Horror Icons: Chucky

“Hi I’m Chucky and I’m your friend to the end” - Chucky.

His birth name is Charles Lee Ray, but we all call him Chucky and as scary as it may be to believe, he really wants to be your friend to the end. As the centerpiece of the Child’s Play franchise, Chucky is a short stack of terror that has been gracing both the big and small screen for the past 36 years.

Born May 1, 1958 in Hackensack, New Jersey, Charles Lee Ray was the notorious Lakeshore Strangler, a serial killer who murdered his victims using voodoo. On November 1, 1988 while being pursued by detective Michael Norris, Ray was gunned down in a toy store in Chicago, Illinois. Before dying Ray found a Good Guy doll, a popular doll that was manufactured by the children’s toy company known as Play Pals. Using the African voodoo chant of Demballa, Ray transferred his soul into the doll and Chucky was born.

After becoming Chucky, Ray ended up in the possession of Andy Barclay on his sixth birthday after Andy’s mother Karen purchased him from a homeless peddler. Chucky would eventually reveal his true identity to Andy in secret. After murdering Karen’s friend Maggie while she babysat Andy, Chucky eventually revealed himself to both Karen Barclay and detective Mike Norris as he attacked them.

Chucky then found out the only way to be human again was by transferring his soul into the person to which he first revealed himself. Eventually the trio managed to kill Chucky and as a result Karen ended up in a mental hospital and Andy ended up in the foster system. Chucky would later pursue Andy in the care of one of his foster families and the military academy known as Kent, both ended with and defeating Chuck with the help of his foster sister and his friends.

By the late 90’s and early 2000’s Chucky formed a family of doll maniacs such as himself, which included his wife Tiffany and his children Glen and Glenda. Together this family brought terror families of Jade Kincade and actress Jennifer Tilly, who also portrays Chucky’s wife Tiffany. Fast forward to the 20-teens and the 2020’s Chucky and his family are now wreaking havoc in the lives of paraplegic Mica Pierce and teenager Jake wheeler, along with his friends, all the while being pursued by original adversary Andy Barclay and his foster sister Kyle.

With seven films and a hit tv series what is it that makes Chucky, created by Don Mancini so lovable? For starters it’s his wit. Similar to Freddy Krueger, Chucky is known for his wisecracking and humorous personality. Also like Freddy, Chucky is a guy you’d probably love hanging out with if he wasn’t a notorious Murderer. For the past 36 years veteran actor Brad Dourif has brought Chucky to life, giving fans a big mixture of laughs and jumps. Whether he’s strangling someone with a jump rope or taking his son on a killing spree under the guise of a boy’s night out, Chucky’s energy never fails to deliver.

Chucky and his films and shows have all been some of my favorite horror forever. I loved watching his movies with my dad and sister who both loved him as much as me. I knew he was one of my favorite icons when I saw Bride Of Chucky in theaters in 1998. That little guy with a big attitude has just always had this larger than life charisma that anyone could’ve guessed wasn’t gonna get old, even after three decades. What’s interesting is Chucky has managed to captivate a whole new generation of horror fans the same way he captured the OGs. I’m glad I’ve gotten to see Chuck through two generations and I look forward to what Dom Mancini cooks up for him in the future.

“I’m Chucky, the killer doll and I dig it” - Chucky.