Gene Wilder Trivia

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Won the Clarence Derwent award for the Broadway play "The Complaisant Lover" in 1962. (imdb.com)

Served with U.S. Army, 1956-58. (imdb.com)

Made a full recovery from Cancer in 2000. (imdb.com)

Treated his cancer with an adult stem-cell treatment. (imdb.com)

Uncle of director-screenwriter Jordan Walker-Pearlman. (imdb.com)

Graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree. (imdb.com)

Although they collaborated many times on-screen, he and Richard Pryor were not friends. For his part, Wilder claimed that Richard Pryor's cocaine addiction made him unpleasant to be around. (imdb.com)

He claims that before Mel Brooks recruited him, he regarded himself as more of a dramatic than a comedic actor. (imdb.com)

Campaigned with Elaine May and Renée Taylor for Eugene McCarthy, Allard Lowenstein and Paul O'Dwyer, 1968. (imdb.com)

While serving in the U.S. Army, he was assigned as a Medic to the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He worked in treating psychiatric patients. (imdb.com)

Says he picked the name 'Gene Wilder' because he couldn't see a 'Jerry Silberman' playing Hamlet. He admits now that he can't see 'Gene Wilder' playing Hamlet either. (imdb.com)

Has been a staunch liberal Democrat for many years, and was staunchly against the Vietnam War. He is now against the War in Iraq. (imdb.com)

Wife, Karen Boyer, is a former speech pathologist. (imdb.com)

His performance as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein ("that's FRONKensteen") in Young Frankenstein (1974) is ranked #9 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006). (imdb.com)

Is a life long brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. (imdb.com)

When he chose his stage name, he chose "Wilder" because he loved Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town". The name "Gene" he chose simply because he liked it, not realizing until later it was because his mother's name was Jean (she was sick for most of his childhood, and he spent much of his time entertaining her as a kid to keep her happy and her spirits up. He subconsciously chose the name because he loved her so much and in honour of her). (imdb.com)

After his wife Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer, Gene co-founded Gilda's Club, a support group to raise awareness of the disease. (imdb.com)

His performance as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) is ranked #38 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. (imdb.com)

Played a man wrongly accused of committing a crime in four movies: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), Hanky Panky (1982), and See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989). (imdb.com)

Starred with Richard Pryor in four movies: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991). (imdb.com)

Was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy. [1999] (imdb.com)

Attended the University of Iowa, as did Ashton Kutcher, Mary Beth Hurt, and Ben Rollins. (imdb.com)

Is portrayed by Tom Rooney in Gilda Radner: It's Always Something (2002) (TV). (imdb.com)