Gene Wilder - RIP

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by sunspot42, Aug 29, 2016.

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  1. OneStepBeyond

    OneStepBeyond Senior Member

    Location:
    North Wales, UK
    I was just on the phone to my mum and stopped in my tracks, when I read this. I said to her that I don't know she was much of a fan of his but he starred in some of my very favourite films and I always thought he was great; one of the best. And I was mentally listing some as I was talking. She sounded saddened and of course said what has been said countless times about 2016 being a terrible year etc. Who can blame her for that? I was thinking it too, anyway. Sorry, but I've only glanced at the last few posts - I'd usually read at least the first couple of pages and it's taken a good few minutes to attempt to type something comprehensible, here so am likely 'repeating' what others have said.

    I would love now to put on the DVD of The Producers or Young Frankenstein or Stir Crazy or.... as a little tribute but couldn't bring myself to it. Maybe tomorrow - I just feel quite sad now. All the hours I've spent laughing, watching him onscreen - nobody can put a price on that.

    Thank you and RIP, Gene.

    The kindest of thoughts to his family and all those who knew and worked with him.
     
  2. MekkaGodzilla

    MekkaGodzilla Forum Resident

    Location:
    Westerville, Ohio
  3. mj_patrick

    mj_patrick Senior Member

    Location:
    Elkhart, IN, USA
    Rest in peace, funny man. Thanks for all the laughs.

    Willy Wonka
    Blazing Saddles
    Young Frankenstein


    All masterpieces.
     
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  4. Scooterpiety

    Scooterpiety Ars Gratia Artis

    Location:
    Oregon
    Thanks, Gene.
     
    Guss2 likes this.
  5. sunspot42

    sunspot42 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    San Francisco
    :cry:
     
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  6. Platterpus

    Platterpus Senior Member

    Been a fan since I was a kid after seeing Stir Crazy. Last movie I saw him in was "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" the last, along with his partner in crime Richard Pryor. Then he disappeared but I remember hearing about him getting cancer in the late 90s and then he was gone. Besides all the movies mentioned already I think "Start the Revolution Without Me" is one of his most overlooked early performances. RIP.
     
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  7. Price.pittsburgh

    Price.pittsburgh Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Honestly, he may have been the most easily likable actor I've ever witnessed.
    He had the great ability to be the cool intellectual or the traditional nerd.
    Willie Wonka, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Silver Streak, Stir Crazy are the main ones for most of us, but even in just those five films, there are so many classic moments that he delivered perfectly.
    I like to think of him with Gilda tonight.
     
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  8. Chris C

    Chris C Music was my first love and it will be my last!

    Location:
    Ohio
    Imagine a 16 year old boy (that would be me in 1977) and I've just been bitten through my top lip by a doberman pincher dog, owned by my father's partner of a law firm. At the local doctor an hour later and I'm getting seven stitches in my lip and that very night, my best friends want to go to the theater to see the just released "Young Frankenstein" and like a fool, I go. Needless to say, I was in pure pain, at the same time that I was in pure joy, watching the great Gene Wilder on screen. I thought that I was going to die laughing so hard and hurting so badly, when they got to the "Put the candle back!" bit.

    One of my all-time favorite moments of a motion picture is when Gene (as Willy Wonka) is asking Charlie if he liked the chocolate factory and then after Charlie answers Gene goes on to say, "I'm glad to hear that because I'm giving it to you". That line brings me to tears just thinking about it, just as this sad news does. Thanks Gene for allowing me to lose myself in the darkness of a movie theater for a few hours and always come out smiling, because of you!
     
  9. Lots of folks assume that Mel Brooks came up with the concept for Young Frankenstein but it was a Gene. They made a brilliant team.
     
  10. Ghostworld

    Ghostworld Senior Member

    Location:
    US
    My hero gone. I know it's a cliche, but he was a true original A loveable madman. The great neurotic. I loved Gene so much. We once wrote a part for him into one of our scripts (which later became Night at the @@^# Museum).
     
  11. GodShifter

    GodShifter Forum Member

    Location:
    Dallas, TX, USA
    A funny man and I'm sorry he's gone but he hadn't been in anything significant in over 30 years. Still, he's one the greats and his passing is sad for me. Take care, Gene.
     
  12. GodShifter

    GodShifter Forum Member

    Location:
    Dallas, TX, USA
    Terrible movie but a noble effort all the same.
     
  13. blutiga

    blutiga Forum Resident

    RIP Mr Wilder. I grew up laughing at your hilarious gentle humour. Your movies with Richard Pryor were awesome. Springtime is my favourite comedy ever along with Cook and Moore's Bedazzled. People will be laughing with your legacy for generations to come.
     
  14. Ghostworld

    Ghostworld Senior Member

    Location:
    US
    Oh, ours was much better. We got bought my Disney and they ruined it.
     
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  15. PHILLYQ

    PHILLYQ Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn NY
    I could never forget him sitting by the curb drinking Woolite!:)
    RIP to a true talent and a guy who cracked me up
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2016
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  16. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    A very talented and versatile actor who will be missed on the Earth, but his legacy will always continue in our hearts and minds. He is the only Willy Wonka as far as I'm concerned.
     
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  17. John B Good

    John B Good Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    NS, Canada
    Always enjoyed him, watched my DVD of Quackser Fortune recently, but will revisit another, probably The Producers, soon.

    RIP :(
     
  18. putz

    putz Forum Resident

    Location:
    NJ
    Leo Bloom: Actors are not animals! They're human beings!

    Max Bialystock: They are? Have you ever eaten with one?
     
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  19. greelywinger

    greelywinger Osmondia

    Location:
    Dayton, Ohio USA
    R.I.P.
    Another piece of my childhood gone. :cry:

    Darryl
     
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  20. SGR

    SGR Forum Resident

    My Dad was a big movie fan and introduced me to The Producers. Fond memories of sharing that film with him. Rest in Peace Mr. Wilder.
     
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  21. Russ_B66

    Russ_B66 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Vermont
    If he had never been in another movie but "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" he would be remembered. You could replace that with the title of many of his movies and it would be true. He was a beautiful spirit.
     
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  22. KeithH

    KeithH Success With Honor...then and now

    Location:
    Beaver Stadium
    A brilliant actor and comedian, and a great person. A huge loss.

    R.I.P.
     
    Moshe likes this.
  23. aussievinyl

    aussievinyl Appreciator Of Creative Expression

    I love his work. No one else could do confused, angry, composed, manic, gentle, kind and god knows how many variations of all these emotions so well. His face said so much, even in silence. A master of timing. SILVER STREAK shows all his talents off very well. RIP.
     
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  24. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arizona desert
    I'm watching Young Frankenstein this weekend to pay my respect for one of the greats in comedy.
     
  25. The Hud

    The Hud Breath of the Kingdom, Tears of the Wild

    I love Young Frankenstein. I need to upgrade to BD.
     
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