Gene Wilder (June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016), who was born Jerome Silberman, was a comic actor. He graduated from Washington High School, in Milwaukee, WI, in 1951, where he participated in drama. Wilder, who adopted his stage name early in his career, started out as a stage actor and debuted on the big screen in 1967, with a small part in Bonnie and Clyde. His first starring role was in Mel Brooks’ 1968 film, The Producers, which has become a cult classic. Wilder teamed up with Brooks again for the enormously popular Young Frankenstein (which he also co-wrote with Brooks) as well as Blazing Saddles. He is perhaps best known for his starring role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Not content to stay in front of the camera, Wilder also wrote and directed several films and wrote books as well. He also co-founded Gilda’s Club, a cancer support group, after the death of his third wife, Gilda Radner.
Awards:
- Clarence Derwent Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Nonfeatured Role for The Complaisant Lover. 1962
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Will & Grace. 2003
Source: Wikipedia