Willy Wonka is gone.

Gene Wilder has passed.

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/g...ein-1201846745/

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Peaceful rest to you, Gene. Your comedy was hilarious and your acting was spot-on!

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He and Gilda are together again. Just a couple of weeks ago, I'd bought a 25th anniversary VHS edition of "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" at a neighborhood general store. His ad-libbed energetic flip, after he walked out to greet the contestants leaning on a walking stick, was acting genius--as he explained many years later, "From the moment I did that, no one would know if I was lying, or telling the truth."

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I loved all of his movies.

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My favorite of his was one of his first (if not THE first) movie he did with Richard Pryor-- "Silver Streak" from 1976. Also starred Jill Clayburgh, Richard Pryor, Clifton James, Richard Kiel, Patrick McGoohan, Ray Walston, Len Birman, Scatman Crothers, Fred Willard, and Ned Beatty. The Professor/Johnson was played by Stefan Gierasch, who went on to play a scientist on an episode of Star Trek TNG (the one with Matt Frewer as the time traveling inventor).

I also enjoyed his part in "Bonnie and Clyde" with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.

Later! OL J R

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Wilder also came up with Wonka's last two lines of the movie.

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I'm doubly bummed to hear that Wilder had Alzheimers. It must have been so hard for his family to see someone so vivid decline. "F" that disease.

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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM

Amen to that, brother. My Mom is in the severe stages of Lewy Body dementia, and though a bit different than Alzheimers, ALL dementia diseases are cruel and devasting beyond words. Heartbreaking comes no where near close to describing what it does to a person.

In sad times like these I'm reminded of lyrics from two songs, the first which Wilder sang in Willy Wonka:

"Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination"

And the second song, which was reported he passed away to (in this case Ella Fitzgerald's version of) "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", which is a simple, sweet little song that I think about often when I think of my own mother's suffering. Yes, Mr. wilder, I do hope and pray for us all, that "Somewhere over the rainbow, skies ARE blue".

I hope he has found his 'blue skies' over that rainbow. With dementia, he's already suffered through his hell.

One of the greatest gifts I think a person can give on this earth is the gift of laughter. Thanks, Mr. wilder, for the laughs you shared with us.

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
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...So sad

What a brilliant actor!

FWIW one of my best friends suffers from dementia...it really bites.

Bob
p.s. Young Frankenstein is pure genius.

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Came across this on Twitter today.

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/0...nother.html?m=1

RIP to a comedic genius.

I empathize with you, Earl. My mother has Alzheimer's. It's hard on all.

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