Gene Wilder, star of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” has tragically passed away at his home in Stamford, Connecticut from complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
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Gene Wilder lived out of the spotlight and evaded the media up until the end of his life, making his interviews few and far between.
Wyburn is known for his artwork made out of foods such as chocolate, pasta, and pizza – a talent he made use of as a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent. “Thank you for all those happy happy hours”.
Since then the frizzy-haired legend starred in classic movies such as Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory And Young Frankenstein. The episode was taped before Wilder died.
Wilder’s barely contained hysteria made him a go-to lead for director-writer Brooks, who cast him in Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and The Producers in the 1960s and ’70s.
The last film – with Wilder playing a California-born descendant of the scientist, insisting that his name is pronounced “Frahn-ken-Shteen” – was co-written by Brooks and Wilder. “They, to me, were the antithesis of how chemistry on film doesn’t always mean it translates off. Gene was a true grownup and I never saw him party”.
Jim Carrey was another longtime admirer, declaring, “Gene Wilder was one of the funniest and sweetest energies ever to take a human form”. If there’s a heaven he has a Golden Ticket”, while Ricky Gervais added: “Good Day Sir! The rest, as they say, is comedy history.
While Depp’s portrayal did succeed in finding new dimensions for Willy Wonka, it is Wilder’s character that created “a cult film whose audiences continue to grow with the passing years”, writes Jeff Stafford of Turner Classic Movies. In this scene, The Waco Kid shares his not so illustrious past, but also still has a few tricks left up his sleeve.
Wilder married actress Gilda Radner in 1984; she died of ovarian cancer in 1989.
“We were just talking, and the thing I remember – I was thinking about it today – that all he really wanted to talk about was how my wife and son were adjusting in NY, and were we happy, and was it fun, and it was fantastic”.
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He is survived by fourth wife Karen Boyer, whom he Wednesday in 1991.
