4. “The Waco Kid” in Blazing Saddles (1974)

Wilder came to the rescue here at the last minute when Brooks’ original choice of leading man was too drunk to perform on the first day of shooting. Not that you’d ever know, as Wilder owns the role of a former gunman who ends up being deputized by “Black Bart” (Cleavon Little, cast when the studio found Richard Pryor too controversial), the town’s new sheriff, who just happens to be black. Simultaneously a send up of race relations and a Fourth Wall-breaking skewering of the Western genre (that is probably the only movie to feature someone punching a horse), Blazing Saddles is high concept hilarity of a type that just isn’t made anymore.

3. “Leo Bloom” in The Producers (1968)

In his first major big screen role, Wilder received a Best Supporting Oscar nomination as the manic, conniving Leo Bloom, one half of the titular duo planning to score on insurance by staging the biggest flop in Broadway history. Rightfully recognized as a comedy classic and revived as an actual award-winning Broadway musical starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, The Producers features Wilder at his manic best as he and partner Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) manage to succeed, despite themselves. But seriously, with a title like “Springtime For Hitler”, who would have expected them to come out on top?

2. “Willy Wonka” in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Undoubtedly his most recognized work, Wilder played author Roald Dahl’s creation as a man whose numerous quirks belied his true intentions. Pegged for the role by director Mel Stuart after having heard him read a few lines, Wilder beat out the likes of Peter Sellers and Fred Astaire for the part. Since then, the tale of a successful chocolatier’s search for a successor has become a true family favorite, dwarfing subsequent attempts to adapt the beloved children’s book, including Tim burton’s disastrous 2005 version. Just try not to tear up now when you hear “Pure Imagination.”

1. “Dr. Frederick Frankenstein” in Young Frankenstein (1974)

While Willy Wonka may be his most recognized character, you were raised right if you know that Wilder’s finest performance was in this satirical take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Marking the zenith of Wilder and Brooks’ collaborations, Young Frankenstein was a straight-faced farce that took everything audiences had come to expect from traditional Frankenstein adaptations everything (including a decision to shoot in black and white) and turning those conventions on their ear. Boasting a witty script (by Wilder and Brooks) packed with brilliant one-liners (one of which inspired Aerosmith to write “Walk This Way”!) and memorable characters (It’s pronounced, “Eye-Gor”), it can definitely be argued that neither Wilder nor Brooks were ever able to clear the comedic bar they’d raised with Young Frankenstein.

Got any other favorite Gene Wilder moments? Tell us in the comments below!

Pages: 1 2