Josh and his wife Jasmine announced her passing yesterday in a Facebook post that read: “She’s gone”.

Her family said she had pneumonia and had experienced several seizures.

She is the first of the film’s five golden ticket winners to die.

Denise, 62, suffered a “major medical emergency” at home on Monday that caused her to be admitted to an intensive care unit in Colorado.

Wonka co-star Julie Dawn Cole, who played the spoilt Veruca Salt, said: “It is dreadfully sad. She has been like a sister to me.”

MATES IN HATE Robinson at court with pal Hopkins yesterday CLASHES Robinson’s supporters battle with police outside the court VIOLENCE Protest in Westminster involved attack on BBC news crew INCENDIARY Smoke bomb is set off outside court

TRIBUTE Denise & Violet