Born to a Jewish family and was best known for his role in the fantasy film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and comedic star turns in such Mel Brooks farces as “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein,” died on Monday at age 83, his family said in a statement.
Wilder, whose best work came in collaborations with director-writer Mel Brooks and actor Richard Pryor, died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Besides his classic collaborations with Brooks, Wilder paired memorably with comedian Richard Pryor in hits “Silver Streak” and “Stir Crazy.”
Wilder also was active in promoting ovarian cancer awareness and treatment after his wife, “Saturday Night Live” comedienne Gilda Radner, whom he married in 1984, died of the disease in 1989.
He helped found the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles and co-founded Gilda’s Club, a support group that has branches throughout the country.
