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Gene Wilder death: Star of Willy Wonka dies aged 83
BBC ^ | 30 August 2016 | BBC

Posted on 08/30/2016 3:33:43 AM PDT by Bikkuri

US actor Gene Wilder, remembered by many for his lead role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has died at the age of 83, his family has confirmed.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: actor; comedian; died; genewilder
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One of our great comedy actors has passed away.. :(
1 posted on 08/30/2016 3:33:43 AM PDT by Bikkuri
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To: Bikkuri

Willy Wonka? Fluff compared to Young Frankenstein or Blazing Saddles. He did a lot of the writing collaboration with Mel Brooks for those. Or who could forget Leo Bloom in The Producers. Brilliant. And a small film few have seen. Quakster Fortune Has A Cousin In the Bronx. Great film.

I saw an interview from 6-7 years ago that should have been canned. He was well into altzheimers.


2 posted on 08/30/2016 3:41:54 AM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: Bikkuri

I’m glad he lived to a decent age (though mom is 83 and still drives 3 hours to visit cousins. Good Italian genes).

I’m sad that he was one of the few hollywood folk that seemed to understand love and marriage and suffered terribly when he died.

Charle Bronson too.

I would like to think they were two good men who are in better places now.


3 posted on 08/30/2016 3:42:53 AM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: Vaquero

I didn’t know about the alzheimers until I read about it in this article..

May he rest in peace.


4 posted on 08/30/2016 3:46:15 AM PDT by Bikkuri ((...))
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To: Bikkuri

I remember watching the 1967 movie “Bonnie and Clyde” and was kind of surprised to see him in it, along with Beatty, Dunaway, and Hackman (I guess an early role for him).

Oddly enough, Arthur Hiller passed away not long ago and he of course directed “Silver Streak”, one of my favourite Wilder films. I like how that one has Canada written all over it with scene shots of the Canadian Rockies and Toronto’s Union Station standing in for Chicago.


5 posted on 08/30/2016 3:55:47 AM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("If I had to go to war again, I'd bring lacrosse players" Conn Smythe)
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To: Vaquero
Fluff compared to Young Frankenstein or Blazing Saddles.

Both brilliant films. RIP!

6 posted on 08/30/2016 3:59:00 AM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
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To: Bikkuri
Willy Wonka? I've never seen it and never will.Possibly very good for kids but...

Gene Wilder will always be "Froderick" and Marty Feldman will always be Eye-gore (and one of The Four Yorkshiremen...classic skit from the early 60's).

7 posted on 08/30/2016 4:02:58 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (In Today's America Feelings Are The New Truth)
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To: Gay State Conservative
Willy Wonka? I've never seen it and never will.Possibly very good for kids but...

You've missed out, truly.

Although the book's author Roald Dahl was outraged by the many changes the screenwriter made both the book and the film retain their sense of whimsy and wonder. But both are morality tales about honesty and the seven deadly sins exhibited by spoiled children and their craven parents even as they are given the gift of a lifetime.

In short, it is an excellent demonstration of what NOT to do and it's hard to meet anyone in several generations who didn't learn many lessons while still loving the film for its sense of fun and absurdity.

Dahl's work in general is of this moralistic bent but like Twain and others he delivered it in a fascinating, humorous, often ironic way so that it never felt like a lecture.

8 posted on 08/30/2016 4:15:52 AM PDT by relictele (Principiis obsta & Finem respice - Resist The Beginnings & Consider The Ends.)
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To: Gay State Conservative
Six creepy little pallbearers.


9 posted on 08/30/2016 4:24:35 AM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: Bushbacker1; CaptainAmiigaf

Awesome films. But my favorite Gene Wilder movie - one of my all time favorites - is a little known movie called “The Frisco Kid” which costarred Harrison Ford. A sweet funny movie, Wilder plays a young Polish Rabbi, kind of a misfit in Poland, who is sent to San Fransisco to become their Rabbi. He ends up traveling across the country with an “outlaw” (Harrison Ford).

My family has been quoting this movie for years!


10 posted on 08/30/2016 4:34:59 AM PDT by Mrs. B.S. Roberts
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To: Bikkuri

Bart: A man drink like that and don’t eat, he is going to die.

Jim:When?

lol!!!


11 posted on 08/30/2016 4:37:09 AM PDT by mothball
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To: OttawaFreeper

He had a very small role in Bonnie and Clyde but it’s one of my favorite scenes. His comedic timing was genius.


12 posted on 08/30/2016 4:38:39 AM PDT by albie
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To: Bikkuri

Loved him in Stir Crazy with Pryor.


13 posted on 08/30/2016 4:48:58 AM PDT by toddausauras (Trump 2016)
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To: All

Blucher!.....
R.I.P., Mr. Wilder....


14 posted on 08/30/2016 4:52:20 AM PDT by Maverick68 (p)
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To: Bikkuri

Gene Wilder was not the first choice to play the Waco Kid in “Blazing Saddles.” Originally, character actor Gig Young was supposed to play the part. Unfortunately, Young had a serious drinking problem which was affecting him on the set, so he was fired from the film and Wilder was brought in at the last minute as his replacement.


15 posted on 08/30/2016 4:56:55 AM PDT by GreenHornet
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To: Bikkuri

RIP Gene. Young Frankenstein is the funniest move that I have ever watched.


16 posted on 08/30/2016 5:12:42 AM PDT by TennTuxedo
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To: albie
He had a very small role in Bonnie and Clyde but it’s one of my favorite scenes. His comedic timing was genius.

Don't sell that cow!

17 posted on 08/30/2016 5:23:13 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Let us now try liberty.)
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To: Bikkuri

The Frisco Kid.

Fish-out-of-water perfection!


18 posted on 08/30/2016 5:24:44 AM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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To: Bikkuri
Wilder was in both Bonnie and Clyde and Blazing Saddles. The man had depth that's for sure.
19 posted on 08/30/2016 5:27:42 AM PDT by Phlap (REDNECK@LIBARTS.EDU)
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To: GreenHornet

Unfortunately, Young had a serious drinking problem which was affecting him on the set,

gig ‘em, Gig...


20 posted on 08/30/2016 5:28:04 AM PDT by IrishBrigade
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