Blue-eyed actor, Gene Wilder,
who was best known for his roles in Hollywood classics ‘Young
Frankenstein’ and ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ amongst
others, has died.
In a statement made by his lawyer, it
has been reported that he died on Sunday in Stamford, Connecticut from
complications arising from Alzheimer’s disease. His family has also
confirmed the news. Wilder was 83.
Wilder is most fondly remembered as the
captivating candy man and “Pure Imagination” crooner of Willy Wonka and
the Chocolate Factory.
Some of his other classic works include
‘Blazing Saddles’, helmed by Brooks and co-written by Brooks and Pryor,
and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ which are among Wilder’s roughly three dozen TV
and film credits.
He was twice nominated for an Oscar in
the Best Supporting Actor for ‘The Producers’ and in the screenplay
category for ‘Young Frankenstein’.
Wilder was previously married to Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner,
and in the wake of her death in 1989, he became a leading proponent of
ovarian cancer screening and research. He’s survived by his fourth wife,
Karen Webb.
Gene Wilde was born Jerome Silberman
on June 11, 1933, in Millau keep, and became a comic actor for a tragic
reason: His mother suffered from heart disease, and since it was feared
stress would kill her, laughter was demanded.
Wilder, who went on to be one of the screen’s leading neurotics, would trace his own neuroses to the experience.
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