Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman, June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker known for his distinguished comedic roles and his portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). He frequently collaborated with film director Mel Brooks on films like The Producers (1967), Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), and had a successful working relationship with fellow comedian Richard Pryor. Wilder's acting career began on stage and transitioned to film and television, starting with a series episode of The Play of the Week in 1961. He garnered critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations for his roles in The Producers and Young Frankenstein.

Wilder later ventured into writing and directing, with credits like The Woman in Red (1984). With his third wife, Gilda Radner, he starred in three films, and after her death from ovarian cancer in 1989, he became a staunch promoter of cancer awareness and treatment. He turned to writing following his last acting performance on Will & Grace in 2003, which won him a Primetime Emmy award. He produced a memoir, Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005), and five other books. His final years saw a retreat from acting, opting for writing and painting instead.