It was my phone, of course, that first notified me today of Gene Wilder’s death. As a lover of many of his films (and his marriage to Gilda Radner being personal #relationshipgoals), I found myself a bit despondent. His most iconic role is likely that of the title character in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” where his whimsical, yet also gentle and serious, portrayal became an integral part of my, and my others’, childhoods.
But it is his collaborations with writer/director/actor Mel Brooks that makes him beloved for me. “The Producers” and “Blazing Saddles” are both fantastic and you should see them immediately if you haven’t, but what’s the movie I’ll be (re-)watching tonight? Just one of my all-time favorites—”Young Frankenstein.”
So, here’s to you, Gene Wilder. Your talent—and you yourself—will be missed.
