Gene Wilder, the star of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", "Young Frankenstein", "Blazing Saddles", and some many more comedies, passed away at 83, Monday, August 29th. He died after complications from Alzheimer's disease.
A man known for the joy and laughter brought to homes all across America, and the world for that matter, he will always have a special place in the hearts of many. Here are 11 quotes to remember him by:
1. "Time is precious. Never waste it." - Willy Wonka ("Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"). One of my favorite movies of them all, this statement rings truth.
2. "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a woman?" - Dave Lyons ("See No Evil, Hear No Evil"). In "See No Evil, Hear No Evil", Gene Wilder's character plays a deaf newsstand salesman. Working together, with Richard Pryor's character, a blind man, they get into a situation and make it quite the adventure.
3. "Well, it is a nice day. You should see my wife. You'd think it's even nicer." - Wilder, during an interview with NPR.
4. "No, it's pronounced 'Fronkensteen'." - Dr. Frankenstein ("Young Frankenstein").
5. "I love the art of acting, and I love film, because you always have another chance if you want it. You know, if we - if this isn't going well, you can't say — well, you could say — 'let's stop. Let's start over again, Gene, because you were too nervous.'" - the actor, during an interview with Larry King.
Here, Gene gave the perspective of being an actor, a career that he had always wanted to be involved in.
6. "What did you expect? 'Welcome, sonny'? 'Make yourself at home'? 'Marry my daughter'? You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons." - Jim ("Blazing Saddles")
7. "I'm not going to the toilet, I'm going to showbiz!" - Leo Bloom ("The Producers")
8. "I write funny. If I can make my wife laugh, I know I'm on the right track." - Wilder, in discussing his writing style and comedic career.
9. "If you're not gonna tell the truth, then why start talking?" - the comedian, on telling the truth.
A quote that gives everyone a preview into the thought process and brain of the famous actor.
10. "Invention, my dear friends, is 93 percent perspiration, 6 percent electricity, 4 percent evaporation, and 2 percent butterscotch ripple." - Willy Wonka, ("Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory").
One of my favorite quotes from the movie, he isn't wrong here.
11. "I'd rather write at home with my wife, Karen, and go into my study after breakfast and write...come out, get a cup of tea, go back in, write a little more, come out, have a little lunch, give my wife a kiss, go back in." - on writing, at home with his wife.
