Publisher's Synopsis
Jerome Silberman, born on June 11th, 1933 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., known professionally as Gene Wilder, was an actor, screenwriter, director, producer, singer-songwriter and author. Wilder began his career on stage, having made his screen debut in an episode of the TV series The Play of the Week during 1961. Although his first part in a movie was playing a hostage in the picture Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Gene's first major role that same year was as Leopold Bloom, in the film The Producers for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It was the first in a series of collaborations with writer/director Mel Brooks, including Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein in 1974, which Wilder co-wrote, leading to the pair receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Gene became well known for his performance in the title role of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) then for his 4 movies with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), then Another You (1991). Wilder directed and wrote several of his own pictures, including The Woman in Red (1984). He starred in 3 films with his third wife, Gilda Radner, the last 2 of which he also directed. Her death from ovarian cancer during 1989 led to his active involvement in promoting cancer awareness and treatment, Gene helping found the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles, also co-founding Gilda's Club.
