List of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory characters facts for kids

The logo for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This article lists the characters from the famous 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. It also includes characters from its 1972 sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. You'll also find characters from the movie versions: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2017), and Wonka (2023). We'll mention the actors who played these characters in the films.

Main Characters in the Chocolate Factory Story

Who is Willy Wonka?

From left to right: Willy Wonka was played by Gene Wilder (1971 film), Johnny Depp (2005 film), and Timothée Chalamet (2023 film).

Willy Wonka is the amazing and a bit strange owner of the world's biggest candy factory. He makes all kinds of delicious candies and chocolates. Wonka holds a special contest. He hides five Golden Tickets inside his chocolate bars. The lucky finders get a tour of his secret factory. They also win a lifetime supply of his wonderful treats!

In the books, Wonka has a small black beard and very bright eyes. His voice is high and "flutey," and his face is full of fun. He moves quickly, "like a squirrel." He is excited, chatty, friendly, and charming.

In the 1971 film, Gene Wilder plays Wonka. His personality is similar to the book. But he is also a bit sadder and sometimes seems like a mad scientist. He often quotes famous books and poems. Near the end, he tests Charlie's honesty. When Charlie proves himself, Wonka acts almost like a father figure.

In the 2005 film, Johnny Depp plays Wonka. This movie adds a new part to his story. It shows that his father, a dentist, didn't let him eat sweets. Young Wonka ran away from home to become a chocolatier. At the end of the film, Wonka makes up with his father. His father had been secretly collecting newspaper clippings about his son's success.

In the 2023 film, Timothée Chalamet plays a younger Wonka. This film tells his origin story. It shows his early days as a chocolatier. In this version, his mother, who made chocolate, had passed away. Young Wonka traveled to Europe to open his own chocolate shop. He later teams up with an Oompa Loompa named Lofty.

Who is Charlie Bucket?

Peter Ostrum played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film.

Charlie Bucket is the kind-hearted main character of the stories. He lives in a very poor family with his mother, father, and four grandparents. In the original book, Charlie is shown as a selfless boy. He is always worried about others.

In the 1971 film, Charlie delivers newspapers after school. His father is not in this version. Charlie and his family eagerly follow the news about the Golden Tickets. Peter Ostrum played Charlie in this film.

In the 2005 film, Charlie's father loses his job at a toothpaste factory. He gets his job back later as a technician. Unlike the other children, Charlie is honest and kind. He worries if the other kids will be okay after their factory accidents. Freddie Highmore played Charlie in this film.

Who is Grandpa Joe?

Jack Albertson played Grandpa Joe in the 1971 film.

Grandpa Joe is one of Charlie's four grandparents. He has been in bed for many years. He tells Charlie the amazing story of Willy Wonka's factory. When Charlie finds a Golden Ticket, Grandpa Joe jumps out of bed with joy! He is chosen to go with Charlie on the factory tour. In the second book, he and Charlie's whole family ride in the Great Glass Elevator.

In the 1971 film, Jack Albertson plays Grandpa Joe. He is often very excited and a bit stubborn. He convinces Charlie to try some forbidden Fizzy Lifting Drinks. He gets angry when Wonka seems to deny Charlie a reward. But Charlie proves his honesty anyway.

In the 2005 film, David Kelly plays Grandpa Joe. This version of the character is calmer. A new part of his story is added. It says that Grandpa Joe used to work for Wonka. But Wonka fired all his workers because rival companies were stealing his recipes. When Joe returns to the factory, Wonka asks if he was a spy. Joe says no, and Wonka welcomes him back.

Other Golden Ticket Winners

Who is Augustus Gloop?

Michael Böllner (pictured 2011) played Augustus Gloop in the 1971 film.

Augustus Gloop is a very greedy boy. He is the first person to find a Golden Ticket. He is one of the main "bad" kids in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He comes from Germany. His mother is very proud of how much he eats.

In the book and both films, he is described as "enormously fat." Augustus is the first child to leave the tour. While drinking from the Chocolate River, he falls in! He is then sucked up a pipe to the factory's Fudge Room. In the book, he leaves the factory looking very thin from being squeezed in the pipe.

In the 1971 film, Michael Böllner plays Augustus. He is not as fat as in the book. He is polite to the other children. When he falls into the river, Charlie tries to save him.

In the 2005 film, Augustus is always eating chocolate. He has chocolate smeared on his face. He is much fatter in this version. He also acts like he is better than others. He offers Charlie a bite of his candy, then takes it back. He says Charlie should have brought his own. He leaves the factory looking normal, but still licking chocolate from his fingers. The actor, Philip Wiegratz, wore a special suit to look bigger.

Who is Veruca Salt?

Julie Dawn Cole (pictured in 2017) played Veruca Salt in the 1971 film.

Veruca Salt is a demanding and spoiled girl. She is one of the main "bad" kids. She wants everything she sees, right away! Veruca is the second person to find a Golden Ticket. She is the third child to be removed from the factory tour.

Veruca didn't find the ticket herself. Her rich father bought thousands of Wonka bars. He made his factory workers unwrap them all until they found a ticket.

Veruca is very rude to her wealthy parents. She doesn't care about other people's property. For example, in the Nut Sorting Room, she demands a trained squirrel. When Wonka says no, she tries to grab one herself. The squirrels grab her instead! They decide she is a "bad nut." Then, she and her parents are thrown down the garbage chute. They are later seen leaving the factory "covered in garbage."

In the 1971 film, Julie Dawn Cole plays Veruca. She has a very bad temper. She constantly demands things and brags about her wealth. In this film, it's geese that lay golden eggs, not squirrels. Veruca demands one of these special eggs. The machine judges her as a "bad egg," and she falls down the garbage chute. Her father follows her.

In the 2005 film, Veruca's removal is similar to the book. She is less angry but more annoying. She owns many pets, including a pony, dogs, and cats. When she tries to take a squirrel, she is knocked down. The squirrels judge her as a "bad nut" and throw her down the garbage chute. Her father follows. When they leave the factory, Veruca demands the Great Glass Elevator. Her father, finally fed up, tells her she's only getting "a bath, and that’s final." He has learned his lesson about spoiling her.

Who is Violet Beauregarde?

Denise Nickerson (left) played Violet Beauregarde in the 1971 film, and AnnaSophia Robb (right) played her in the 2005 film.

Violet Beauregarde is a very competitive and rude girl. She is obsessed with chewing gum. She is the third person to find a Golden Ticket. She is the second child to be removed from the tour. Violet brags that she has chewed the same piece of gum for "three months solid." She has won many trophies for gum chewing. In the 1971 film, she has brown hair. In the 2005 film, she has blonde hair.

Wonka shows the group a new type of gum. It's a three-course meal in one stick! It tastes like tomato soup, roast beef, and blueberry pie. Violet is eager to try it, even though Wonka warns her. She snatches the gum and chews it. She loves the taste, but when she gets to the blueberry pie, her skin turns indigo. Her body swells up like a giant blueberry. Wonka has the Oompa-Loompas roll her to the Juicing Room. They squeeze the juice out of her. She is last seen leaving the factory back to normal size, but still blue.

In the 1971 film, Denise Nickerson plays Violet. She is impatient and vain. She argues with Veruca Salt. Her blueberry form is smaller, and her hair color doesn't change. She is rolled off to the Juicing Room. Her father follows, crying, "I've got a blueberry for a daughter!"

In the 2005 film, AnnaSophia Robb plays Violet. She is described as "brash, rude and insanely competitive." She is also into karate. She is accompanied by her mother, Scarlett Beauregarde. Her mother is also very competitive. Violet turns blue, and her eyes and hair turn blue too. She swells up into a 10-foot blueberry. She is rolled off to be juiced. She is shown leaving the factory doing cartwheels. She is happy about her new flexibility, but her mother is not happy about her permanent blue color.

Who is Mike Teavee?

Paris Themmen played Mike Teavee in the 1971 film.

Mike Teavee is a boy who loves watching television. He is the fourth Golden Ticket finder. He is also the fourth child to be removed from the tour. He is one of the main "bad" kids. In the book, he wears many toy pistols. He "fires" them while watching TV shows about gangsters. He is bad-tempered but also smart. He asks Wonka many questions. His last name sounds like "TV" because of his love for electronics.

In the book, Wonka shows a machine that can transport chocolate through television. Mike jumps into the machine! He shrinks himself to a tiny size. Wonka has an Oompa-Loompa take Mike's family to the Gum-Stretcher Room. They try to stretch Mike back to normal. He is last seen leaving the factory "ten feet tall and thin as a wire." The Oompa-Loompas had stretched him too much.

In the 1971 film, Paris Themmen plays Mike. He is nine years old. He is accompanied by his mother. He loves Western films and wears cowboy clothes. He constantly talks about TV shows. After being shrunk, he is taken to the Taffy Pulling Room. His mother faints when she sees him.

In the 2005 film, Jordan Fry plays Mike. He is 13 years old. His interests are updated to the Internet and video games. He is from Denver, Colorado. He is accompanied by his father. He is more disrespectful and violent in this version. He finds the Golden Ticket using math and logic. He says he doesn't even like chocolate. When they are in the Television Chocolate Room, Mike jumps into the machine. He sends himself by television. Mike and his father are later seen leaving the factory. Mike is 10 feet tall, very thin, and flat.

Other Important Characters

Who are Wonka's Rivals?

Mr. Fickelgruber, Mr. Prodnose, and Arthur Slugworth are Willy Wonka's main rivals in the chocolate business. In the book, they sent spies to steal Wonka's secret recipes. This almost ruined Wonka's factory. Fickelgruber made ice cream that never melted. Prodnose made gum that never lost its flavor. Slugworth made candy balloons.

After Wonka reopened his factory with the Oompa-Loompas, these rivals were no longer a threat. In the 2005 film, they make brief appearances. In the 2023 film Wonka, they are shown as members of a "Chocolate Cartel." This group tries to stop Wonka from opening his own chocolate shop.

Who is Mr. Wilkinson (the fake Slugworth)?

In the 1971 film, a mysterious man appears. He introduces himself as Arthur Slugworth. He approaches each Golden Ticket finder. He whispers an offer to them: bring him an Everlasting Gobstopper, and he will pay them a lot of money. This is a test from Wonka himself. The man is actually Wonka's employee, Mr. Wilkinson. He is testing the children's honesty. Charlie passes the test by returning the Gobstopper to Wonka.

Who is Prince Pondicherry?

Prince Pondicherry is a prince from India. Grandpa Joe tells Charlie a story about him. Wonka built the Prince a huge chocolate palace in India. Wonka told him to eat it before it melted. But the Prince wanted to live in it. Sadly, the palace melted in the hot sun. His name comes from the city of Pondicherry in India.

He is not in the 1971 film. But he makes a short appearance in the 2005 film. Nitin Ganatra plays him. His story is the same as in the book.

Who are the Oompa-Loompas?

The Oompa-Loompas are small people who work in Wonka's factory. They used to live in a dangerous homeland. Wonka invited them to work for him. He pays them in cocoa beans, which they love. Cocoa beans were very rare where they lived. The Oompa-Loompas are playful and love jokes. They are great at making up songs. They sing a song after each child gets into trouble.

In the 1971 film, the Oompa-Loompas have orange skin and green hair. They wear striped shirts and baggy pants. They were played by actors with dwarfism.

In the 2005 film, all the Oompa-Loompas are played by one actor, Deep Roy. They look almost identical. They wear their tribal clothes in Loompaland. In the factory, they wear worker uniforms. Willy Wonka explains how he hired them.

In the 2023 film, an Oompa-Loompa named Lofty is played by Hugh Grant. He wants Wonka to pay him back for cocoa beans. Later, he helps Wonka build his new factory.

What are the Vermicious Knids?

The Vermicious Knids are strange aliens. They appear in Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. They are also mentioned in the 1971 film. In the book, they are huge, dark, egg-shaped creatures. They can move very fast in space. They can change their shape. They come from a planet called Vermes. They eat entire races on other planets. They avoid Earth because they burn up in our atmosphere.

In Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, a group of Knids attacks the "Space Hotel USA." They try to pull the Great Glass Elevator away from Earth. But the Elevator quickly returns to Earth. The Knids burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The word "Vermicious" means "worm-like."

Characters Introduced in Films

Who is Mr. Turkentine?

Mr. Turkentine is Charlie Bucket's school teacher. He only appears in the 1971 film. He has a funny way of teaching. He asks Charlie to help him with a science project. But the class gets distracted by the Golden Ticket search. Mr. Turkentine dismisses the class and runs out. Later, he uses Wonka bars to teach about percentages. David Battley plays Mr. Turkentine.

Who is Dr. Wilbur Wonka?

Dr. Wilbur Wonka is Willy Wonka's father. He only appears in the 2005 film. He is a dentist. He made very strict rules for his son. He even made Willy wear braces to stop him from eating sweets. When Willy wanted to become a chocolatier, his father told him he wouldn't be there when Willy returned.

Years later, Charlie and Willy find Dr. Wonka's building. It turns out he had been collecting newspaper clippings about his son's success. When Dr. Wonka examines Willy's teeth, he recognizes him. They finally make up. Christopher Lee plays Dr. Wonka.