Gene Wilder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Wilder
|
|
---|---|
Wilder in 1970
|
|
Born |
Jerome Silberman
June 11, 1933 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
|
Died | August 29, 2016 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
|
(aged 83)
Cause of death | Complications of Alzheimer's disease |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Iowa |
Occupation | Actor, screenwriter, director, author |
Years active | 1961–2003 (actor) 1998–2013 (author) |
Spouse(s) |
|
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Jordan Walker-Pearlman (nephew) |
Signature | |
![]() |
Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman, June 11, 1933, died August 29, 2016) was an American actor, comedian, movie director, screenwriter and author. He was most famous for his acting work and in particular for the movies he made with Mel Brooks which include The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. He also played the part of Willy Wonka in the musical movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Wilder studied Communication and Theatre Arts at the University of Iowa.
Wilder was drafted into the Army on September 10, 1956.
An unauthorized biography of Wilder called Gene Wilder: Funny and Sad by Brian Scott Mednick was published in December 2010 by BearManor Media.
Wilder died from problems caused by Alzheimer's disease on August 29, 2016 in Connecticut.
Contents
Work
Movies
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | Bonnie and Clyde | Eugene Grizzard | |
1968 | The Producers | Leo Bloom | Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1970 | Start the Revolution Without Me | The twins Claude and Philippe | |
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx | Quackser Fortune | ||
1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Willy Wonka | Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
1972 | The Scarecrow | Lord Ravensbane/The Scarecrow | Television |
1974 | Rhinoceros | Stanley | Based on Eugène Ionesco's play Rhinoceros |
Blazing Saddles | Jim, "The Waco Kid" | ||
The Little Prince | The Fox | ||
Thursday's Game | Harry Evers | Television | |
Young Frankenstein | Dr. Frankenstein | Co-written with Mel Brooks Nominated – Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay |
|
1975 | The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother | Sigerson Holmes | Also director and writer |
1976 | Silver Streak | George Caldwell | Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
1977 | The World's Greatest Lover | Rudy Valentine, aka Rudy Hickman | Also producer, director, and writer |
1979 | The Frisco Kid | Avram Belinski | |
1980 | Sunday Lovers | Skippy | Directed "Skippy" segment |
Stir Crazy | Skip Donahue | ||
1982 | Hanky Panky | Michael Jordon | |
1984 | The Woman in Red | Teddy Pierce | Also director and writer |
1986 | Haunted Honeymoon | Larry Abbot | Also director and writer |
1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Dave Lyons | Also writer |
1990 | Funny About Love | Duffy Bergman | |
1991 | Another You | George/Abe Fielding | |
1999 | Murder in a Small Town | Larry "Cash" Carter | Television |
Alice in Wonderland | The Mock Turtle | ||
The Lady in Question | Larry "Cash" Carter | Television |
Television
- Voice for The Electric Company's segment The Adventures of Letterman (60 episodes, 1972–77)
- Something Wilder (1994–95)
- Will & Grace (2002) Episode "Boardroom and a Parked Place" (Guest Star – Mr. Stein)
Stage
- The Complaisant Lover (Broadway, 1962)
- Mother Courage and Her Children (Broadway, 1963)
- Death Of A Salesman
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Broadway, 1963)
- The White House (Broadway, 1964)
- Luv (Broadway, 1966)
- The Scarecrow (Broadway, 1972)
- Rhinoceros (1974)
- Laughter on the 23rd Floor (London, 1996)