Gene Wilder.

Jerome Silberman

Born 11 Jun 1933 Milwaukee, United States

Died 29 Aug 2016 Stamford, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 93 yr If Living

19 min read

Reading time

3,607

Words

Jul 24, 2026

Published

Film credits

Awards

TL;DR

Gene Wilder, born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, starred in The Producers 1967, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 1971, and Young Frankenstein 1974. He earned an Oscar nomination for The Producers and an Emmy for guest-starring on Will & Grace. Wilder co-founded Gilda’s Club after his wife Gilda Radner’s death.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of Gene Wilder — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Jerome Silberman

Aliases Jerry Silberman

Spouses: Karen Boyer Gilda Radner Mary Joan Schutz Mary Mercier

At a glance.

STATS

Gene Wilder by the numbers — life, work, and family.

83 Years lived

62 Film credits

3 Awards

4 Marriages

Who was Gene Wilder?

BIOGRAPHY

Gene Wilder — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Wilder, born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, idolized Sid Caesar at age 11 and after seeing Lee J. Cobb in Death of a Salesman at 15, resolved to become a comedy actor. He celebrated a Bar Mitzvah at 13. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant; his mother was of Russian Jewish descent from Illinois.

Wilder graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1951 and earned a BA from the University of Iowa in 1955. He later trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and HB Studio. Before acting, he served as a medic in the Army from 1956 to 1958 at Valley Forge General Hospital, treating psychiatric patients.

Career

Wilder made his film debut in Bonnie and Clyde 1967 but his breakout came as Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers 1967, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1971 he played Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, a role ranked #38 on Premiere’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters. He reunited with Brooks for Blazing Saddles 1974 and Young Frankenstein 1974, with his performance as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein ranked #9 on Premiere’s 100 Greatest Performances. He also starred in Silver Streak 1976 with Richard Pryor, followed by Stir Crazy 1980. Wilder directed The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother 1975 and The World’s Greatest Lover 1977. He appeared in four of AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies. In 1991 he retired from big-screen films after Another You failed, but continued television work until 2005, winning an Emmy for a guest role on Will & Grace 2002.

Personal life

Wilder married Mary Mercier in 1960 divorced 1965, then Mary Joan Schutz in 1967 divorced 1980, adopting her daughter Katherine. He married Gilda Radner in 1984; she died of ovarian cancer in 1989, after which Wilder co-founded Gilda’s Club. In 1991 he married Karen Boyer, a former speech pathologist he consulted with while preparing for See No Evil, Hear No Evil 1989. Wilder’s nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman, whom he helped raise, was best man at his wedding to Boyer. Wilder supported Democratic candidates and opposed the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

Legacy

Five of Wilder’s films are in the National Film Registry: Bonnie and Clyde, The Producers, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein. His Willy Wonka performance was the first of three Oscar-nominated portrayals of the character. After his death from Alzheimer’s complications in 2016, his final novel Even Dogs Learn How to Swim was released in 2017. He is remembered above all for his portrayal of Willy Wonka.

Filmography.

FILMS · 62

The complete filmography of Gene Wilder — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
TV

Will & Grace

1998
TV

Wogan

1982
TV

Everybody Hates Chris

2005
TV

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993
TV

The Defenders

1961
TV

CBS News Sunday Morning

1979
TV

The Electric Company

1971
TV

Les Rendez-vous Du Dimanche

1975
TV

The Frank Skinner Show

1995
TV

Legends

2006
Movie

Blazing Saddles

1974
Movie

Young Frankenstein

1974
Movie

Bonnie and Clyde

1967

Showing 14 of 62 View all 62 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 3

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Gene Wilder — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
Clarence Derwent Awards

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 29

A wall of memorable lines from Gene Wilder — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Never Thought of It as God. I Didn’t Know What to Call It. I Don’t Believe in Devils, but Demons I Do Because Everyone at One Time or Another Has Some Kind of a Demon, Even If You Call It by Another Name, That Drives Them.
So My Idea of Neurotic Is Spending Too Much Time Trying to Correct a Wrong. When I Feel That I’m Doing That, Then I Snap Out of It.
My Mother Was Suffering Every Day of Her Life, and What Right Did I Have to Be Happy If She Was Suffering? so Whenever I Got Happy About Something, I Felt the Need to Cut It Off, and the Only Way to Cut It off Was to Pray. Forgive Me Lord. for What, I Didn’t Know.
Great Art Direction Is NOT the Same Thing as Great Film Direction!
A Lot of Comic Actors Derive Their Main Force from Childish Behavior. Most Great Comics Are Doing Such Silly Things; You’d Say, That’s What a Child Would Do..
Actors Fall into This Trap If They Missed Being Loved for Who They Really Were and Not for What They Could Do – Sing, Dance, Joke About – Then They Take That as Love.
I Write Funny. If I Can Make My Wife Laugh, I Know I’m on the Right Track. but Yes, I Don’t Like to Get Maudlin. and I Have a Tendency Towards It.
I Don’t Mean to Sound – I Don’t Want It to Come Out Funny, but I Don’t Like Show Business. I Love – I Love Acting in Films. I Love It.
I’m Not so Funny. Gilda Was Funny. I’m Funny on Camera Sometimes. in Life, Once in a While. Once in a While. but She Was Funny. She Spent More Time Worrying About Being Liked Than Anything Else.
I Love the Art of Acting, and I Love Film, Because You Always Have Anther Chance If You Want It. You Know, If We – If This Isn’t Going Well, You Can’t Say – Well, You Could Say – Let’s Stop. Let’s Start Over Again, Gene, Because You Were Too Nervous.
Lots of Things Are Hard Work, but I Think Writing, for Me, After I Started Acting at 13 Years Old. I Like Writing Now Much More Than I Do Acting Only Because, Well, Partly Because the Scripts That Are Offered Are Junk.
I’m Going to Tell You What My Religion Is: Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You. Period. Terminato. Finito. I Have No Other Religion. I Feel Very Jewish and I Feel Very Grateful to Be Jewish. but I Don’t Believe in God or Anything to Do with the Jewish Religion.
I’m Quietly Political. I Don’t Like Advertising. Giving Money to Someone or Support, but Not Getting on a Bandstand. I Don’t Want to Run for President in 2008. I Will Write Another Book Instead.
When I’m Not Working on Something, I Seem to Go Through Periods of Depression. It Helps to Keep Busy.
I’m Going to Tell You What My Religion Is. Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You. Period. Terminato. Finito.
Pride Is Not the Worst of Sins. in Fact, It’s One of the Most Interesting Ones.
Success Is a Terrible Thing and a Wonderful Thing. If You Can Enjoy It, It’s Wonderful. If It Starts Eating Away at You, and They’re Waiting for More from Me, or What Can I Do to Top This, Then You’re in Trouble. Just Do What You Love. That’s All I Want to Do.
I’m an Actor, Not a Clown.
When Your Mother Gives You Confidence About Anything That You Do, You Carry That Confidence with You.
I’m Funny on Camera Sometimes. in Life, Once in a While. Once in a While.
If My Mother Hadn’t Laughed at the Funny Things I Did, I Probably Wouldn’t Be a Comic Actor. After She Had Her First Heart Attack, the Doctor Said, ‘Try to Make Her Laugh.’ and That Was the First Time I Tried to Make Anyone Laugh.
What Do Actors Really Want? to Be Great Actors? Yes, but You Can’t Buy Talent, so It’s Best to Leave the Word ‘Great’ Out of It. I Think to Be Believed, Onstage or Onscreen, Is the One Hope That All Actors Share.
My Mother Was Suffering Every Day of Her Life, and What Right Did I Have to Be Happy If She Was Suffering? so Whenever I Got Happy About Something, I Felt the Need to Cut It Off, and the Only Way to Cut It off Was to Pray. ‘Forgive Me Lord.’ for What, I Didn’t Know.
I Love the Art of Acting, and I Love Film, Because You Always Have Another Chance If You Want It. You Know, If We – If This Isn’t Going Well, You Can’t Say – Well, You Could Say – Let’s Stop. Let’s Start Over Again, Gene, Because You Were Too Nervous.
I Didn’t Want to Be a Comedian. I Wanted to Be an Actor – Maybe a Comic Actor, but a Real Actor – by Real, I Mean Not a Comedian. I Wanted to Be an Actor.
I Don’t Want to Do ‘Hamlet.’ I Don’t Want to Do Robert Redford Roles or Mel Gibson Roles or Kevin Costner Roles, Because I’m Not Going to Be Good at Them.
If Something Comes Along That’s Really Good, and I Think I Would Be Good for It, I’d Be Happy to Do It. but Not Too Many Came Along. I Mean, They Came Along for the First, I Don’t Know, 15, 18 Films, but I Didn’t Do That Many. but Then I Didn’t Want to Do the Kind of Junk I Was Seeing.
We All Grew up on Movies with Scenes Where the Actor Is Lying, and You Know He’s Lying, but He Wants to Make Sure You Know It’s a Lie, and so He Overacts and All but Winks at You, and Everybody in the World Except for the Girl He’s Talking to Knows He’s Lying.
I Want to Do What I Can Lend My Talents To, but I Want It to Be as a Human Being and Not as a Two-dimensional Character.

Did you know?

FACTS · 39

Little-known facts about Gene Wilder — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Wilder’s all-time favorite song was Over the Rainbow, particularly the version by Ella Fitzgerald. According to his family, as he lay on his deathbed, the music player shuffled to this song; he smiled, closed his eyes, and passed away peacefully.
His performance as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 1971 is ranked #38 on Premiere magazine’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
While serving in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958, he was assigned as a medic to the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, treating psychiatric patients.
Wilder claimed that before Mel Brooks recruited him, he regarded himself as more of a dramatic actor than a comedic actor.
In October 2001, he read from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as part of a benefit performance at the Westport Country Playhouse to support families affected by the September 11 attacks. That same year, he donated a collection of scripts and documents to the University of Iowa Libraries.
He appeared in four of the American Film Institute’s 100 Funniest Movies: Blazing Saddles 1974 at #6, The Producers 1967 at #11, Young Frankenstein 1974 at #13, and Silver Streak 1976 at #95.
His performance as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein 1974 is ranked #9 on Premiere magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time 2006.
When choosing his stage name, he selected Wilder because he loved Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town. He chose Gene simply because he liked it, later realizing this was in honor of his mother Jeanne, who was sick for much of his childhood.
He was set to reunite with Richard Pryor in Trading Places 1983 until Pryor dropped out. When Eddie Murphy was cast, he requested that Wilder be replaced, as he did not want to be seen as a poor substitute for Pryor.
In early 2001, while grocery shopping in Stamford, Connecticut, a mother asked if she could tell her children who he was; she whispered, ‘That’s Willy Wonka! Wilder reflected, What a legacy!
He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for The Producers 1967 but lost to Jack Albertson, who later co-starred with Wilder in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 1971.
A longtime resident of Stamford, Connecticut, he died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease and was cremated; his ashes were given to his family.
Wilder appeared in five films selected for the National Film Registry: Bonnie and Clyde 1967, The Producers 1967, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 1971, Blazing Saddles 1974, and Young Frankenstein 1974.
He starred with Richard Pryor in four movies: Silver Streak 1976, Stir Crazy 1980, See No Evil, Hear No Evil 1989, and Another You 1991.
In 1991, his nephew, director-screenwriter Jordan Walker-Pearlman, served as best man at Wilder’s wedding. In 2015, Wilder served as best man emeritus at Walker-Pearlman’s wedding and was recorded dancing down the aisle. Wilder considered his nephew, whom he helped raise, as his son.
Mel Brooks wanted him to star in High Anxiety 1977, which he turned down due to scheduling conflicts; Brooks took the role himself.
Wilder was born to a Russian Jewish immigrant father and an Illinois-born mother of Russian Jewish descent and had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13 in 1946.
He adopted his second wife Mary Joan Schutz’s daughter, Katharine Anastasia, but they became estranged when she was in her early 20s. After his third wife Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer, he co-founded Gilda’s Club. His fourth wife, Karen Boyer, is a former speech pathologist.
He played men wrongly accused of crimes in five films: Silver Streak 1976, The Frisco Kid 1979, Stir Crazy 1980, Hanky Panky 1982, and See No Evil, Hear No Evil 1989.
His final novel, Even Dogs Learn How to Swim, was released in April 2017. The audiobook narrated by Wilder was recorded over five days two years before his death.
He attended and graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1951 and earned a BA from the University of Iowa in 1955. He was a lifelong member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
He was offered the role of Corky in Magic 1978 but was rejected by producer Joseph E. Levine, who did not want a comedic actor. Wilder later called it the role he regretted missing most.
In 1999, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy and adult stem-cell therapy, making a full recovery.
He was considered for the Moon King in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 1988, a role that went to Robin Williams.
Mel Brooks offered him the role of Ippolit in The Twelve Chairs 1970, but Wilder wanted to play Ostap. Brooks refused because the novel describes Ostap as devilishly handsome. Wilder declined the film.
He retired from big screen movies in 1991 after Another You failed, but continued television work until 2005.
He was a fan of Laurel and Hardy.
He declined a cameo in The BFG 2016, another Roald Dahl adaptation, despite having played Willy Wonka.
As a young boy, he wanted to be a comedian like Sid Caesar; at 15, seeing Lee J. Cobb in Death of a Salesman set him on the path to comedy acting.
He guest-starred on Will & Grace 2002 as Mr. Stein. In a famous outtake, Eric McCormack as Will stands up and shouts ‘You’re Frankenstein!, referencing Wilder’s role in Young Frankenstein.
After the success of Stir Crazy, a sequel was planned but never materialized.
He turned down the role in The Poseidon Adventure 1972 originally offered to Red Buttons due to scheduling conflicts.
He won the Clarence Derwent Award for the Broadway play The Complaisant Lover in 1962.
He turned down Jon Voight’s role in Catch-22 1970 to play twins in Start the Revolution Without Me 1970.
For an American Film Institute poll, Wilder designated The Circus 1928 as his favorite film.
He was offered roles in Mrs. Doubtfire 1993 and Stuart Little 1999 but declined as he only wanted to act on television at the time.
Adam Sandler asked him to cameo in Big Daddy 1999 but Wilder declined; Geoffrey Horne played the role instead.
He passed away just seven months after his sister Connie.
Wilder was a supporter of the Democratic Party and opposed the Vietnam and Iraq Wars; he campaigned for Eugene McCarthy in 1968.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 37

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Gene Wilder.

When was Gene Wilder born?

Gene Wilder was born on June 11, 1933. His birth name was Jerome Silberman.
Where was Gene Wilder born?

Gene Wilder was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He later chose his stage name in part from Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town.
When did Gene Wilder die?

Gene Wilder died on August 29, 2016. He was 83 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Gene Wilder when he died?

Gene Wilder was 83 years old when he died on August 29, 2016. He lived a full life despite health challenges.
Where did Gene Wilder die?

Gene Wilder died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. He had been a longtime resident of Stamford.
How did Gene Wilder die?

Gene Wilder died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He had been diagnosed with the condition before his death.
What was Gene Wilder's real name?

Gene Wilder’s birth name was Jerome Silberman. He adopted the stage name Gene Wilder early in his career.
What does Gene Wilder do for a living?

Gene Wilder was an actor, writer, and director. He is best known for his comedic roles in films like The Producers and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
What nationality was Gene Wilder?

Gene Wilder was American. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and lived most of his life in the United States.
What language did Gene Wilder speak?

Gene Wilder spoke English as his native language. He performed all his roles in English.
Who was Gene Wilder married to?

Gene Wilder was married four times: to Mary Mercier 1960-1965, Mary Joan Schutz 1967-1980, Gilda Radner 1984-1989, and Karen Boyer 1991 until his death. He adopted his second wife’s daughter.
Where did Gene Wilder go to school?

Gene Wilder attended Washington High School in Milwaukee and earned a BA from the University of Iowa. He also studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, HB Studio, and Black-Foxe Military Institute.
What awards did Gene Wilder win?

Gene Wilder won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, and Clarence Derwent Awards.
How many awards did Gene Wilder win?

Gene Wilder won at least three major awards: an Emmy, a Hugo, and a Clarence Derwent Award. He also received numerous nominations.
What is Gene Wilder best known for?

Gene Wilder is best known for his role as Willy Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He also starred in The Producers, Young Frankenstein, and Blazing Saddles.
How tall was Gene Wilder?

Gene Wilder was 5 feet 11 inches tall, or 1.79 meters. His height contributed to his commanding screen presence.
Why did Gene Wilder use the name 'Jerry Silberman'?

Gene Wilder occasionally used the alias Jerry Silberman early in his career, before adopting the stage name Gene Wilder. He chose Wilder from Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town and Gene as a tribute to his mother.
Was Gene Wilder married?

Yes, Gene Wilder was married four times. His most famous marriage was to Gilda Radner from 1984 until her death in 1989. He subsequently married Karen Boyer in 1991.
Did Gene Wilder have children?

Yes, Gene Wilder had one child, a daughter named Katherine Anastasia, whom he adopted during his marriage to Mary Joan Schutz. They later became estranged.
Did Gene Wilder have siblings?

Yes, Gene Wilder had one sibling, a sister named Corinne Silberman Pearlman Connie. She died just seven months before him.
Who were Gene Wilder's parents?

Gene Wilder’s parents were Jeanne Baer Silberman and William J. Silberman. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant, and his mother was of Russian Jewish descent from Illinois.
Who were Gene Wilder's relatives?

Gene Wilder’s relatives include cousin Rochelle Pierce and his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman, whom he considered a son. Walker-Pearlman directed the audiobook of Wilder’s final novel.
What was Gene Wilder's first film?

Gene Wilder’s first film was Bonnie and Clyde 1967, in which he had a small role as a funeral director. His breakout came later that year with The Producers.
How many films did Gene Wilder make with Richard Pryor?

Gene Wilder made four films with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak 1976, Stir Crazy 1980, See No Evil, Hear No Evil 1989, and Another You 1991. They were a famous comedic duo.
What was Gene Wilder's stage name derived from?

Gene Wilder chose his stage name from Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town and the name Gene because he liked it, later realizing it honored his mother Jeanne. The full name was created for his career.
Why did Gene Wilder retire from movies?

Gene Wilder retired from big-screen movies in 1991 after the box office and critical failure of Another You. He was disillusioned with the film industry but continued acting on television until 2005.
Did Gene Wilder serve in the military?

Yes, Gene Wilder served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. He worked as a medic in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Valley Forge General Hospital.
What illness did Gene Wilder have?

Gene Wilder was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1999, which he overcame with chemotherapy and stem-cell therapy. He later died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
How many movies with Gene Wilder are in the National Film Registry?

Five films starring Gene Wilder are in the National Film Registry: Bonnie and Clyde, The Producers, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein.
Did Gene Wilder win an Oscar?

No, Gene Wilder was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for The Producers 1967 but did not win. He lost to Jack Albertson.
What was Gene Wilder's final novel?

Gene Wilder’s final novel was Even Dogs Learn How to Swim, released in April 2017. He narrated the audiobook two years before his death.
Was Gene Wilder a Democrat?

Yes, Gene Wilder supported the Democratic Party and liberal causes. He campaigned for Eugene McCarthy in 1968 and opposed the Vietnam and Iraq Wars.
What is Gilda's Club?

Gilda’s Club is a support organization for people with cancer and their families, co-founded by Gene Wilder after his wife Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer in 1989. It raises awareness and provides community.
Did Gene Wilder direct any films?

Yes, Gene Wilder directed several films, including The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother 1975 and The World’s Greatest Lover 1977. He also wrote screenplays.
What was Gene Wilder's role in Will & Grace?

Gene Wilder guest-starred as Mr. Stein, Will Truman’s boss, on Will & Grace in 2002. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for that role.
Why did Gene Wilder choose 'Wilder' as his stage name?

He chose Wilder because he admired dramatist Thornton Wilder, author of Our Town. The first name Gene came from his mother’s name, Jeanne.
What was Gene Wilder's favorite movie?

In an American Film Institute poll, Gene Wilder designated The Circus 1928 by Charlie Chaplin as his favorite film.

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Published on July 24, 2026

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Gene Wilder.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Will & Grace

Wogan

Everybody Hates Chris

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

The Defenders

CBS News Sunday Morning

The Electric Company

Les Rendez-vous Du Dimanche

The Frank Skinner Show

Legends

Blazing Saddles

Young Frankenstein

Bonnie and Clyde