Gene Wilder biography
Gene Wilder was an American actor, born on 11 June 1933 in Milwaukee, who died on 29 August 2016.
Gene Wilder's screen career began in 1961 with The Play of the Week, playing Happy Penny.
Gene Wilder appeared in 31 films and 16 television or streaming titles between 1961 and 2026.
Honours include Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and Clarence Derwent Awards.
- Also known as
- Jerome Silberman
- Born
- 11 June 1933
- Died
- 29 August 2016 (aged 83)
- Birthplace
- Milwaukee
- Work
- Actor, Comedian, Television actor, Film producer, Stage actor
- Film industries
- Hollywood and beyond
- Years active
- 1959 to 2013
- Awards
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
- Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
- Clarence Derwent Awards
Gene Wilder filmography
31 films and 16 television or streaming titles, newest first.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Expo: Magic of the White City | Narrator | Documentary (Final film role) | |
| 1996 | Laughter on the 23rd Floor | Max Prince | ||
| 1991 | Another You | George / Abe Fielding | ||
| 1990 | Funny About Love | Duffy Bergman | ||
| 1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Dave Lyons | Also writer | |
| 1986 | Haunted Honeymoon | Larry Abbot | Also director and writer | |
| 1984 | The Woman in Red | Teddy Pierce | Also director and writer | |
| 1982 | Hanky Panky | Michael Jordon | ||
| 1980 | Sunday Lovers | Skippy | Directed "Skippy" segment | |
| 1980 | Stir Crazy | Skip Donahue | ||
| 1979 | The Frisco Kid | Avram Belinski | ||
| 1977 | The World's Greatest Lover | Rudy Hickman | Also producer, director, and writer | |
| 1976 | Silver Streak | George Caldwell | ||
| 1975 | The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother | Sigerson Holmes | Also director and writer | |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein | Dr. Frederick Frankenstein | Also writer | |
| 1974 | Rhinoceros | Stanley | ||
| 1974 | The Little Prince | The Fox | ||
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Jim, "The Waco Kid" | ||
| 1972 | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* | English | ||
| 1972 | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) | Dr. Doug Ross | "What Is Sodomy?" segment | |
| 1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Willy Wonka | ||
| 1970 | Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx | Aloysius "Quackser" Fortune | ||
| 1970 | Start the Revolution Without Me | Claude / Philippe | ||
| 1967 | The Producers | Leopold "Leo" Bloom | ||
| 1967 | Bonnie and Clyde | Eugene Grizzard |
Show all 31 films
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Luv | Harry Berlin (replacement) | ||
| 1964 | Dynamite Tonight | Smiley | ||
| 1963 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Billy Bibbit | ||
| 1963 | Mother Courage and Her Children | Chaplain | ||
| 1961 | The Complaisant Lover | Hotel Valet | ||
| 1961 | Roots | Frankie Bryant |
Television and streaming
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wonka's The Golden Ticket | Willy Wonka | Archival voice recordings, 9 episodes | |
| 2002 | Will & Grace | Mr. Stein | 2 episodes | |
| 1999 | Murder in a Small Town | Larry "Cash" Carter | TV film, co-writer with Gilbert Pearlman | |
| 1999 | The Lady in Question | Larry "Cash" Carter | TV film, co-writer with Gilbert Pearlman | |
| 1999 | Alice in Wonderland | The Mock Turtle | TV film | |
| 1994 | Something Wilder | Gene Bergman | 18 episodes | |
| 1993 | Eligible Dentist | Toby | TV pilot episode | |
| 1974 | Thursday's Game | Harry Evers | TV film | |
| 1972 | The Scarecrow | Lord Ravensbane / The Scarecrow | TV film | |
| 1972 | The Electric Company | Letterman (Voice) | The Adventures of Letterman segment | |
| 1966 | Death of a Salesman | Bernard | TV film | |
| 1966 | The Eternal Light | Yonkel | Episode: "Home for Passover" | |
| 1962 | The DuPont Show of the Week | Muller / Wilson / Reporter | 3 episodes | |
| 1962 | The Defenders | Waiter | Episode: "Reunion with Death" | |
| 1962 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Yussel | Episode: "The Man Who Refused to Die" | |
| 1961 | The Play of the Week | Happy Penny | Episode: "The Wingless Victory" |