RIP Gene Wilder

[Flip Wilson]

The AP is reporting that Gene Wilder has died. He was 83.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Damn.

How many celeb/athlete deaths are we up to now?

 

[swingline]

A comedic genius.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Damn. RIP Waco Kid

 

[playthrough]

RIP. I hope he's catching up with Gilda now.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. RIP.

 

[Starman]

They said he had the fastest hands in the West.

... "In the world."

 

[Big Circus]

A great actor, and later in his life, a great meme.

 

[outofplace]

Damn. I didn't realize he hadn't acted at all since a couple of guest spots on Will and Grace in 2002-03, but I loved a lot of his work.

I had just read a story Mel Brooks told about "Blazing Saddles" last week. Another actor was supposed to play the Waco Kid, but he had drug and/or alcohol problems and couldn't get his **** together, so Brooks brought in Wilder. I believe the first scene he shot was the introduction of the character as he woke up in a jail cell.

"Are we awake?"
"We're not sure. Are we....black?"
"Yes, we are."
"Then we're awake...but we're very puzzled."

 

[Small Town Guy]

"Sedagive?!"

Just his facial expressions in Young Frankenstein make me crack up no matter how many times I've seen it. And the delivery of the lines was perfect. Not to mention he was also the writer.

 

[Songbird]

His performance as Wonka is one of the all-timers.

 

[MileHigh]

RIP to a comedic legend.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Damn. I didn't realize he hadn't acted at all since a couple of guest spots on Will and Grace in 2002-03, but loved so much of his work.

He actually died in 2011.

 

[TyWebb]

He said good day, sir.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

 

[mpcincal]

Man, so many memorable roles: Wonka, Waco Kid, Leo Bloom, Dr. FRONK-en-steen. He will live on in video.

He also had a couple great team-ups with Richard Pryor in "Silver Streak" and "Stir Crazy."

Oh, and OOP, the actor Wilder replaced in "Blazing Saddles" was Gig Young.

 

[CD Boogie]

"Put the candle back."

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

 

[outofplace]

Man, so many memorable roles: Wonka, Waco Kid, Leo Bloom, Dr. FRONK-en-steen. He will live on in video.

He also had a couple great team-ups with Richard Pryor in "Silver Streak" and "Stir Crazy."

Oh, and OOP, the actor Wilder replaced in "Blazing Saddles" was Gig Young.

Thank you. I couldn't remember the name.

Loved most of the ones you posted. My introduction to Wilder was Young Frankenstein. I was also very fond of The Frisco Kid. A family friend took me to that one because Harrison Ford was in it. I think that was the only time they ever worked together, but they played off one another very well.

 

[Chef2]

My name is Jim, but my friends call me.............Jim.