What do Willy Wonka, Frederick Frankenstein and The Waco Kid all have in common? They were all played by Gene Wilder.
Wilder, most well-known for his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” passed away Aug. 28, due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Wilder brought to life Roald Dahl’s vision of the eccentric and quirky Willy Wonka.
According to biography.com, Wilder made his movie debut in the 1967 “Bonnie and Clyde,” for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Wilder became a comedic icon during during the 1970’s, appearing in other famous movies such as “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles.”
Throughout his career Wilder was an actor, author, screenwriter and a director.
According to IMDb.com, Wilder was nominated for 11 film awards, including an Emmy, a Hugo and a Las Vegas Film award. He was also nominated for three writing awards one of which he won for his book “Young Frankenstein,” later adapted into the comic film classic by the same name.
Wilder was a major part of the 70’s culture and his work will be remembered forever. Wilder was and still is an American icon and will be missed.