RIP Gene Wilder

The AP is reporting that Gene Wilder has died. He was 83.

 

Damn.

How many celeb/athlete deaths are we up to now?

 

A comedic genius.

 

Damn. RIP Waco Kid

 

They said he had the fastest hands in the West.



... "In the world."

 

A great actor, and later in his life, a great meme.

 

Damn. I didn't realize he hadn't acted at all since a couple of guest spots on Will and Grace in 2002-03, but I loved a lot of his work.

I had just read a story Mel Brooks told about "Blazing Saddles" last week. Another actor was supposed to play the Waco Kid, but he had drug and/or alcohol problems and couldn't get his shit together, so Brooks brought in Wilder. I believe the first scene he shot was the introduction of the character as he woke up in a jail cell.

"Are we awake?"
"We're not sure. Are we....black?"
"Yes, we are."
"Then we're awake...but we're very puzzled."

 

"Sedagive?!"

Just his facial expressions in Young Frankenstein make me crack up no matter how many times I've seen it. And the delivery of the lines was perfect. Not to mention he was also the writer.

 

His performance as Wonka is one of the all-timers.