3:08
In this 1971 classic, Wilder transforms into the iconic character of Willy Wonka, whose quotes and quirks have continued to puzzle and inspire people who watch the movie to this day.
In this 1967 blockbuster written and directed by Brooks, Wilder plays Leo Bloom, a scheming accountant who works with a producer to make a terrible Broadway production in order to scam investors. Their scheme is foiled, however, when their terrible musical turns out to be a huge hit.
Gene Wilder-One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship.
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) August 29, 2016
Wilder takes on the role of Skip Donahue in this 1980 comedy that follows two friends who head to California from New York only to be falsely accused of a bank robbery and sent to jail. It is in this Western jail, however, that Wilder's character discovers his talent for riding broncos and enters a prison rodeo.
So many great Gene Wilder films. But I must've seen Stir Crazy a hundred times as a kid#RIP #GreatTalent pic.twitter.com/ajnp7CS8bE
— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) August 29, 2016
This 1979 film features one of Wilder's more obscure roles where he plays a Polish rabbi who befriends bank robber Tommy Lillard, played by Harrison Ford. For his role in this movie, film critic Roger Ebert wrote of Wilder, \"What's poignant about the film is that Wilder's performance is such a nice one. He's likable, plucky, versatile. He is, in fact, as good an actor here as he's ever been before, and at his own brand of complex vulnerability Gene Wilder has never been surpassed.\"
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