Gene Wilder, whose real name was Jerome Silberman, was born on June 11, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He became interested in acting when he was 8 years old because his mom was sick, and the doctor said making her laugh might help.
At 13, he started acting lessons for two years. He went to a tough military school in Hollywood where he faced bullying. Later, he acted in local theater and even played a role in “Romeo And Juliet” at 15. He finished high school in 1951 and studied Communication and Theater Arts at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1955. He briefly studied in England too.
After being in the U.S. Army for two years, he returned to New York City. He lived with his sister and continued acting studies at the HB Studio while working various jobs to support himself.
Who is Gene Wilder Daughter?
Although Katharine Wilder was adopted in 1967, it is unknown when exactly she was born in the United States. Being the adoptive daughter of the late American actor, producer, and writer Gene Wilder, Katharine is a well-known actress and film producer.
Gene Wilder and his wife, Mary Joan Schutz, reared Katharine in the United States. Gene adopted Katharine in the same year that he wed her mother. Growing up, she aspired to be an actress and would often spend her leisure time with her stepfather while he was filming his films.
After graduating from high school in her hometown, she chose not to attend college in favor of pursuing her career as an actress with a little assistance.
Katharine Wilder Career
Katharine hasn’t been in many movies or shows, but a couple of her notable roles were in the “Romeo & Juliet” romantic movie from 2013 and the “Murder on the Orient Express” film from 2017, where she joined the investigation of a train murder. In 2016, she was also in the “Branagh Theatre Live: The Entertainer,” directed by Benjamin Caron and featuring Kenneth Branagh, Phil Dunster, and Yasmin Harrison.
In 2018, she appeared in the “All is True” movie, a drama about William Shakespeare’s life, with Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench. The same year, she had a part in a few episodes of the “Frontier” TV series, an adventure drama about a man named Declan Harp challenging a fur trading monopoly in Canada.
“Yes, I’m really blind, what are you fuckin deaf?”
SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL (1989)#RichardPryor #GeneWilder
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) November 21, 2023
Katharine Wilder Husband
Katharine hasn’t spoken about her past relationships, but there have been times when she was seen at public events with actors who she may have dated in the past. Right now, it seems like she’s not in a relationship or married. However, there have been rumors, reported by some gossip news sources, suggesting she might have been married in the 2000s.
Since she hasn’t talked about men in her life, some people think she might be interested in women (lesbian), but she hasn’t confirmed her sexual orientation or marital status publicly.
Gene Wilder Personal Life
Gene Wilder had several marriages in his life. First, he married Mary Mercier in July 1960, but they divorced in 1965. Then, he married Mary Joan Schutz in October 1967 and adopted her daughter, Katharine. However, their marriage ended after seven years because Katharine suspected Wilder of having an affair with his co-star Madeline Kahn from “Young Frankenstein.”
After this, Wilder became distant from Katharine. Later on, he married Gilda Radner, who was famous for being on “Saturday Night Live.” They met while working on a movie called “Hanky Panky.” At that time, Gilda was married to guitarist G.E. Smith, but she and Wilder became very close friends. Eventually, Gilda divorced Smith in 1982, and she and Wilder got married in the South of France on September 14, 1984.
They wanted to have children, but Gilda had miscarriages, and doctors couldn’t find the cause. She also had health problems, like fatigue and leg pain, and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 1986. She fought against cancer for over a year, but it came back in May 1989 and had spread. Sadly, Gilda Radner passed away on May 20, 1989.
Gene Wilder was deeply affected by her loss and became active in raising awareness about cancer and its treatment. He founded the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles and helped start the support group called Gilda’s Club, which began in New York and now has branches across the United States.
Later, Wilder married Karen Webb in September 1991. He lived a full life but sadly passed away on August 29, 2016, at the age of 83 due to complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.
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Gene Wilder’s Net Worth
Gene Wilder was an American actor who worked on stage and in movies. He was also a director, writer, and author. When he passed away, he had about $20 million.
Gene Wilder was really liked by Mel Brooks, a writer and director. Wilder played funny and crazy characters in movies like “Young Frankenstein,” “Blazing Saddles,” and “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” This made him a famous and unforgettable comedy actor.
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