It saddens us to confirm the death of this prolific, timeless actor. According to his family, Gene Wilder has passed away at the age of 83 of unknown causes in his home in Stamford, Conn. (more news to unfold).Wilder was best known for three unforgettable roles, all of which he managed to deliver in the most perfect, neurotically entertaining manner: Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (for which he received an Oscar nomination), the wild gunslinger known as Jim inWestern Spoof Blazing Saddles, and of course, the title role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, perhaps his best known and most beloved role to date. He is also well known for his iconic performance in Stir Crazy with Richard Pryor, a box-office smash.
Born into the world as Jerome Silberman, the son of a Russian immigrants (his mother was from Illinois), embarked on a remarkable career that spanned a total of five decades after landing his first major role in an off-Broadway play of Roots. Though his acting portfolio wasn’t as vast as his good friend Richard Pryor (he only has 37 actor credits on IMDb), he still left an indelible mark on the world of cinema with performances in films that would eventually go on to be considered classics in the history of comedy films.
Wilder, not unlike many other aging actors, remained current in Hollywood, and even made a few surprise guest appearances, such as on sitcom Will & Grace and most recently, the children’s show, Yo Gabba Gabba! in 2015.
We’re sad to see him go, but take a look at one of his most memorable moments from, Willy Wonka.
