Grandpa Joe

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Grandpa Joe is a fictional character in the Roald Dahl children's books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. In the Charlie Bucket duology, his age is said to be ninety-six and a half; in the 1971 movie, he is in his early 60s; and in the 2005 movie he is said to be in his early 80s.

Description

Grandpa Joe was one of Charlie's four bed-ridden grandparents. He tells Charlie (and the reader) the story of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and the mystery of the secret workers. When Charlie found the Golden Ticket, Grandpa Joe leapt out of bed for joy. Charlie took Grandpa Joe to accompany him on the factory tour. Later, Grandpa Joe accompanied Charlie, Willy Wonka, and all members of Charlie's family in the Great Glass Elevator and played a crucial role in the rescue of the Commuter Capsule from the Vermicious Knids.

An original backstory to Grandpa Joe's past was added to Tim Burton's film adaptation of the book. In both the book and the 1971 film, Joe merely knows of Willy Wonka, while in Burton's 2005 film, it is said that Joe actually worked for Wonka for five years (Around 1980), beginning when Wonka opened his first candy shop (around 1985), until the day he fired all his workers from his factory (around 1990; strangely, despite the flashback taking place possibly decades ago, Joe looks exactly the same).

The character was played by Jack Albertson in the 1971 musical film adaptation Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Here, Grandpa Joe is portrayed in a somewhat less favorable light than the book and 2005 non-musical version. He constantly talks about getting out of bed to support his family but never does get out of bed until Charlie finds the Golden Ticket. On the tour Grandpa Joe encourages Charlie to misbehave by stealing fizzy lifting drinks.

The character was played by David Kelly in the 2005 non-musical film adaptation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Gregory Peck was originally slated to play the role, but died before filming began.

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