At nine years old, sitting by the fire with a Christmas chill in the air, this is what my recollection is of seeing Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the first time.
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He starred in a number of classic films during the 70s and 80s, many made in collaboration with his friend director Mel Brooks, including “The Producers”, “Young Frankenstein”, and “Blazing Saddles”.
Wilder wanted the titular role so much, he reportedly put in a personal call to Chocolate Factory author Roald Dahl, eventually beating out Fred Astaire and Peter Sellers to become the iconic Willy Wonka. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article. But it was reportedly complications of Alzheimer’s disease that caused his death. Wilder even beat his own battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1999.
From his signature performance in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” to his work with Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor, he was, instead, a one-of-a-kind presence that simply can not ever be replaced. “He blessed every film we did with his magic and he blessed me with his friendship”, Brooks said.
He and the late comedian Richard Pryor also teamed up in a series of black-Jewish buddy movies, including “Stir Crazy” and “Silver Streak”. After she died, Wilder became actively involved in promoting awareness of ovarian cancer and helped found the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles and co-founding Gilda’s Club.
Countless household names in TV and film have also described how they were inspired to pursue comedy after seeing Wilder on the stage and screen. He won an Emmy in 2003 for a guest role on “Will & Grace”.
News of actor Gene Wilder’s death spread quickly through Hollywood, with stars taking to Twitter to pay their respects to the comedy legend.
Let’s face it, Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Willy Wonka is one of the greatest performances of all time. His first Broadway appearance was in November 1961 in “The Complaisant Lover” and he returned to Broadway in 1963 in “Mother Courage and her Children“.
Wilder’s memoir “Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art” was published in 2005.
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Wilder is survived by his wife Karen, who he married in 1991, and his daughter Katherine, who was born from a previous marriage.
