Blazing Saddles Star Says Gene Wilder Wasn’t Funny in Real Life

Gene Wilder is known for portraying eccentric characters, but his Blazing Saddles co-star claims that he was not a funny person in real life. Wilder’s breakout role came in the form of the candy creation genius Willy Wonka in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. His quirky mannerisms and quick-witted, humorous comments helped make the Roald Dahl adaptation one of the top films of the 70s, which continues to captivate audiences as a cult classic to this day.

Only three years after the astronomical success of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Wilder teamed up with director Mel Brooks for another comedic role, this time in the form of the western Blazing Saddles. Brooks and comedian Richard Pryor created the screenplay for the hilarious hit. Wilder played Jim, the deputy sidekick to Cleavon Little’s character Bart, the new African American sheriff in the small town of Rock Ridge. As the film’s name implies, Blazing Saddles’ jokes broke barriers and brought a comedic element that had not been seen in the genre before. The following year, Wilder paired up with Brooks yet again to deliver another comical performance in Young Frankenstein. Wilder’s success at the helm of one of Hollywood’s funniest script writers made him a household name, an actor known for bringing smiles and laughs through his work.

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However, while Wilder may be seen as one of Hollywood’s greatest comedic actors, admirers may not have a realistic picture of what Wilder was actually like. Unlike his legendary roles on screen, Wilder was not funny, at least according to his Blazing Saddles co-star Burton Gilliam. In a recent interview with ILiveInDallas, Gilliam contrasted Wilder’s actual personality with the one that he is known for onscreen. Read below to see Gilliam’s full response as to what Wilder was like off camera.

“…Gene was never anywhere being close to the character that he plays and I don’t mean just on Blazing Saddles or Willy Wonka. Gene Wilder was not funny. He did not get funny until the words came out of his mouth and then he went back to being Gene Wilder. Gene was a guy who was very serious all of the time. He wasn’t so serious that people didn’t like him, but he always had his nose in a book or script and was not talking about the scene that was about to take place. He just wasn’t a funny guy until the words came off the page, into his mouth, and out of his mouth.”

Gilliam’s description of the “serious” iconic actor might be a bit surprising to those familiar with Wilder’s works. The outgoing and fun-loving personality that audiences see on screen is a far cry from Gilliam’s memories of working with him. However, Gilliam also acknowledged how hilarious Wilder was when he delivered his lines on the Blazing Saddles set, and even gave some insight as to how the actor approached his roles by focusing on the mental state of the fictional character.

Sadly, Wilder passed away in 2016 due to Alzheimer’s disease, but his legacy is carried on through those that personally worked alongside him. The fact that Wilder was not similar to his onscreen personas is just another testament to how talented he really was. Regardless of how Wilder was off camera, it is certain that his artistic and humorous portrayal in Blazing Saddles, as well as his other movies, has only been matched by a handful of other actors in the trade.

Source: ILiveInDallas

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