Biography:Gene Wilder was famous for his collaborations with writer and director Mel Brooks, featuring in "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein". He is perhaps best remember for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory".
Born:June 11, 1933 Birthplace:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Died:August 29, 2016 (aged 83) Cause of Death: Complications of Alzheimer's disease
Married Life
1984-09-14 Stage and screen actor Gene Wilder (51) weds "Saturday Night Live" actress-comedian Gilda Radner (38) in France
Historical Events
1963-11-13 Dale Wasserman's stage play "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", adapted from the novel by Ken Kesey, starring Kirk Douglas, Ed Ames; Joan Tetzel, and Gene Wilder, opens at Cort Theatre, NYC; runs for 82 performances
1964-01-25 Dale Wasserman's stage play "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", adapted from the novel by Ken Kesey, starring Kirk Douglas, Ed Ames; Joan Tetzel, and Gene Wilder, closes at Cort Theatre, NYC, after 82 performances
1967-11-22Mel Brooks' first film, "The Producers" starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder has a disastrous premiere and is almost shelved - later goes on to win an Oscar and achieve cult status
1974-02-07Mel Brooks' western spoof film "Blazing Saddles", starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder premieres at the Pickwick Drive-In in Burbank, California; patrons watched from horseback rather than cars
Al Jolson
Anthony Quinn
Buster Keaton
Eddie Murphy
Mark Ruffalo
Sam Worthington