Gene Wilder The 'I Hope You Know That Thunder Will Fire You' Meme Dies At 83

The legendary film actor GeneWilder has died, his family announced Monday.Wilder's nephew said that the actor and writer died late Sunday in Stamford, Connecticut from complications from Alzheimer's disease. His was best known in the children movie willy wonka and the chocolate factory, and turned into a worldwide meme with various captions.

Gene Wilder, the actor immortalized by his role as Willy Wonka, has died at age 83, his family announced Monday. Some of Wilder’s most iconic roles were in the early films of Mel Brooks where he portrayed the nervous accountant Leo Bloom in 1968’s The Producers, the drunk cowboy who teams up with a black sheriff in Blazing Saddles, and Dr. Frankenstein (pronounced Frahn-ken-steen) in Young Frankenstein.
Wilder's nephew told the Associated Press that the actor died late Sunday night in Stamford, Connecticut, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he first adopted the stage name Gene Wilder at age of 26.
"It is with indescribable sadness and blues, but with spiritual gratitude for the life lived that I announce the passing of husband, parent, and universal artist Gene Wilder, at his home in Stamford, Connecticut," Wilder's nephew said in a statement. "It is almost unbearable for us to contemplate our life without him."

The family went on to say that the decision to conceal Wilder's condition from the public until his death "wasn't vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him 'there's Willy Wonka,' would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world." He was holding the hands of his family and listening to Ella Fitzgerald sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" when he finally passed.
Brooks, who was Wilder's most enduring creative partner, posted a tribute on Twitter shortly after news broke of his friend's death.

Wilder and Brooks shared a writing credit on Young Frankenstein, for which they were both nominated for an Academy Award. Wilder was also nominated as Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Producers. Later, he co-starred with comedian Richard Pryor in four films over a span of 25 years.


After two previous marriages, Wilder famously married comic actress and original Saturday Night Live cast member Gilda Radner in 1984 after starring together in the Sidney Poitier-directed film Hanky Panky. They remained together until Radner's death from ovarian cancer in 1989. He went on to co-found the nationwide Gilda's Club support group network in her name.
Wilder is survived by his fourth wife, Karen Boyer, who he had been married to since 1991, along with one nephew.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1FLZPFI3jc

In addition to the statement from Mel Brooks, Wilder received a long list of tributes from fellow actors and comedians, including contemporaries and those he inspired, on Twitter Monday afternoon.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/29/legendary-comedic-actor-gene-wilder-dead-at-83.html

WindUpMerchant:
The legendary film actor GeneWilder has died, his family announced Monday.Wilder's nephew said that the actor and writer died late Sunday in Stamford, Connecticut from complications from Alzheimer's disease. His was best known in the children movie willy wonka and the chocolate factory, and turned into a worldwide meme with various captions.

u no come fit add ordinary one pics make we see who hin be?

Cc lalasticlala

Perfecttouch:
u no come fit add ordinary one pics make we see who hin be?

lol modified

WindUpMerchant:
lol modified

seen,u be better reporter

And I use am get 30 like today for one post wey enter fp. Oga thank u ooo

Nairaland peeps killed this man...
because the way the man pics caption has bin circulating this forum ehn,, no be here

RIP Genewilder

I just just hope this man wont be next to follow

This epic facial expression meant a million things to meme creators.

Sad, May his soul rest in peace

rip

Rip

Nairaland gonna miss u

RIP

Even in death he was still able to make some of us laugh. RIP, Gene.

hummerwise:
Nairaland peeps killed this man...
because the way the man pics caption has bin circulating this forum ehn,, no be here

RIP Genewilder

I just just hope this man wont be next to follow

lol I hope so too

Rip

RIP

his pics funny scara...R. I. P.

Rip to him.. even those pictures of him u put up there made me laugh.

Rip to him.






Jacob Zuma!!






I reserve my comment.

i hope its not thunder that killed him

RIP

Next

Rip brother. Looks a lil like nicholas cage

Awww...May God grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss..Rip papi

Eyaa,,... His Facial Expression Always Cracks Me Up.Omashe O.RIP

I need only 75 years on earth, so help me God.

Daniel058:
I need only 75 years on earth, so help me God.

only 75 ? hermes treismegistus lived to 300 years

Rip