For the love of comedy: If there is a chance to bring back some deceased icons in Hollywood, the name Gene Wilder will surely be on the list.
The veteran American actor was also a screenwriter, director, producer, songwriter, and writer who will be remembered for his comedic roles in some of the film classics in which he starred, notably Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Stir Crazy, and The Producers. While he began his film career in Bonnie and Clyde in the 1967s, Wilder became famous as the favorite of writer/director Mel Brooks.
Gene Wilder was a comedy icon and a smart, hardworking, and often very funny actor and writer. With his acting skills and his naturally funny face, he had always put a smile on people’s faces. So it is only fair to say that the whole world lost a rare jewel when he took his last bow.
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Gene Wilder Wiki, Bio
He was born Jerome Silberman on 11 June 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Jeanne (Baer) and William J. Silberman, a manufacturer, and seller of joke articles. Both his parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. As expected, Wilder was brought up Jewish, although he followed only the Golden Rule as his philosophy. In his opinion, he did not believe in God.
Like most great actors, Wilder developed his interest in acting early on, at the age of 8. At that time his mother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and the doctor told him to “try to make her laugh”. He graduated from high school and then studied communication and drama at the University of Iowa. He also studied theatre and fencing for a year at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, United Kingdom. He was the first student to win the All-School Fencing Championship.
His famous stage name was born at the age of 26 when he chose the nickname Gene Wilder. His new first name comes from a character in a novel by Thomas Wolfe, and his last name is from the playwright Thornton Wilder. He made his film debut with a supporting role in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967 and took on his first major role in The Producers a year later. While the movie flopped at the box office, Wilder received an Oscar nomination for best-supporting actor for his role as Leo Bloom. This opened many doors for him and he began to grab roles in several comedies.
Wilder starred in four projects together with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991). In addition, “Stir Crazy”, in which both actors played prison inmates, was a remarkable success that helped Wilder achieve an unforgettable profile in the industry.
After he had acted in many movies, Wilder used his later years to concentrate on writing novels, writing a memoir, and several novels.
Gene Wilder Net Worth
Decades of hard work paid off for Gene Wilder, who had accumulated a net worth of $20 million during his time on Earth. Most of his net worth was earned through his work as an actor, director, screenwriter, and writer. Apparently, his roles in several iconic films were not a waste of talent.
Spouse, Daughter, Children
Between 1960-2016 Wilder was married four times. First, he married Mary Mercier, and their union lasted five years from 1960-1965. In 1967 he married Mary Joan Schutz and adopted her daughter Katharine. However, he later estranged himself from Katherine after he and Schutz went their separate ways. Wilder married his actor/comedian colleague Gilda Radner in 1984 and they stayed together until her death in 1989. Wilder then married Karen Boyer in 1991, and their union lasted until his death in 2016.
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Is Gene Wilder Really Dead?
Although he had his fair share of death lies, Gene Wilder actually died on August 28, 2016. He was 83 years old.
After several reports surfaced confirming his death, tributes began pouring in. This happened after his family confirmed the news to international publications. The iconic actor died in Connecticut due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Wilder was reportedly diagnosed with the disease three years before it broke out. However, he kept the disease to himself so as not to disappoint his fans or make them sad. The joker simply couldn’t bear the thought of someone less fortunate in the world.
Before he took his final bow, Wilder was full of life. He continued to enjoy art, music and kissing his lady of the last twenty-five years, Karen.
