Gene Wilder Net Worth in 2024, Life, Career And Other Interesting Facts

Gene Wilder is also recognized as Willy Wonka, a multi-talented personality in the USA. Gene is an American-born actor, filmmaker, singer, and songwriter.

Wilder appeared in various Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor films in Hollywood. However, after retiring from acting in 2003, he started writing his memoir and many other books at 58.

In this article, we’ll explore the life of this talented man. If you want to know the interesting facts of his life and Gene Wilder net worth, read this article below.

Gene Wilder Biography

Jerome Silberman is the real name of Gene Wilder was born in Wisconsin, and his date of birth is 11th June 1933. Gene, in his teenage, got interested in acting while watching his elder sister on stage.

He appeared in his first stage role in a local film named Romeo and Juliet after gaining two years of training in this field. In this drama, Gene portrayed the role of Balthasar.

Gene completed his graduation in Communications and Theater Arts from the University of Iowa. After that, he shifted and settled in New York, the USA. However, Wilder also served in the US Army for two years.

Later, his passion for acting compelled him to pursue acting as his career while studying on scholarship at HB Studios. At that time, his source of income was menial jobs, as he worked as a fencing instructor and a limousine driver.

Gene Wilder’s Career and Achievements

At 26, Jerome Silberman changed his name to Gene Wilder as his new name, which was more suitable according to his acting field. In 1961, Gene appeared first on screen in a TV series, The Play of the Week.

However, in 1967, Gene performed his first role in the film Bonnie and Clyde. Wilder performed in many minor roles till 1967; in 1968, he got his first lead role in the movie, The Producers.

Gene Wilder got his breakthrough from his work in the film, The Producers and was nominated for Oscar for Best Actor. Moreover, he also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. According to various sources, Gene earned almost $10,000 at that time.

After that, Gene became renowned for his many remarkable roles. He also appeared in the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and became famous for his role as Willy Wonka. Gene’s popularity touched the sky after this film, and his fans called him Willy Wonka.

However, Gene Wilder could not retain his successful career, and his failures continue even with the Woody Allen film Everything You Always Wanted to About S*x.

Gene also worked in the film-writing field and wrote various scripts with Mel Brooks. He also wrote the film Young Frankenstein, which won the “Oscar nomination” for being the best-adapted screenplay. This movie earned about $86 million; however, its budget was $2 million.

The duo Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks collaboration earned huge popularity and achieved many awards.

Gene Wilder Net Worth

Gene Wilder was a successful actor and scriptwriter who gained massive popularity for his work in the Hollywood industry. So, Gene Wilder net worth was huge at the time of his death. He died on August 29, 2016, at the age of 83.

According to some sources, Gene Wilder net worth was $20 million at the time of his death. However, he was survived by his wife, Karen Webb, whom he married in 1991.