Willy Wonka

This article is about the fictional character. For the film sometimes abbreviated as "Willy Wonka", see Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. For other uses, see Willy Wonka (disambiguation).

Willy Wonka
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) front cover, first US edition.jpg
Willy Wonka from the front cover of the first US edition
First appearanceCharlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
Created byRoald Dahl
Portrayed by
Other:
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full nameWilly Wonka
OccupationChocolatier
Inventor
Magician
FamilyWilbur Wonka (father; 2005 film)
Mamma (mother; 2023 film)
ChildrenCharlie Bucket (legal heir)

Willy Wonka is a fictional character appearing in British author Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, its 1972 sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator and several films based on those books. He is the eccentric founder and proprietor of the Wonka Chocolate Factory.[1]

Wonka has been portrayed in film multiple times. In 1971, Willy Wonka was portrayed by Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Wilder's portrayal in the film is considered widely beloved and one of his greatest roles. Johnny Depp's portrayal of the character in 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory polarized critics and audiences. In 2023, Timothée Chalamet portrayed the character in a standalone film that tells his origin story titled Wonka. Chalamet's performance was both praised and criticized.[2] Wilder, Depp, and Chalamet all received Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for their performances.

  1. ^ "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 September 2021. The five children are greeted outside the factory by the eccentric visionary Willy Wonka.
  2. ^ McIntosh, Steven (5 December 2023). "Wonka reviews: Critics say Timothée Chalamet film is a treat". Retrieved 6 December 2023.