Fresh Air Archive, Gene Wilder, May 21, 2007

By: Terry Gross

Audible was not granted digital rights to today's program. We bring you actor Gene Wilder on this edition of Fresh Air.

Gene Wilder's birth name was Jerome Silberman. He made his film debut as a kidnap victim in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), but he's best known for his work with Mel Brooks in the films Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers. He was also in Woody Allen's Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex and starred in the children's film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He also teamed up with Richard Pryor in the films Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, and See No Evil, Hear No Evil. He was married to Gilda Radner for five years until her death from ovarian cancer in 1989; he later formed the support group Gilda's Club to raise awareness of the disease. Wilder has written a memoir entitled Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art. (Original Airdate: 3/16/2005) [Broadcast Date: May 21, 2007]

Then, hear titles by Gene Wilder.

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