Though Mel Brooks knew Gene Wilder was sick, he said it was still a big shock when his longtime friend died this week at the age of 83.
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With the passing of Gene Wilder this week, it’s only natural that more and more stories and interviews from the comedy legend are starting to resurface.
“Miracle of miracles”, Brooks did find the backing and visited Wilder backstage of a play he was doing called “Luv”.
Monday brought the terrible news that Gene Wilder had passed away, and since then, tributes to the legendary comedic actor have been pouring in on social media and television.
Wilder starred in Brooks’ first film The Producers as the nervous accountant Leo Bloom.
The actor’s nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, told the media outlet that Gene Wilder would still be recognized at restaurants by kids and parents even up until two years ago.
Wilder and Brooks consistently worked with each other throughout their careers.
While the two were working on “Blazing Saddles”, Brooks saw Wilder writing on a legal pad, “I looked at the top of it and it said ‘Young Frankenstein, ‘” Brooks reminisced.
Then, a few years pass, and Brooks somehow gets the money and goes back to Wilder. “I can’t say what it meant to act with him and get to know his heart”.
Gene asked Mel an honest question on why people we laughing at him and Mel decided to make a joke, suggesting Gene look in a mirror and blame God! And I took the script and said, ‘Gene, we got the money.
“We had no idea that he was going to do that”, Ostrum told THR.
But funding came through and Gene burst into tears when Mel broke the happy news they would be making the comedy, which was released in 1968. “It was a wonderful moment”, the Oscar victor recalled.
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Launched by “The Producers” and “Blazing Saddles” as a film star, Wilder never returned to the stage.
