Gene Wilder Was Part of This World and Part of Another

With his wild hair and big, melancholic eyes, Gene Wilder had a unique nuttiness about him. From Dr. Ross to mad chocolatier Willy Wonka, the beloved actor perfected his roles and opened his viewers to a world of pure imagination. But beneath his kooky personas was a man far more interesting than any of his characters.

A portrait of Gene Wilder holding a blue rag up to his cheek / Gene Wilder feeding grapes to Gilda Radner / Gene Wilder and Kelly LeBrock in the film ‘The Woman in Red’ posing in front of an ocean view / Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka standing behind large lollypops / Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor on the red carpet together / Gene Wilder posing next to a lamp post outside

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Wilder was a true entertainer who dedicated his life to the art of making people smile. He went through innocence-shattering moments as a kid but picked himself up and made a promise to bring nothing but laughter into the world. Luckily for us, he succeeded.

In honor of this comic enigma, here are some fascinating bits about his life.

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