“Willy Wonka” actor Leonard Stone dies at 87

Leonard Stone, actor from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”, died on Wednesday. Stone was 81 years old.

Stone was suffering from cancer and passed away only a day before his 88th birthday. His battle with cancer was brief.

Leonard Stone is best known for playing the role of Violet Beauregarde’s dad in the famous 1971 movie “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”.

Stone began his career at a very young age, when he was studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He performed in the West End, on Broadway, and toured around the world. He traveled for eight years in Australlia and New Zealand, touring the musical South Pacific.

Leonard Stone has worked in more than 150 television series and movies since 1956. These include “The Donna Reed Show”, “Perry Mason”, “Lost in Space”, “Dragnet 1967”, “Mod Squad”, “Mission: Impossible”, “Ironside”, “Mannix”, “Gunsmoke”, “Sanford and Son”, “Barney Miller”, “Quincy M.E.”, “Alice”, “Falcon Crest” and “L.A. Law”. He was last seen in the 2006 made-for-TV movie “Surrender, Dororthy”.

One of his lines from the movie, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", got massive popularity and fans will always remember how Stone remarked, “Violet, you’re turning violet.”

Stone got nominated for the Tony Awards in 1959 for his role in “Redhead”.

His TV credits include "L.A. Law", "Gunsmoke", "M*A*S*H", "General Hospital", "Hill Street Blues" and "Mission: Impossible". Majority of his roles on TV and film remained supporting roles.

In 1966, he had a supporting role as Morton on the short-lived CBS sitcom "The Jean Arthur Show" starring Jean Arthur and Ron Harper. Between 1988 and 1994, he appeared in twelve episodes of the NBC legal drama "L.A. Law" as Judge Paul HansonPaul Hanson.

The most recent role Stone played was at the age of 83 in 2006, when he played a supporting role in “Surrender, Dorothy”.

Stone married Carole Kleinman in 1964. He had four children with her and is a grandfather to eight grandchildren. In 1983, he moved to San Diego from his longtime home in Los Angeles.

On September 22, 2000, Stone appeared as an ordinary, non-celebrity contestant on the much popular TV game show "Wheel of Fortune". He came second in the show, winning $4,250 in cash and a trip to Bermuda valued at $5,310.

No details about Leonard Stone’s funeral arrangements have been announced as yet.