<P> Denise Nickerson (born April 1, 1957) is an American former child actress and former singer best known for her roles as the gum - chewing Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Allison on The Electric Company and Amy Jennings and Nora Collins in the soap opera Dark Shadows . </P> <P> Born in New York City, Nickerson made appearances in the late 1960s on such shows as The Doctors, and opposite Bill Bixby in an unsold television pilot called Rome Sweet Rome . Nickerson's big break came in 1968 when she joined the cast of ABC - TV's Dark Shadows, appearing as recurring characters Amy Jennings and Nora Collins from 1968--1970 . Upon leaving Dark Shadows, she appeared in the 1971 television movie The Neon Ceiling . </P> <P> In 1971, Nickerson was cast as the nymphet Lolita in the 1971 ill - fated musical, Lolita, My Love during its run on Boston, which closed on the road . Also at this time, Nickerson landed her signature role as gum - chewing Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory . From 1972--73, Nickerson joined the cast of The Electric Company as "Allison", a member of the Short Circus music group . Producers saw the potential in the fresh - faced Nickerson and often had her singing lead on several songs, including "The Sweet Sweet Sway ." She also guest starred as Pamela (one of two dates Peter Brady had on one night) in one of the final The Brady Bunch episodes, "Two Petes in a Pod". She also auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil, a role that ultimately went to Linda Blair, in The Exorcist . </P> <P> Denise created the role of Liza Walton on the CBS soap, Search for Tomorrow . She remained with the series until they decided to age the character and make her one of the show's romantic heroines . </P>

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