Today we salute Gene Wilder best known for his performances with Richard Pryor in four films Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) and Another You (1991). With writer/director Mel Brooks, Wilder was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Young Frankenstein.
His wife Gilda Radner (star actress of Saturday Night Live) died of ovarian cancer in 1989 and Wilder founded Gilda's Club to promote cancer awareness in her memory; in 1998, he collaborated on the book Gilda's Disease with oncologist Steven Piver in which he discusses his personal experiences with his wife's illness.
Wilder has a close connection with Stamford and its Avon Movie Theater; here's what he has to say on its testimonial blogs: "I came to Stamford in 1982 and there was only one movie theater--next to 'Hookers Hideout'-were I could see all the great foreign and domestic films that usually played in the 'art' houses. When they finally sold that old theater, I felt that even though I loved Stamford (italics mine), I was living in an artistic wasteland. Now comes the new Avon movie theater. To be able to see 'Random Harvest" with Ronald Colman and Charlie Chaplain and Cary Grant is like being allowed to visit heaven ...and the popcorn is good too."
Live on, oh legend!
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