Willy Wonka is the famous chocolatier created by by children's author Roald Dahl. He appears in two books, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," published in 1964 and "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator," published in 1973. Two movie adaptations have been made of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Willy Wonka's age is never given in either book, although he is "older than you think." In the first film adaptation, he is played by Gene Wilder who was in his late 30s when he took the role. Johnny Depp also played Willy Wonka in a 2005 adaptation, and was in his early 40s at the time.
Willy Wonka is the owner of a very famous chocolate factory. He creates all sorts of wonderful candy, such as everlasting gobstoppers, for people all over the world.
At one point, he fired all of his old workers because spies kept posing as them and trying to steal his chocolate recipes. Now Oompa Loompas run the factory. His factory is full of crazy candy making rooms, such as the The Nut Sorting Room run by squirrels.
Willy Wonka is eccentric, living alone in his factory with only the Oompa Loompas as company. At the beginning of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," he hasn't been seen leaving his chocolate factory in years. Then he sends out five golden tickets with his chocolate bars, and the five children who find the tickets get to tour the factory. On the tour, he systematically teaches each of the bad children a lesson and chooses Charlie as his factory's heir.
Besides appearing in books and movies, Willy Wonka is also the spokesman for the Willy Wonka Candy Company brand by Nestlé's. He appears on candy packages and on the Willy Wonka Candy Company website in cartoon form.