Editing Chuck E. Cheese (section)

==Biography==
===Origins and Pizza Time Theatre (1977-1989)===
The character Chuck E. Cheese was originally created as the mascot for a restaurant concept by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, in 1977. Bushnell had intended to open a restaurant called Coyote Pizza, after purchasing what he thought was a coyote costume at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) conference in Orlando. Upon delivery, he discovered that the costume was actually a rat, leading him to rename the restaurant Rick Rat's Pizza.

However, the planners argued that naming a restaurant after a rat might not be appealing, so the name was changed to Chuck E. Cheese, and the restaurant became Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre. The first location opened that same year in San Jose, California, at 370 South Winchester Boulevard.

Chuck E. was initially intended to be called "Rick Rat," but the idea was rejected by Atari's team for being too mature for children. The name "Chuck E. Cheese" was chosen for its alliteration with Disney's Mickey Mouse and its appeal as a "three-smile name." Early on, Chuck E. had a different persona, modeled after the character "Muggs McGinnis," portraying a tough, cigar-smoking rat who made fun of other characters on stage. This rough persona was softened over time, especially after 1980 when he stopped smoking as part of The Great American Smoke Out. Chuck E.'s trademarks included a New Jersey accent, his jokes and insults, a red derby, and a big smile. Despite his harshness, he showed he cared for his onstage friends. By 1984, his personality became gentler.

He was known as "Big C" by the other Pizza Time Players and briefly as "Bingley," though the name was dropped due to pronunciation issues. Chuck E. was a host and vocalist at Pizza Time Theatre, holding a microphone rather than playing an instrument, and was fond of celebrating birthdays.
===Tux/Coach Chuck (1989-1999)===
In 1989, when Showbiz Pizza Time, the owner of both Showbiz Pizza Place and Chuck E. Cheese's, split from Rock-afire Explosion creator Aaron Fechter, they decided to fully adopt the Chuck E. Cheese brand. By 1992, all Showbiz Pizza Place locations were rebranded as Chuck E. Cheese's. A redesign of Chuck E. Cheese was commissioned, dressing him in a tuxedo and softening his appearance to be more cartoony while still retaining his derby hat. Voice actor Scott Wilson continued as Chuck E. until Duncan Brannan replaced him in 1994.

In 1994, Chuck E. was redesigned again to compete with Discovery Zone, alternating between his tuxedo and a "Coach Chuck" look. His face became less rat-like as he officially transitioned into a mouse. These designs overlapped until "Cool Chuck" replaced them in 1999, though some elements of the earlier designs remained in restaurant decor and costumes until the mid-2000s. A 1994 trademark pamphlet listed Tux Chuck as approximately 25 years old.
===Cool Chuck (1992-2004)===
Cool Chuck debuted in 1992 as a younger and more "cool" version of the character, replacing Tux Chuck's formal look with a blue shirt featuring a yellow "C," blue jeans, red sneakers, and a backwards red baseball cap. This more casual, hip look appealed to kids in the mid- to late-90s, gradually phasing out Tux Chuck. Though Coach Chuck still appeared in marketing, Cool Chuck became the primary image in stores, appearing on signage, in animatronic costumes, and as a walkaround character. By 1999, Coach Chuck was fully retired, marking the end of the tuxedo era.

At the same time, a character called Avenger Chuck appeared in advertisements. Similar to Cool Chuck, Avenger Chuck was a youthful, hip mouse who skateboarded and played guitar. From 1997 to 2004, Avenger Chuck became more prominent, eventually replacing Cool Chuck entirely.
===Avenger Chuck (1997-2012)===
Avenger Chuck, introduced in 1997 and exclusive to commercials, was portrayed as a younger, hip skater-type character who appealed to the youth of the 90s and 2000s. Like his predecessor, Avenger Chuck loved to entertain guests and keep things under control, continuing the spirit of Tux Chuck. He also played the saxophone and sometimes the electric guitar in showtapes and commercials.

In 1997, the company introduced "Studio C," a new look for the restaurants, where Avenger Chuck's personality further developed. Jeremy Blaido voiced Chuck E. Cheese during this period, with Duncan Brannan returning to the role in 1998 and continuing until 2012.
===Rockstar Chuck (2012-Present)===
In the early 2010s, with declining sales, Chuck E. Cheese was redesigned to appeal to 21st-century kids. In June 2012, the new "Rockstar Chuck" was revealed, featuring a new ad campaign called “Say Cheese, It's Funner!” This was the first CGI portrayal of Chuck E. Cheese, replacing the hand-drawn style of the Avenger era. The redesign, which gave Chuck E. a rockstar persona, was met with backlash from fans and regular customers, who found the change too drastic and linked it to the company’s financial troubles.

Rockstar Chuck's personality is more energetic and rebellious, often trying to do things his way, though this is downplayed in recent years. He plays and carries an electric guitar and takes birthdays very seriously. Jaret Reddick, lead singer of the band Bowling for Soup, became the new voice for Chuck E., which led to some controversy. Duncan Brannan, the previous voice actor, was replaced without being notified, sparking media attention. Despite the controversy, CEC Entertainment denied Brannan was fired, stating he was still under contract to provide entertainment at the restaurants.

The Rockstar version of Chuck E. is more energetic and hardcore than earlier incarnations, speaking in a louder tone and emphasizing a radical image.