Losing a three-year-long battle to Alzheimerās, the actor known for his comic ability and unique acting prowess died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. "The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn't vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him 'there's Willy Wonka,' would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world,ā Wilderās nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said in a statement. Lot of stars took to social media to pour their grief over the death of the Willy Wonka star. āGene Wilder was the best,ā tweeted Jimmy Kimmel, popular show anchor. Comedian Jim Carey tweeted, āGene 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.ā āGene Wilder-One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship,ā Mel Brooks said on Twitter.
Wilder had worked with Brooks on various films like The Producer, Blazing saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silver Streak all of which earned him a great reputation in the industry and won him several awards. āWhen God saw Gene Wilder, He said, āThat is prey. And weāll put him on Earth and everybody will chase him and have some fun,'ā Brooks was quoted as saying during that time. During the New Hollywood revolution, Wilder was greatly sought after but took up only selective roles. āI was always very selective. No, selective isnāt the right word. Egomaniacal is more like it,ā he had said. It was his role as Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolate factory owner in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, that he is remembered widely for. Wilder told director Mel Stuart he would accept the role only if his character could make his entrance limping out of the factory, planting his cane in the ground, and doing a somersault. When asked why he wanted that - Wilder told Stuart, āBecause from that time on, no one will know if I'm lying or telling the truth."
Wilder was born to Jewish Russian parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born as Jerry Silberman, he changed his name as a tribute to both Thornton Wilder and a character in Thomas Wolfe's novel Look Homeward, Angel. Wilder got his first big break in the acting industry from Broadway where he was part of Arnold Wesker's production Roots. He acted in a number of Broadway productions like The Complaisant Lover, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The White House, Luv, and Mother Courage and Her Children. His debut on the silver screen was made in 1967 with the movie Bonnie and Clyde. The actor also made a stint on television with sitcoms like Something Wilder, Will & Grace. He even won an Emmy for his guest role in the latter. Earlier in his career, Wilder played roles in many television movies including Death of a Salesman, The Scarecrow, Acts of Love and Other Comedies and Thursdayās Game. Wilderās off-screen life was as tragic as his onscreen life was glorious. He had to see his mother suffer from ovarian cancer and years later his third wife Gilda Radner also succumbed to the disease. The actor had married Radner who was also a comedian in 1984. The couple was the golden couple of the times and acted in three films together. Her death left him broken hearted.
Wilder later gave voice to his pain in his 2005 memoir, Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art. He also opened an organisation that provides support to cancer patients and their families. In 1991, he married Karen Boyer, a woman he would remain with for the rest of his life. Besides acting Wilder was also blessed with the gift of the pen. He wrote screenplays (Young Frankenstein was one of them), three novels and a collection of short stories during his lifetime. Wilderās last years, perhaps best explain all he was and all he loved to do. āHe continued to enjoy art, music, and kissing with his leading lady of the last 25 years, Karen. He danced down a church aisle at a wedding as parent of the groom and ring bearer, held countless afternoon movie western marathons and delighted in the company of beloved ones,ā recounts his nephew.
A silent goodbye Gene Wilder wraps up his lifes shoot at 83
