He will always be THE Willy Wonka. Yes, he was also Dr. Frankenstein (Young Frankenstein) and Eugene Grizzard (Bonnie and Clyde) and Leo Bloom (The Producers), but to me, he will always be Willy Wonka, giving a tour of that Roald Dahl inspired Chocolate Factory. Although not nominated for that role, he did receive two Academy Award nominations throughout his career, one for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in The Producers (1967) (Jack Albertson won for The Subject Was Roses) and one for Writing alongside Mel Brooks, for Young Frankenstein (1974) (Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo won for The Godfather: Part II). One of his final roles was guest starring in two episodes of Will & Grace to which he ended up winning a Primetime Emmy for. His career was highlighted with collaborations with Mel Brooks, including Blazing Saddles, and with director Sidney Poitier, including Stir Crazy, as well as being married to SNL alum Gilda Radner. To me, he was the eccentric leading man who commanded your attention with his off-beat nature and contagious smile. He always appeared to be unafraid to let loose and push the boundaries of comedy by going way out there and, for that, along with his impressive body of work, he will always be remembered.
GENE WILDER’S FILMOGRAPHY
| 1999 | The Lady In Question* | Larry ‘Cash’ Carter (also written by) |
| 1999 | Alice In Wonderland* | Mock Turtle |
| 1999 | Murder In A Small Town* | Cash Carter (also written by) |
| 1993 | Eligible Dentist* | Toby |
| 1991 | Another You |
George / Abe Fielding |
| 1990 | Funny About Love |
Duffy Bergman |
| 1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil |
Dave Lyons (also written by) |
| 1986 | Haunted Honeymoon |
Larry Abbot (also written & directed) |
| 1984 | The Woman In Red |
Teddy Pierce (also written & directed) |
| 1982 | Hanky Panky |
Michael Jordon |
| 1980 | Stir Crazy |
Skip Donahue |
| 1980 | Sunday Lovers (Segment: “Skippy”) |
Skippy (also written & directed) |
| 1979 | The Frisco Kid |
Avram |
| 1977 | The World’s Greatest Lover |
Rudy Hickman (also written & directed) |
| 1976 | Silver Streak |
George |
| 1975 | The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother | Sigerson Holmes (also written & directed) |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein |
Dr. Frankenstein (also written by) |
| 1974 | The Little Prince |
The Fox |
| 1974 | Thursday’s Game* |
Harry Evers |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles |
Jim |
| 1974 | Rhinoceros | Stanley |
| 1973 | Acts Of Love And Other Comedies* |
Herb Waterman |
| 1972 | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex – But Were Afraid to Ask | Cash Carter |
| 1972 | The Scarecrow* |
Lord Ravensbane |
| 1971 | Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory | Willy Wonka |
| 1970 | Quackser Fortune Has A Cousin In The Bronx |
Quackser Fortune |
| 1970 | Start The Revolution Without Me | Claude / Philippe |
| 1967 | The Producers |
Leo Bloom |
| 1967 | Bonnie and Clyde | Eugene Grizzard |
| 1966 | Death Of A Salesman* |
Bernard |
*TV Movie
