Willy Wonka Actor, Gene Wilder, Dies At 83

Comedy legend Gene Wilder, who starred in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has died at the age of 83, according to a Sky news report.

The American actor, who also entertained cinema-goers in Young Frankenstein, The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Stir Crazy, passed away on Sunday night in Stamford, Connecticut, according to his family.

His nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, said the film legend had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease-related complications.

In a statement to Variety, Mr Walker-Pearlman said the illness “never stole his ability to recognise those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality”.

He said the decision to delay disclosing his condition was because: “He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world.”

The frizzy-haired actor – who excelled at playing neurotic characters caught up in madcap schemes – was twice Oscar nominated.

The pair were also in the running for the best adapted screenplay award for Young Frankenstein in 1975.

Wilder played Leo Bloom, a nervous accountant who conspires to flee with the profits from a Broadway flop titled Springtime For Hitler.