Stephen Fry, Billy Crystal and Kevin Smith all brand the late actor a "genius"
Hollywood has been paying tribute to Gene Wilder after learning of his death yesterday (August 29).
Wilder, loved by many for his starring roles in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Blazing Saddles, passed away at the age of 83 as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. He had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1989.
On Twitter, Russell Crowe wrote, “I saw Blazing Saddles 7 times at the cinema with my school friends,” while Stephen Fry, Kevin Smith and Billy Crystal all branded him a “genius”. Check out a selection of tweets below.
Gene Wilder was a giant of comedy. His legacy of films is inspiring. A true genius..
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) August 29, 2016
Farewell #GeneWilder, comic genius. Thank you for all those happy happy hours. pic.twitter.com/O6oHS9TQqX
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) August 29, 2016
Together again. RIP #GeneWilder true master of his craft https://t.co/iH4SwyXzFU
— Lucy Liu (@LucyLiu) August 30, 2016
Brilliant. Amazingly funny. The only reason I eat chocolate. #genewilder will be missed. pic.twitter.com/PL8S9EkLhh
— Adam West (@therealadamwest) August 30, 2016
This is maybe my favorite line ever. I repeat it all the time.
'My name's Jim, but most people call me…Jim.' #GeneWilder #BlazingSaddles— Kyle MacLachlan (@Kyle_MacLachlan) August 30, 2016
So sad that the inspiringly talented #GeneWilder has left us. He was one of the kindest souls I've ever met. 😢 pic.twitter.com/JoEUa2IS0s
— Sean Hayes (@SeanHayes) August 30, 2016
This guy made me laugh a lot! Laughter is a gift. Thank you Gene. #genewilder https://t.co/1i5y9phFrJ
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) August 29, 2016
RIP #GeneWilder. Thanks for the years of laughter. You will be missed.
— Larry King (@kingsthings) August 29, 2016
Thank you for the beautiful words. #GeneWilder ❤️🙏 https://t.co/pLRT1bPPdA
— Juliette Lewis (@JulietteLewis) August 29, 2016
GENE WILDER, the face of childhood joy for many a generation, has passed. Farewell, sweet genius. Gilda awaits you. https://t.co/pybXNFlGaq
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) August 29, 2016
I saw Blazing Saddles 7 times at the cinema with my school friends . George St. Cows outside.
Gene Wilder you were a genius. Rest in Peace.— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 29, 2016
He was always able to make us smile, and that is no small feat. Rest with the stars, Gene Wilder. pic.twitter.com/kxis66bIGd
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) August 29, 2016
Wilder, known primarily as a comic actor, also starred in classic films such as Young Frankenstein and The Producers
Wilder frequently collaborated with writer and director Mel Brooks and stand-up comedian Richard Pryor. Brooks wrote on Twitter yesterday: “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.”
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
Wilder was twice Oscar-nominated, for his role in The Producers and for co-writing Young Frankenstein. He is survived by his fourth wife Karen Boyer, whom he married in 1991, and by his nephew.