“I’m heartbroken at Gene’s passing, but what a wonderful way to celebrate his gifts and talents this weekend”, he said.
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American actor Gene Wilder (L) performs alongside compatriot Rolf Saxon, October 2, during the rehearsal of a scene from Neil Simon’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”. “And I expected it”, Brooks told Fallon.
Brooks also shared a touching story of how he told Wilder that he would be starring in The Producers after the film got financed.
On the set of Blazing Saddles, in which Wilder plays The Waco Kid, Brooks said Wilder would constantly be writing on a legal pad that said “Young Frankenstein”.
Wilder and Brooks consistently worked with each other throughout their careers.
Wilder’s turn as Willy Wonka arguably stands as his most memorable role, while “Blazing Saddles”, one of his many collaborations with director Mel Brooks, was among his most sidesplitting films.
Brooks recalled numerous famous stories about his relationship with Wilder. “And he was such a wonderful part of my life”.
“He was eighty-three and passed holding our hands with the same tenderness and love he exhibited as long as I can remember”, he said.
The two originally met when Gene was doing a play with Mel’s late wife Anne Bancroft. They are always laughing at me.
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“He said, ‘I had an idea. You’re going to get the money”. He held his face and cried. Dr. FRONK-en-steen, the in-denial grandson of the legendary monster-maker in Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”. “And he’s fighting it, but it’s in his blood, ‘” Brooks said. He thought it was a “terrific idea”, so they made a decision to write it together and assemble one of the greatest comedy casts of all-time.
