Gene Wilder, the star of films such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein, has died at the age of 83.
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Actor and writer Gene Wilder, who brought his signature manic energy to films such as The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and the role that forever ensconced him in the collective memory of a generation of children, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has died.
The comic actor, whose best work included collaborations with director-writer Mel Brooks and actor-comedian Richard Pryor, died at his home in CT, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Wilder co-starred with Richard Pryor in several movies including the train-murder comedy “Silver Streak” (1976) and in “Stir Crazy (1980)”.
The news of Hollywood legend Gene Wilder’s death Monday was greeted with shock by his legion of fans and fellow stars, who took to social media to voice their sorrow. If theres a heaven he has a Golden Ticket..
Before he was an Oscar nominated actor, Gene Wilder was known as Jerome Silberman, a student at Washington High School on Milwaukee’s North side. He said, Thats a song and dance.
Before starring in The Producers, he had a small role as the hostage of gangsters in the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde. He peaked in the mid-1970s with the twin Brooks hits Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein..
After Radner died of ovarian cancer in 1989, Wilder spent much of his time after promoting cancer research and opened a support facility for cancer patients. In 1991, he testified before Congress about the need for increased testing for cancer.
Gad, who appeared in Broadway musical “Book of Mormon”, also offered a lengthy tribute on Instagram, describing Wilder as “one of a kind”.
It is with indescribable sadness and blues, but with spiritual gratitude for the life lived that I announce the passing of husband, parent, and universal artist Gene Wilder, at his home in Stamford, Conn. But not too many came along, I mean the came along for the first.
“I don’t think Gene was depressed, but he was very serious and very sensitive and not afraid to expose what many people would call a feminine side, an emotional side”, she said Monday.
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The swearing, and the loud. after a while. they were dirty, and once in a while a nice, a good film, but not very many. I didnt want to do 3-D for instance.
