In the Child’s Play film franchise, Chucky’s full human name before becoming a doll is Charles Lee Ray. He is introduced as a criminal and serial killer who uses a voodoo ritual to transfer his soul into a Good Guys doll.
The 1988 film Child’s Play opens with police detective Mike Norris pursuing Ray, who is fatally wounded inside a toy store. Ray then uses the ritual taught by John Bishop, placing his spirit in the doll later known as Chucky. The character’s nickname, the Lakeshore Strangler, reflects his criminal identity before the supernatural transformation.
A common mix-up is treating Chucky as the character’s original name. Chucky is the doll’s familiar name, while Charles Lee Ray is the human identity. The franchise later expands his story through sequels, television episodes and the character Tiffany, who becomes his partner.
Brad Dourif provides Chucky’s voice in the original film and most subsequent productions. The name Charles Lee Ray therefore connects the human killer, the doll and the wider Child’s Play mythology.