Gene Wilder is Dead at 83 Years Old

Gene Wilder, star of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and many of Mel Brooks‘s movies is dead at 83 years old, according to the Associated Press. His nephew said he died late Sunday from complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Brooks Tweeted that he was “blessed” to have had Wilder as a friend:

Gene Wilder-One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship.

— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) August 29, 2016

Other than Willy Wonka, Wilder is best known for films like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

[image via Wikimedia Commons]

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