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.