Willy Wonka is the fictional, eccentric owner of a famous chocolate factory who is the main character of Roald Dahl's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its film adaptations. Known for his quirky, often whimsical nature, Wonka uses a contest with "Golden Tickets" to find an heir to his factory, which he ultimately awards to the pure-hearted Charlie Bucket. Origin: Wonka first appeared in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and later in the sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Role: He is the brilliant but reclusive creator of a magical chocolate factory. After a period of closure due to industrial espionage, he reopens the factory and devises a contest to find a worthy heir. Character: He is portrayed as a mysterious, gifted, and often peculiar man who speaks in riddles and puns. Despite his odd exterior, he is searching for a successor who possesses kindness, humility, and honesty. Film portrayals: Wonka has been famously played by actors such as Gene Wilder in the 1971 film, Johnny Depp in the 2005 film, and Timothée Chalamet in the 2023 origin story film, Wonka. The contest: He hides five "Golden Tickets" in his chocolate bars, and the five children who find them win a tour of his factory. Throughout the tour, the other children exhibit bad behavior and are eliminated from the competition, leaving Charlie as the sole winner.