MOST famously known as the original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder was a beloved actor and filmmaker.
The star passed away on August 29, 2016, from Alzheimer's disease.
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Who was Gene Wilder?
Born on June 11, 1933, Gene Wilder - real name Jerome Silberman - was a Wisconsin native.
As a child, Gene began acting in an attempt to cheer up his mother, who was extremely ill at the time.
At the age of 13, his elder sister's theatre teacher accepted Gene as a student to study the art of acting more seriously.
His mother later sent him to Black-Foxe, a military school in Hollywood.
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After a short stint in California, he returned home and graduated from Washington High School in 1951.
Gene went on to the University of Iowa before heading to England to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
After being drafted into the United States Army during the 1950s, Gene worked as a paramedic in Pennsylvania while continuing to take acting classes.
Throughout the 1960s, Gene landed several prominent roles and cemented himself as a rising star.
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What is Gene Wilder's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gene Wilder had an estimated net worth of $20million at the time of his death.
Gene starred in over 20 films throughout his lengthy career, some of the most notable including:
He also regularly appeared on television, often starring in made-for-TV films.
Aside from acting, Gene was a notable writer and director.
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What happened to Gene Wilder?
At the age of 83, Gene Wilder passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease.
He was diagnosed three years prior but never publicly shared the information.
"The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition 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," read a statement from Gene's nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman.
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"He simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world."
Gene's family added that the entertainer died while listening to Over the Rainbow by Ella Fitzgerald.
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