GENE WILDER

Loved for his lead role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the American actor and writer Gene Wilder left a significant mark on everyone’s minds. He enjoyed a long career in acting for more than four decades. Before any of that, though, he lived on unemployment insurance and some savings. During that time, the actor supported himself by doing odd jobs. Throughout the decades, he garnered many nominations and awards for his performances.

His first major role was in the 1967 film The Producers, where he received a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. In television, Wilder received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in his guest appearance on Will & Grace in 2003. That was his last acting performance before retiring. In 2016, the comic actor passed away at the age of 83, due to complications from the illness. Gene Wilder will be remembered for his memorable performance in the timeless Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, which is still watched by kids in every generation.