Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder (Jerome Silberman; June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, author, comedian, director and screenwriter. He was most famous for his acting work and in particular for the movies he made with Mel Brooks which include The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. He also played the part of Willy Wonka in the musical movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Gene Wilder | |
|---|---|
 Wilder in 1970 | |
| Born | Jerome Silberman June 11, 1933 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | August 29, 2016 (aged 83) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications of Alzheimer's disease |
| Resting place | Long Ridge Union Cemetery; Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Iowa |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1961–2003 (actor) 1998–2013 (author) |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Jordan Walker-Pearlman (nephew) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1956–1957 |
| Signature | |
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Wilder studied Communication and Theatre Arts at the University of Iowa.[1]
Wilder was drafted into the Army on September 10, 1956.
An unauthorized biography of Wilder called Gene Wilder: Funny and Sad by Brian Scott Mednick was published in December 2010 by BearManor Media.
Wilder died from Alzheimer's disease on August 29, 2016 in Stamford, Connecticut[2] at age 83.
Work
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Bonnie and Clyde | Eugene Grizzard | |
| 1968 | The Producers | Leo Bloom | Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1970 | Start the Revolution Without Me | The twins Claude and Philippe | |
| Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx | Quackser Fortune | ||
| 1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Willy Wonka | Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1972 | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) | Dr. Doug Ross | |
| The Scarecrow | Lord Ravensbane/The Scarecrow | Television | |
| 1974 | Rhinoceros | Stanley | Based on Eugène Ionesco's play Rhinoceros |
| Blazing Saddles | Jim, "The Waco Kid" | ||
| The Little Prince | The Fox | ||
| Thursday's Game | Harry Evers | Television | |
| Young Frankenstein | Dr. Frankenstein | Co-written with Mel Brooks Nominated – Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay | |
| 1975 | The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother | Sigerson Holmes | Also director and writer |
| 1976 | Silver Streak | George Caldwell | Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1977 | The World's Greatest Lover | Rudy Valentine, aka Rudy Hickman | Also producer, director, and writer |
| 1979 | The Frisco Kid | Avram Belinski | |
| 1980 | Sunday Lovers | Skippy | Directed "Skippy" segment |
| Stir Crazy | Skip Donahue | ||
| 1982 | Hanky Panky | Michael Jordon | |
| 1984 | The Woman in Red | Teddy Pierce | Also director and writer |
| 1986 | Haunted Honeymoon | Larry Abbot | Also director and writer |
| 1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Dave Lyons | Also writer |
| 1990 | Funny About Love | Duffy Bergman | |
| 1991 | Another You | George/Abe Fielding | |
| 1999 | Murder in a Small Town | Larry "Cash" Carter | Television |
| Alice in Wonderland | The Mock Turtle | ||
| The Lady in Question | Larry "Cash" Carter | Television |
Television
- Voice for The Electric Company's segment The Adventures of Letterman (60 episodes, 1972–77)
- Something Wilder (1994–95)
- Will & Grace (2002) Episode "Boardroom and a Parked Place" (Guest Star – Mr. Stein)
- Will & Grace (2003) Episode "Sex, Losers & Videotape" (Guest Star – Mr. Stein)
Stage
- The Complaisant Lover (Broadway, 1962)
- Mother Courage and Her Children (Broadway, 1963)
- Death Of A Salesman
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Broadway, 1963)
- The White House (Broadway, 1964)
- Luv (Broadway, 1966)
- Laughter on the 23rd Floor (London, 1996)
- The Scarecrow (Broadway, 1972)
- Rhinoceros (1974)
Gene Wilder Media
Gene Wilder in Sweden promoting his "Woman in Red"
Wilder with Gilda Radner, 1986
Wilder speaking in front of a House Appropriations subcommittee on ovarian cancer research
Wilder at a book signing in 2007
References
- ↑ Distinguished Alumni Winner: Gene Wilder Archived 2013-05-30 at the Wayback Machine. University of Iowa Alumni Association. Retrieved on March 19, 2008
- ↑ "Gene Wilder Dies at 83; Star of 'Willy Wonka' and 'Young Frankenstein'". The New York Times. August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.