Charlie is a humble boy who loves chocolate but can only afford one bar a year on his birthday. He lives in extreme poverty, relying on a diet of cabbage and potatoes. Despite his hunger and difficult circumstances, he remains polite and deeply cares for his extended family. He dreams of seeing inside the local chocolate factory that towers over his town.

Grandpa Joe is Charlie's 96-year-old grandfather who has been bedridden for decades. He retains a boyish enthusiasm for life, especially when discussing candy inventions. He acts as a source of local history and legends regarding the mysterious nearby factory.

Willy Wonka is an eccentric, world-famous chocolatier who closed his factory to the public years ago due to corporate spies. He suddenly announces a global contest, hiding five Golden Tickets in his candy wrappers. He is known for his bizarre inventions and complete secrecy regarding his current workforce.

Augustus is a heavyset nine-year-old boy whose primary hobby is eating. He consumes hundreds of candy bars a day with the full support of his parents. His town throws a parade in his honor when he successfully secures a ticket to the factory.

Veruca is a wealthy girl who demands whatever she wants from her parents through screaming tantrums. She secures her Golden Ticket because her father bought thousands of candy bars and forced his factory workers to unwrap them for her. She shows no gratitude for the things she receives.

Violet is a loud, competitive girl who holds a world record for chewing gum. She temporarily switches to chocolate just to win the contest but fully intends to return to her gum habit. She speaks disrespectfully to her parents and enjoys sticking used gum on public elevator buttons.

Mike is a boy entirely obsessed with watching television, particularly shows featuring guns and violence. He resents any distraction from his screen time, including reporters covering his contest victory. He wears toy weapons and mimics the violence he watches.

Mr. Bucket provides the sole income for his large family. He works long hours at a toothpaste factory screwing caps onto tubes for very low pay. He tries hard to support his household but struggles to afford basic necessities like food and heating.

Mrs. Bucket manages the cramped two-room house where the family of seven lives. She portions out the watery cabbage soup and bread, worrying constantly about Charlie's lack of nutrition.

Grandma Josephine is one of Charlie's elderly grandparents who shares the only bed in the Bucket house. She listens to Grandpa Joe's stories and occasionally interjects with her own commentary on the outside world.

Grandpa George occupies the shared family bed in the Bucket household. He participates in the evening storytelling sessions with Charlie, helping to pass down local lore about the chocolate factory.

Grandma Georgina is another of Charlie's bedridden grandparents. She lives in the main room of the small house, experiencing the extreme cold and hunger that plagues the family during the winter months.

Mr. Salt owns a successful peanut factory and uses his wealth to pacify his daughter Veruca. He halts his entire peanut operation to have his workers unwrap chocolate bars, demonstrating his willingness to buy his way out of her tantrums.

Mrs. Salt enjoys the privileges of wealth but fails to correct her daughter's constant demands. She allows her husband to cater to every whim, contributing to the family's overall lack of discipline.

Mrs. Gloop is proud of her son Augustus and his massive eating habits. She claims that his constant candy consumption was bound to result in a Golden Ticket, showing no concern for his health.

Mr. Gloop travels with his family to celebrate his son's victory in the contest. He watches passively as his son continues to consume excessive amounts of sweets.

Mrs. Teavee is Mike's mother, who allows her son to consume violent television programs constantly. She believes this pacifies him and keeps him out of trouble, ignoring his aggressive behavior.

Mr. Teavee accompanies his family on the factory tour. He fails to discipline his son, allowing Mike to speak disrespectfully to adults and journalists alike.

Mrs. Beauregarde attempts to manage her daughter's public image but is frequently yelled at and ignored. She acts as a chaperone during the factory tour.

The Oompa-Loompas are a group of small people from Loompaland whom Willy Wonka hired to run his factory. They agreed to work for him in exchange for a safe place to live and an unlimited supply of cocoa beans.

Mr. Slugworth is a rival candy maker mentioned in Grandpa Joe's stories. He is one of the competitors who sent spies into the chocolate factory to steal secret recipes, leading to the factory's closure.

Mr. Fickelgruber is another competing chocolatier who used espionage to figure out how to make unmeltable ice cream, betraying the trust of the factory owner.

Mr. Prodnose is the third major candy rival who planted spies among the regular workers to steal confectionery secrets, ruining the local job market.

Prince Pondicherry is an Indian royal from Grandpa Joe's stories who commissioned a palace made entirely out of chocolate. He ignored warnings to eat the palace quickly, resulting in it melting around him in the hot sun.