Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman, June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, comedian, writer and filmmaker. He was mainly known for his comedic roles, but also for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'' (1971). He collaborated with Mel Brooks on the films ''The Producers'' (1967), ''Blazing Saddles'' (1974) and ''Young Frankenstein'' (1974), and with Richard Pryor in the films ''Silver Streak'' (1976), ''Stir Crazy'' (1980), ''See No Evil, Hear No Evil'' (1989) and ''Another You'' (1991).

He began his career on stage, and made his screen debut in an episode of the TV series ''The Play of the Week'' in 1961. His first film role was that of a hostage in the 1967 motion picture ''Bonnie and Clyde''. His first major film role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1967 film ''The Producers'', for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It was the first in a series of collaborations with writer/director Mel Brooks, including ''Young Frankenstein'', which Wilder co-wrote, garnering the pair an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also starred in Woody Allen's ''Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)'' (1972).

Wilder directed and wrote several of his own films, including ''The Woman in Red'' (1984). With his third wife, Gilda Radner, he starred in three films, the last two of which he also directed. Her 1989 death from ovarian cancer led to his active involvement in promoting cancer awareness and treatment, helping found the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles and co-founding Gilda's Club. After his last acting performance in 2003—a guest role on ''Will & Grace,'' for which he received an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series—Wilder turned his attention to writing. He produced a memoir, ''Kiss Me Like a Stranger'' (2005) and five other books. Provided by Wikipedia