The chocolate factory owner in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is Willy Wonka.
The character is played by Gene Wilder in the film, which was directed by Mel Stuart and released in 1971. The movie is based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, although it uses a different title and makes some changes to the story and characters.
Wonka operates a mysterious factory filled with unusual inventions, edible landscapes, and the Oompa-Loompas. He invites five children who find golden tickets to tour the factory, using the visit to observe their behavior.
The character is sometimes confused with Arthur Slugworth, a rival chocolatier who appears in the film’s plot, or with Charlie Bucket, the child whose visit forms the story’s emotional center. Gene Wilder’s performance helped establish Wonka as a major screen character.