HOLLYWOOD, Md. — The star of classics such as “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein” and more passed away today at the age of 83.
Gene Wilder passed away Monday from complications from Alzeimer’s disease, according to his agent. The rep says Wilder kept his condition secret because he didn’t want to force children who still called out “there’s Willy Wonka” to ask questions about the illness.
Born in 1933, Wilder was born as Jerome Silberman in Wisconsin. He was an American stage and screen comic actor, screenwriter, film director, and author.
