Kiss Me Like a Stranger

My Search for Love and Art

By: Gene Wilder

Narrated by: Gene Wilder

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Told in his own words, a very personal story from the star of many beloved and classic comedies, including Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Gene Wilder is one of the great comic actors who defined the 1970s and 1980s in movies. From his work with Woody Allen, to the rich group of movies he made with Mel Brooks, to his partnership on screen with Richard Pryor, Wilder's performances are still discussed and celebrated today. Kiss Me Like a Stranger is an intimate glimpse of the man behind the image on the screen.

In this book, Wilder talks about everything from his experiences in psychoanalysis to why he got into comedy - his first goal was to be a Shakespearean actor - to how a midwestern childhood with a sick mother changed him. He writes about the creative process on stage and on screen, and divulges moments from life on the sets of some of the most iconic movies of our time.

He also opens up about his search for love and his marriages, including his marriage to comedienne Gilda Radner. But the core of Kiss Me Like a Stranger is an actor's search for truth and a thoughtful analysis of why the choices he made - some of them so serendipitous they were practically accidental - changed the course of his life.

Listen to a Fresh Air interview with Gene Wilder.

And don't miss Gene Wilder in Conversation with Wendy Wasserstein at the 92nd Street Y.

©2005 Gene Wilder (P)2005 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2000

"A gracious, endearing book....[Wilder] writes with striking candor." (The New York Times)

"Pure Gene Wilder! Uproarishly funny and at times very moving. It made me want to go out and see every Gene Wilder movie again." (Mel Brooks)

It is Like Having Gene Back Again. <3

The best way to enjoy this book is on Audible. Wilder's voice is sweet and soothing; so great to hear it again.

Kiss Me like a Stranger

A wonderful account of Gene Wilder's life. Delicately written and read by the author. I was hoping it would never end.

More Than I Knew

What made the experience of listening to Kiss Me Like a Stranger the most enjoyable?

I have always liked Gene Wilder. I'm not a Hollywood actor or actress buff but Gene Wilder interested me. Having him read his own book was a real plus.

What did you like best about this story?

I like it when an author really tells me the way it really was. Mr. Wilder covered some subjects I never thought he would cover. My favorite line was "7 Mormons and a Jew". Maybe because of my own religious preference. He is vary frank about how he loved each women in his life and how that affected his life. I really liked how he laid out a trail of events that one thing lead to another.

What does Gene Wilder bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The inflexion of his voice when covering his wife's and children was something that no one else could do.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Reading a book in one sitting is never possible for me and is of no importance. What is really important to me is do I want to come back to the book and make time for it. This is a book that I made time to listen to and enjoy.

Any additional comments?

This is a book of a man's life that he wishes to share with people who want to know more about him. Thank You Mr. Wilder for taking the time to share portions of your life with us. If you enjoy his work then this is the book for you.

Worth it!

I absolutely loved it!
his voice telling his own story is amazing, it gave me all the feels.

Gene = Genius. Pure Poetry.

He appealed to me as a child, a teen and an adult. A true hero in my eyes and a model human in my heart, Gene Wilder revealed so much in this intimate portrait that I, now in my 50’s, and others like me are blessed with this wonderful gift. That I am an actor/artist/writer is a bonus but not a requirement to enjoy and be touched by the passion and vulnerability expressed by this special man.

It is a story of the human spirit and the reality of our flesh and bone experience in life here on earth. There is magic, there is wonder, there is love; heartache, heart-wake, joy and pain. But in the end as in the beginning there is warmth, truth and the unexpected beauty we can all expect to experience if we only “See No Evil, Hear No Evil.”

God Bless you, Gene. Thank you for this wonderful painting.

Love, Quinton Flynn.

March 14, 2020 Los Angeles, California 2:25am.

A nice story of his life.

I wish it had more about his career. Kind of a summary of his life.

Love it!! Love It!!

Gene tells his story so well, I laughed and cried! oh ok as I learned things about this incredible Man that I never knew, He is as Human as the rest of us! Thank you for Sharing your story with me!🌹

Gorgeous.

Just gorgeous. To get to spend over six hours with Gene Wilder telling stories is just gorgeous.

The fact that Gene narrated this makes it even more special.

This is a sweet story of Gene Wilder as he grows into the beautiful human being he was. I’m so happy I stumbled across this. It will be something I refer back to when I feel the need to center myself.

Honest Story By An Honest Man

Must admit that I was a little bit disappointed as I was hoping that it would be funnier. However I should have known as most comedy comes from deep pain. I had a mutual friend of GW's who passed away last year. He had told me about the quick wit and how hilarious he was but there again they were Hollywood people who live lives that have different facets to those of us 'regular folk'.

GW certainly lays his life bare. I was quite surprised about his relationship with the late Gilda Radnor. I am not going to spoil it for anyone...listen to the book! His youth sounded 'challenging'. How a young boy like that could grow up and become so successful is quite astounding. How lovely it was that he found Mel Brooks. Sounds as if they were 'birds of a feather'.

GW gives us a poignant performance. There are parts where he becomes so emotional that his voice breaks and you can hear the tears come.

He has gone but he has left us with a tremendous body of work together with this book of inner thoughts. I found them sad and I preferred MY Gene Wider up on that screen 'Putting on The Ritz" with Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein or hanging upside down in a prison cell with Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles.

Rest In Peace Mr. Wilder and thank you.