Actor Gene Wilder: biography, films

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", "Bonnie and Clyde", "The Producers", "Young Frankenstein" - films that made Gene Wilder memorable. The talented actor, director and screenwriter passed away in August 2016, but his memory lives on. What is known about the man who brilliantly succeeded in comical roles?

Gene Wilder: star biography (childhood and youth)

The future famous actor was born in the US state of Wisconsin, a joyful event took place in June 1933. Few people know that Gene Wilder is a pseudonym that Jerome Silberman decided to take. Nature generously endowed the descendant of Jewish emigrants with the gift of making people laugh. Surprisingly, the boy's talent was revealed due to his mother's illness. The woman suffered from rheumatism, and the caring son constantly tried to distract and make her laugh, inventing and playing funny scenes.

Gradually, Gene Wilder realized that he wanted to become an actor. As a teenager, he began to study at the school of dramatic art. It was then that he decided to take a pseudonym,as other students made fun of his name, because the novice actor turned out to be the only Jew in the group. Even during training, Gene began to play in the summer performances of Williams and Miller. Comprehending the basics of the chosen profession, the young man did not forget about the development of his physical indicators. Wilder devoted a lot of time to dancing, fencing and gymnastics.

First successes

The first serious work of the future star was the role that Gene played in the production of Arnold Wesker's "Roots" on Broadway. However, they started talking about him after the release of the film "Bonnie and Clyde", presented to the audience in 1967. Gene Wilder brilliantly embodied the image of a frightened undertaker. The plot demanded that his character look scared, but the actor, on the contrary, tried to portray the absence of fear. The result was very funny, the undertaker Jin was remembered by the audience.

Fateful for Wilder was the play in the play "Mother Courage" by Brecht. A colleague introduced Gene to her husband, who turned out to be comedian Mel Brooks. A chance meeting resulted in a fruitful collaboration that lasted for many years. Later, the actor admitted to reporters that he owes much of his success to Mel.

Star roles

In 1968, Brooks' comedy film "The Producers" was filmed, one of the main roles in which was played by actor Gene Wilder. The film was delayed for five years due to financial problems. When he did come out, Wilder became a real star. In this comedy, the comedian embodied the image of a nervous accountantBloom, who is forced to save the business of a Broadway producer from collapse. Throughout the film, Jin's character is on the brink of a mental breakdown. The film gave the actor not only thousands of fans, but also an Oscar nomination.

The next joint work of Brooks and Wilder was the painting "Young Frankenstein", which was released in 1974. Comedy is a parody of black and white horror films. Jin in this film played the role of the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein, his character constantly puffy eyes, which gives him a frightening look.

Perhaps the most famous movie starring the famous comedian is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In this picture, Jin played an eccentric confectioner who became a favorite of several generations of viewers. It is also impossible not to mention the films “See Nothing, Hear Nothing” and “Riot Crazies”, which are good because of the tandem of Wilder and Richard Pryor.

Director, writer

Not only as a talented actor, the comedian managed to remain in the memory of the audience, he also took place as a director. His most famous work is The Woman in Red. Gene Wilder directed a melodramatic comedy about a man who is going through a midlife crisis. Of course, it cannot do without the fatal beauty, with whom the central character falls in love with no memory. Jin's other films are "Haunted Honeymoon", "Sunday Lovers", "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Clever Brother".

After 1990, Wilder almost did not act in films. He focused on literary activities, published memoirs, wrote several romance novels.

Love, family

Gene Wilder, whose films and biography are discussed in this article, got married several times. The actor broke up with the first two spouses, the reasons for which remained behind the scenes. His third chosen one was the actress Gilda Radner, whose life was taken by cancer. The death of his wife was a heavy blow for Wilder, he even began to do charity work, help cancer patients.

Karen Boyer is the fourth wife of Gene, who remained faithful to him until his death. The actor has only one child - daughter Katherine, who connected her life with the theatrical world.

Death

The talented comedian passed away in August of this year. Doctors say his cause of death was Alzheimer's, which he had been battling for the past three years.