RIP Gene Wilder

Screencap from Young Frankenstein

Today, at the age of 83, Hollywood legend Gene Wilder passed away due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Semi-retired from acting, Gene Wilder's last official role was the voice of Elmer on the kids show, Yo Gabba Gabba! Known more for his big screen career, Wilder was the star of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory; Blazing Saddles; The Producers; See No Evil, Hear No Evil; and perhaps his best known work of all, Young Frankenstein.

Wilder had been part of that group of people that fellow legend Mel Brooks loved working with. The two had met during the early 1960's when Wilder starred in a play with Anne Bancroft, Brooks' future wife and then girlfriend. The two clicked right away and Brooks cast Wilder in his 1968 hit, The Producers. Wilder did so well that he won an Oscar for best supporting actor. Wilder and Brook would go on to win an Oscar together for penning the screenplay to Young Frankenstein.

Wilder would go on to co-star in four movies with fellow comedy legend, Richard Pryor. Their last movie together, Another You, would not only be Pryor's last movie due to his multiple sclerosis, but also Wilder's last appearance on the big screen.

He would go on to try his hand in television, starring in Something Wilder which lasted only one season. From here, Wilder would go on to star in four made-for-TV movies and then finally acting in two episodes of Will & Grace before retiring.

Wilder then would go on to write books, including his own autobiography. It was around this time that the whispers that he was suffering from Alzheimer's was floating around.

When Wilder passed today, the Hollywood world lost some of its boyish charm. In a world of action and war movies, Wilder was a bright spot, doing his best to keep the world laughing. Even if you weren't a fan of his, it was hard to deny the impact that he had in the comedy genre of movies.

With Wilder's passing, there is a little less laughter left in the world.