Matilda star Jimmy Karz looks unrecognisable after quitting fame to become a doctor

Jimmy Karz, who starred in that memorable cake scene in the classic children’s movie Matilda, has turned his back on acting to become a doctor.

Jimmy Karz was just 12 when he starred as Bruce Bogtrotter in the film Matilda. Picture: Sony Pictures

Former child star Jimmy Karz, who played Bruce Bogtrotter in Matilda, is unrecognisable after turning his back on fame.

Jimmy, now 38, starred in the most memorable scene in the 1996 hit, where he was forced to eat a giant chocolate cake in front of the entire school.

Matilda marked his acting debut, and he went on to work on popular medical drama ER which featured George Clooney and Alex Kingston in 1998.

He played Alfred Clark, in the episode Day for Knight, which is the first episode of the fifth series.

Jimmy Karz was just 12 when he starred as Bruce Bogtrotter in Matilda. Picture: Sony Pictures

In 1998 he had a role in Adam Sandler film, The Wedding Singer, as the ‘Studliest kid’ at a Bar Mitzvah.

The part in the classic ‘90s film had Karz squeezing Drew Barrymore’s bum while they danced together.

He was just 12 when he landed the role of Matilda’s pal in the adaptation of Roald Dahl’s story.

After struggling to get through the massive chocolate cake filled with the school cook’s “sweat and blood”, Matilda, played by Mara Wilson stands up and shouts: “You can do it, Brucey”, encouraging the rest of the assembly of students to join in by cheering him on.

Jimmy Karz played Bruce Bogtrotter and Pam Ferris played Ms Trunchbull in Matilda. Pictures: Sony Pictures

Jimmy Karz looks a far cry from his character in Matilda. Pictures: Instagram

Bruce finds the encouragement to polish off the entire cake and completes his challenge with an almighty burp that shakes the school hall.

He finishes it all and his overjoyed classmates roar with glee while applauding his triumph over their hated head teacher, Ms Trunchbull.

Like his co-star Wilson, Karz has left the acting world behind, and chose to focus on his education.

Mara Wilson played the titular role in Matilda. Picture: Supplied

Wilson left acting to pursue a career as an author.

In 2017 he graduated as a doctor at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

He said that he was drawn to osteopathic medicine as it focuses on “helping the whole patient”.

Talking about Matilda and acting in an interview with medical publication The Do, he said: “That scene took about three weeks to film … I had to be on set all day, and I had to wear the same outfit every day. The chocolate was already encrusted on this shirt I was wearing.

“For continuity’s sake, every day I had to have the chocolate painted on my face the way it was painted on the day before.

“I despised the smell of chocolate for a few weeks after that. I realised then that acting is not easy. There’s a lot of skill and professionalism involved.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Matilda star Jimmy Karz looks unrecognisable after quitting fame to become a doctor