Star from 1971 "Willy Wonka" surprised fans when he appeared on Jeopardy

Only the biggest fans of the 1971 classic film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory were able to figure out that the actor who played the cowboys-and-TV-obsessed Mike Teevee was a contestant on Jeopardy. I say "only the biggest fans" because never did host Alex Trebek or contestant Paris Themmen, now 58-years-old, ever mention his younger years as a child actor.

Introduced on Monday only as "an entrepreneur from North Hollywood, California," it took die-hard Wonka fans on Twitter to enlighten the rest of us.

Why wouldn't Paris Themmen mention those most amazing fact he had about himself:

He played Mike Teavee in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory #Jeopardy #WillyWonka pic.twitter.com/CVeZ4cx7rV

— JeopardyBlindGuesser (@JeopardyGuesser) March 13, 2018

Is nobody realizing that Paris on Jeopardy right now, is Mike TV from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?.... Like legit its the actor.

— Rachel Michele (@rachelmichele25) March 13, 2018

I was making dinner in the kitchen, listening to Jeopardy when Alex Trebek started introducing contestants at the break. He said @ParisThemmen and I ran out saying MIKE TEEVEE !!! My wife thought I was nuts. Great job Paris!

— Wildbill (@wildbill77) March 13, 2018

#Jeopardy Paris has one job, which was to talk about Willy Wonka and he didn't do it. Hdksjfbdosnfjslabfj

— Mel Farrar (@Bells1208) March 13, 2018

Themmen came in second place with a prize value of $6800. Good job!

Via CNN