Actor Gene Wilder is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in the 1971 adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Born in Wisconsin, Gene studied drama at the University of Iowa before attending the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He made his Hollywood debut in 1967 with a small appearance in “Bonnie and Clyde,” but his big break came when he starred in Mel Brook’s 1968 comedy, “The Producers.”

Perhaps Gene’s best performances are in 1973’s “Blazing Saddles” and 1974’s “Young Frankenstein,” both of which he collaborated on with director Mel Brooks. He also teamed up with actor Richard Pryor on multiple occasions, leading to a stint of comedies starring the pair, including the highly successful cult comedy, “Stir Crazy.”

Gene wrote and directed multiple films, including 1977’s “The World’s Greatest Lover” and 1979’s “The Frisco Kid.” He met his late wife, Gilda Radner, on the set of the 1982 movie, “Hanky Panky.” They were married for five years until Gilda’s death in 1989 from ovarian cancer. After her death, Gene co-founded Gilda’s Club, a support group for victims of ovarian cancer, and supported the creation of the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles, CA.

In 1998, he collaborated on the book, Gilda’s Disease, with oncologist Steve Piver, furthering his dedication to the fight against ovarian cancer. He released his autobiography, Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art, in 2006 to much critical praise. He has recently published two novels, The French Whore (St. Martin’s Press, 2007) and The Woman Who Wouldn’t (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009). Gene currently lives in Connecticut with his wife, Karen Boyer, and remains active in his charity work for ovarian cancer.