Gene Wilder
Biography
Gene Wilder was an American actor and comic who started out in the theater. Born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, he appeared on screen in 1961 in an episode of The Play of the Week and his first film appearance came in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). His first leading role came in Mel Brooks's The Producers (1968), which brought him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and began a long collaboration with Brooks. He took the title role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), then appeared in Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein in 1974; he co-wrote the latter, earning a shared Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He teamed with Richard Pryor for Silver Streak (1976) and Stir Crazy (1980), and for See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989). Wilder wrote and directed films, among them The Woman in Red (1984), and won a Primetime Emmy Award for his guest role on Will & Grace.
83years old at death
- Born Milwaukee
- Died Stamford
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Jerome Silberman (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 25
- Career span
- 56 years1967 to 2023
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About the name
Gene Wilder adopted a stage name because he felt "Jerry Silberman in Macbeth" did not have the right ring. He picked "Wilder" as it reminded him of Thornton Wilder, the Our Town author, and "Gene" from Eugene Gant in Thomas Wolfe's first novel, Look Homeward, Angel.
Early training
After graduating from Iowa in 1955, Wilder was accepted at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England. Six months into fencing training there, he became the first freshman to take the All-School Fencing Championship.
Big break
Wilder auditioned for Willy Wonka by reciting some lines, and director Mel Stuart offered him the role on the spot.
First role
In 1959, Wilder took his first professional acting role, playing the Second Officer in Herbert Berghof's Twelfth Night in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was also the production's fencing choreographer.
Early training
Wilder studied with Lee Strasberg after Charles Grodin persuaded him to leave HB Studio, and he was accepted into the Actors Studio several months later.
Getting ready for a role
Wilder said yes to See No Evil, Hear No Evil on one condition: he had to be permitted to rewrite the script. The studio said yes, and the film came out in May 1989.
Gene Wilder movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory1971 Family, Fantasy, Musicalas Willy Wonka
IMDb rating 7.8247K votes
Most often with
Mel Brooks directed three of these films, Arthur Hiller two and Sidney Poitier two. Two actors appear in five of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Richard Pryor's page
Gilda Radner's page
Dom DeLuise's page
Madeline Kahn's page
Zero Mostel's page
Carol Kane's page
All films by Mel Brooks
All films by Arthur Hiller
All films by Sidney Poitier
Also two films together17 more actors
- Martin ShortLove, Gilda (2018) and Alice in Wonderland (1999)
- Vincent SchiavelliAnother You (1991) and The Frisco Kid (1979)
- Kenneth MarsYoung Frankenstein (1974) and The Producers (1968)
- Kathleen QuinlanHanky Panky (1982) and Sunday Lovers (1980)
- Robert ProskyFunny About Love (1990) and Hanky Panky (1982)
- Roy KinnearThe Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- Lynn RedgraveSunday Lovers (1980) and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)
- Mel BrooksRemembering Gene Wilder (2023) and Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Billy BeckAnother You (1991) and The Woman in Red (1984)
- Burton GilliamRemembering Gene Wilder (2023) and Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Liam DunnBlazing Saddles (1974) and Young Frankenstein (1974)
- Victor SpinettiThe Little Prince (1974) and Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)
- Marty FeldmanThe Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975) and Young Frankenstein (1974)
- Carol ArthurThe World's Greatest Lover (1977) and Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Alan ZweibelRemembering Gene Wilder (2023) and Love, Gilda (2018)
- Julann GriffinHaunted Honeymoon (1986) and The Woman in Red (1984)
- Peter OstrumRemembering Gene Wilder (2023) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Gene Wilder's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$581 million
19 of the 25 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 25 films: 19 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 2 figure not found.
- 19Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 2Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 89% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$120M20.6% of the total
- 2$101M17.4% of the total
- 3$86M14.8% of the total
- 4$70M12.0% of the total
- 5$51M8.8% of the total
- 6$47M8.1% of the total
- 7$25M4.4% of the total
- 8$20M3.4% of the total
$61.1 millionfrom the other 11 films with a worldwide figure, 11% of the total
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1975 to 2003, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 2003 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Will & Grace | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1975 | Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation | Young Frankenstein | Won |
| Clarence Derwent Awards | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.