Willy Wonka

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character
Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka in the original book drawn by Quentin Blake
Gender	Male
Personality	Funny, eccentric, and weird, although nice, dark, and a bit crazy
Family	None known
Town/City the character lives in	Lives in a factory in an unknown place
Portrayed by	None

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character


Willy Wonka portrayed by Gene Wilder in the 1971 musical version
Gender	Male
Personality	Similar to the original book, however he tends to be more out to teach children life lessons than Dahl's original
Family	Unknown
Town/City the character lives in	Unknown
Portrayed by	Gene Wilder

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character
Willy Wonka

Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka in the 2005 Non-Musical Version
Gender	Male
Personality	Similar to the original book. Dark, and mysterious.
Family	Father Dr. Wilbur Wonka, D.D.S.
Town/City the character lives in	Unknown
Portrayed by	Johnny Depp

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character
Willy Wonka

An animated version of Willy Wonka on the logo of Nestlé's Wonka candy products
Gender	Male
Personality	Similar to the original book
Family	Unknown
Town/City the character lives in	Unknown
Portrayed by	None

Willy Wonka (born 16 May 1879 in California) is a fictional character in Roald Dahl's classic children's books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. He is the founder of the Wonka candy company.

He proves an unparalleled genius in confectionery development, inventing seemingly impossible products that capture the world's imagination, like ice cream that never melts, and small candy eggs that hatch chocolate birds that move and chirp. From his factory, his products are shipped and sold worldwide. However, other chocolate makers become jealous and start sending spies to find out the Wonka's recipes. Nearly ruined, Wonka closes the factory and fires all of his workers. Years later, the factory once again starts running, secretly staffed exclusively by Oompa Loompas, a race of dwarves from Loompaland who relish the taste of cacao beans. His business resumes its dominance. In the original novel and in Tim Burton's film, Wonka's journey to Loompaland was for the purpose of finding new exotic flavors for his candy.

Eventually Wonka, getting old and not having any heirs, felt the need to arrange for a successor for his business, if only to provide a home and work for the Oompa Loompas. However, he wanted to groom one from childhood to guarantee they would keep with his methods and spirit. To that end, he announces a contest with five Golden Tickets randomly placed in his products promising a tour and a lifetime supply of his products to the winners for starters. Five children find the tickets, including Charlie Bucket, and they go on the tour of the bizarre factory. During the course of the tour all the children except Charlie misbehave, and find themselves in terrible predicaments that result in their being removed from the group. When only Charlie remains, the delighted Wonka reveals his plan and his offer, which Charlie eagerly accepts. He and his family move in to live and work in the factory.

Wonka's eccentric behavior, inventions, ignoring the rules of science and self imposed isolation and paranoia classify him as a Mad Scientist.

A musical film adaptation of Dahl's book Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, was released in 1971. It was originally a box office flop, but has since become a cult classic, hailed a children's classic by critics and has attracted a worldwide audience.

Another film version of the tale was released in 2005. Titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it was a comedy directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka (and Blair Dunlop as young Willy Wonka). Tim Burton's 2005 version added a history of the character: Willy Wonka is the son of dentist Dr. Wilbur Wonka, D.D.S. (played by Christopher Lee). Wonka had a traumatic childhood: his father forbade him to eat candy and forced his son to wear large and unsightly orthodontic headgear. Eventually, he tastes chocolate and starts getting ideas for other candies. When he becomes an adult, Wonka opens a his own candy store (Side note: Grandpa Joe was one of Wonka's first employees; Mr. Teavee was hinted to be one as well). A number of movie critics, including one from the New York Times, criticized this Freudian backstory for being both unnecessary and out of the spirit of Dahl's original novel.^{[citation needed]}

Additionally, in Burton's film Wonka initially refuses to allow Charlie to bring his family. An eventual reconciliation between Wonka and his father causes Wonka to change his mind and allow Charlie's family to move in with him as well.

Wonka is also spoofed in the 2007 spoof/comedy Epic Movie, played by Crispin Glover.

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[edit] External links

v • d • e Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
Characters:	Willy Wonka \| Oompa-Loompas \| Charlie Bucket \| Augustus Gloop \| Veruca Salt \| Violet Beauregarde \| Mike Teavee \| Grandpa Joe \| Mr. Slugworth \| The Candy Man \| Prince Pondicherry \| Vermicious knid \| Mr. and Mrs. Teavee \| Mr. Salt \| Mr. Beauregarde \| Mrs. Beauregarde \| Dr. Wilbur Wonka (only in Tim Burton film)
Books:	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory \| Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Films:	1971 \| 2005
Misc.:	Differences between the book and film versions \| Golden Ticket \| Wonka Bar \| Video Game \| other Roald Dahl films \| other Roald Dahl books