Beloved Hollywood Actor Gene Wilder Dead at 83

Gene Wilder is dead at 83 confirms his family.

Wilder was originally born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He made his first screen debut in Amstrong Circle Theatre in 1962. His first film role was in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde.

His first major role came in the 1968 film The Producers, where he played Leopold Bloom. He eventually went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This was the first in a series of collaborations with writer/director Mel Brooks including Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.

Younger generations will remember Wilder for his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Here is Wilder playing the “Waco Kid” in Blazing Saddles.

And here is Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!

You also may have seen the many memes sporting his face around the internet such as this one:

Gene Wilder will be sorely missed! They just don’t make actors like him anymore.

His family definitely needs the prayers. His nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman issued the following statement:

Share to PRAY for his family!