Jeopardy contestants are usually more than happy to share their quirkiest anecdotes and strangest hobbies when Alex Trebek introduces them to the audience.
But Paris Themmen kept his incredible history under wraps, only to be recognized by some Willy Wonka super fans.
Themmen, 58, played Mike Teavee in the original version of the classic 1971 Gene Wilder film.
Jeopardy! fans couldn’t believe their eyes when they realized contestant Paris Themmen, 58, was in the original version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The former child actor starred alongside Gene Wilder as the television-obsessed child Mike Teavee (pictured) in the classic 1971 film
In the movie Mike Teavee, a child obsessed with TV and Western films, ultimately shrinks himself so he can fit inside a television screen.
And on Wednesday Themmen made his character’s dream come true when he appeared on an episode of Jeopardy!
But the former child actor was mum about his former career, instead telling Trebek he was an ‘entrepreneur and backpacker’ from North Hollywood, California.
Themmen talked about his travels during the introduction portion of the show, revealing he had been to 61 countries and six continents.
But Themmen kept his incredible history under wraps when he appeared on Wednesday’s episode of the game show
Themmen started off strongly on the show, winning a Daily Double in the Ben-Hur category in the first round that put him in the lead with $8,000
The avid traveler told Trebek he had not yet been to Antarctica, and revealed his favorite place so far had been the base camp at Mount Everest.
While both Themmen and Jeopardy! failed to highlight his past, he wasn’t able to sneak through some sharp superfans.
‘Pretty darn proud that I recognized @ParisThemmen on @Jeopardy tonight before Alex even did the intros,’ tweeted Elizabeth Nervegna. ‘You go, Mike Teevee!!’
‘I recognized you pretty quickly. Willy Wonka is my favorite movie! So cool to see you on Jeopardy,’ Brandy Ostrander tweeted to Themmen after the show.
Themmen managed to nab second place after getting the Final Jeopardy! question right, but lost to returning champion Zach Dark, an Alabama investment analyst
In the movie Mike Teavee, a child obsessed with television, ultimately shrinks himself so he can fit inside a television screen
‘Matt was amazed that I recognized Mike Teevee from Willy Wonka on Jeopardy tonight! I love that movie!!’ wrote Sarah Tilley.
Fellow fan Mallory Ziglar tweeted that she recognized Themmen’s name ‘immediately’ and was shocked Trebek didn’t ask him about the film.
‘Wait, did @Jeopardy not mention that contestant @ParisThemmen was in “Willy Wonka,” or did I miss it? It’s not every day that Mike Teevee is on TV!’ added Jonathan Padget.
Themmen started off strongly on the episode, winning a Daily Double in the Ben-Hur category in the first round that put him in the lead with $8,000.
While both Themmen and Jeopardy! failed to highlight his past, he wasn’t able to sneak through some sharp superfans who excitedly discussed his appearance on Twitter
But he missed a second Daily Double in the second round, losing $5,000 and placing him at the bottom.
Themmen managed to nab second place with $6,800 after getting the Final Jeopardy! question correct, but lost out to returning champion Zach Dark.
According to his IMDB, Themmen hasn’t acted since 2000. His last role was as a ‘fawning fan’ in the show Star Trek: Voyager.
Themmen has also appeared in the 1999 television movie Screenplay, and in a voice-over for the 1994 mini-series Macross Plus.
Themmen (pictured during a Willy Wonka 40th anniversary celebration in 2011) hasn’t acted since 2000. He now calls himself an ‘avid backpacker’ and has traveled to 61 countries