The Multifaceted Legacy of Gene Wilder: The Multifaceted Legacy of a Genial Comedian
Love Him.
Literal heaven on Earth in a career filled with laughter. You may have Blazing Saddles and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in your mind's eye, - but oh, what about 'Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx' and 'Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex'?
A Journey Through Time
I say: "Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx," a cult film often played at the old Orson Wells Cinema in Cambridge, Massachusetts, upon its release in 1970. This, early in Wilder's career, even before his hilarious stint as a Doctor who falls in love with a sheep named Daisy in Woody Allen's movie "Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex," was a film that had us belly laughing and cheering for Wilder's character, Daisy.
The film, along with Wilder's performance, was different. It was a mix of a sympathetic working-class worker and a love story. This was a defining characteristic of his career, even as he became a big Hollywood success. A unique talent, think of it as "a different brand of humor."
From Early Days to Hollywood Success
As popular as Wilder became, I harkened back to these two early works of his whenever I said to myself: "This guy is different."
A word that would come to characterize his career included 'different' and 'unique,' not just in his work but also in his unconventional personality. Wilder was a complicated man, always seemed to be acting, but his odd and endearing personality made it all work.
Comedy Legend
On his passing, I can say: "Comedy legend. I loved his work in so many films like Blazing Saddles, Hear No Evil See No Evil, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and more!" Rest in peace, Mr. Wilder!
Some of the classic lines you might remember: "Because you wasted so much time on me, you made me feel very important."
Gene Wilder: An Enduring Legacy
When thinking of Gene Wilder's unique brand of comedy, you can't help but smile. And knowing his creativity and improvisation had a profound impact on the movies that made us laugh, it's no wonder why we love him so much.
From his early work in 'Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx' and 'Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex' to his legendary roles in Hollywood, Gene Wilder will always be remembered for his maniacal glee and infectious sense of humor.