Gene Wilder
Known for Acting · 70 credits
- Born
- 1933-06-11
- Died
- 2016-08-29
- Place of birth
- Милуоки, Висконсин, США
- Also known as
- Jerome Silberman · Jerry Silberman · Ζερόμ Ζίλμπερμαν · Τζιν Γουάιλντερ
Biography
Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman; June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, singer-songwriter, and author.
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. Although his first film role was portraying a hostage in the 1967 motion picture Bonnie and Clyde, Wilder's first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1967 film The Producers for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This was the first in a series of collaborations with writer/director Mel Brooks, including 1974's Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, which Wilder co-wrote, garnering the pair an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
He is known for his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) and for his four films with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991), as well as starring in Woody Allen's Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972). He 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 Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – he turned his attention to writing. He produced a memoir in 2005, Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art; a collection of stories, What Is This Thing Called Love? (2010); and the novels My French Whore (2007), The Woman Who Wouldn't (2008), and Something to Remember You By (2013).
Known For
TV Shows (17)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The View
1997
as Self
Will & Grace
1998
as Mr. Stein
Wogan
1982
as Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
CBS News Sunday Morning
1979
as Self - Guest
The Defenders
1961
as Waiter
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
Film '72
1971
as Self
The Electric Company
1971
as Letterman (voice)
Legends
2006
as Self
The Frank Skinner Show
1995
as Self
Please Turn the Page
1977
as Self
The DuPont Show of the Week
1961
as Reporter / Muller
Something Wilder
1994
as Gene Bergman
After They Were Famous
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Inside the Actors Studio
1994
as Self
Movies (53)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
1971
as Willy Wonka
Blazing Saddles
1974
as Jim
Young Frankenstein
1974
as Dr. Frankenstein
Bonnie and Clyde
1967
as Eugene Grizzard
The Woman in Red
1984
as Theodore Pierce
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989
as Dave Lyons
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask
1972
as Dr. Doug Ross
Silver Streak
1976
as George Caldwell
The Producers
1968
as Leo Bloom
Stir Crazy
1980
as Skip Donahue
Alice in Wonderland
1999
as Mock Turtle
Another You
1991
as George / Abe Fielding
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
as Dr. Frankenstein (archive footage)
The Little Prince
1974
as The Fox
The Last Laugh
2016
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
1975
as Sigerson Holmes
The Frisco Kid
1979
as Avram
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003
as (archive footage)
Hitler: The Comedy Years
2007
as Leo Bloom (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hello Actors Studio
1988
as Self
The World's Greatest Lover
1977
as Rudy Valentine / Rudy Hickman
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
1996
as Self
Start the Revolution Without Me
1970
as Claude / Philippe
Haunted Honeymoon
1986
as Larry Abbot
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013
as Self (archive footage)
Hanky Panky
1982
as Michael Jordon
Remembering Gene Wilder
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Love, Gilda
2018
as Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2013
as George / Skip Donahue (archive footage)
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
2008
as Self
Sunday Lovers
1980
as Skippy (sketch 'Skippy')
Funny About Love
1990
as Duffy Bergman
Death of a Salesman
1966
as Bernard
Acts of Love and Other Comedies
1973
as Herb Waterman
The Trouble With People
1972
as Ernie (Story 4)
Murder in a Small Town
1999
as Cash Carter
Thursday's Game
1974
as Harry Evers
Pure Imagination: The Story of 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'
2001
as Self
Back in the Saddle
2001
as Self
Private Screenings: Robert Osborne
2014
as Self (archive footage)
The Lady in Question
1999
as Larry 'Cash' Carter
Role Model: Gene Wilder
2008
as Self
The Making of 'The Producers'
2002
as Self
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx
1970
as Quackser Fortune
Scarecrow
1972
as Lord Ravensbane
Rhinoceros
1974
as Stanley
Blacks and Jews
1997
as Self
Wilder
as Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
2018
as Self (archive footage)
Baryshnikov in Hollywood
1982
as Self - Special Appearence
Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Gene Wilder: Be in the Moment, Today
2010
as Himself
EXPO: Magic of the White City
2005
as Narrator (voice)
About Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman; June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, singer-songwriter, and author. 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. Although his first film role was portraying a hostage in the 1967 motion picture Bonnie and Clyde, Wilder's first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1967 film The Producers for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This was the first in a… With 70 credits spanning from 1961 to 2024, Gene Wilder has appeared in 53 films and 17 TV shows.
Fans searching for Gene Wilder movies, Gene Wilder filmography, or the latest projects starring Gene Wilder can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Gene Wilder Movies
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) — as Willy Wonka
- Blazing Saddles (1974) — as Jim
- Young Frankenstein (1974) — as Dr. Frankenstein
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967) — as Eugene Grizzard
- The Woman in Red (1984) — as Theodore Pierce
Where to Watch Gene Wilder Films
Most Gene Wilder movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Gene Wilder, check our movies catalogue and browse page.