Talk:Gene Wilder/Archive 2

Years active?
I think this page needs to be more clear on what constitutes 'active'. Since he is referred to as retired in this article then it is contradictory that he should be considered active at the present time, yet since he is still writing books then surely he shouldn't even be considered retired since he is still working from that standpoint. So I think it would be constructive to either remove the term 'retired' or to correct the years active to the last time he acted be it in film or television depending on which was later. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.241.243.114 (talk) 23:42, 4 May 2014 (UTC)


 * I misread that field when I reverted, thinking it was a date of death (vandalism). Feel free to revert back and make bold edits to the article. vzaak 23:52, 4 May 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 29 August 2016
Please change the date to August 28th, 2016 - as his nephew stated he passed away on Sunday. 198.135.124.76 (talk) 20:01, 29 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Some sources say he died earlier this month. NorthernThunder (talk) 20:03, 29 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Yes, and the phrase "earlier this month" is most unusual, and implies a degree of concealment by person or persons unknown. Harfarhs (talk) 21:39, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

Conflicting dates of death
It appears different sources are producing different deaths for his date, suggesting we leave them out till there is a clear cut date. This gives the 28th whereas this gives the 29th. Amortias (T)(C) 20:11, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

His nephew told AP the 28th. AP reported the death was on the 28th in a story on the 29th. I assume that some are reporting the date the death was announced, not the date that was reported directly to the original source by the family DFS (talk) 20:19, 29 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Hence my logic for giving it a bit, one of the sources is wrong but if we can get enough to get consensus go with that. Amortias (T)(C) 20:22, 29 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Statement from the family says 29th . But I have only seen this posted on Twitter so far. Ollie231213 (talk) 20:31, 29 August 2016 (UTC)


 * This statement has now been published by USA Today. Ollie231213 (talk) 22:11, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 29 August 2016
This article says that Wilder died on August 28. This isn't true, he died on August 29.

Jakecn (talk) 21:13, 29 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Amortias (T)(C) 21:26, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

Sentence change.
In the 1990-2000 section: "It was Pryor's last starring role in a film (he appeared in a few cameos before his death in 2005) and also marked Wilder's last appearance to date in a feature film."

If no further film roles come to light, and I don't think any will, then "to date" should be deleted. Thank you, Wordreader (talk) 22:15, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 30 August 2016
Please mention that Gene Wilder was the voice of Letterman on The Electric Company.

134.124.93.4 (talk) 02:03, 30 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. -- Dane 2007  talk 02:15, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Stagography?
I recall seeing Wilder in the 1972 film for TV "Scarecrow", an adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorn's "Feathertop". I saw it on KCET, I think Masterpiece Theater. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198999/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by JAFig (talk • contribs) 03:24, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Small query
I wonder if the order in the sentences

"Following his 1955 graduation from Iowa, he was accepted at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, England. After six months of studying fencing, Wilder became the first freshman to win the All-School Fencing Championship."

has got muddled? Did he win the fencing championship at Iowa? It doesn't seem likely it was at Bristol, as they don't have 'freshmen' there, and an 'All-School' championship sounds like an Americanism too - I doubt such a title would have been used at the Old Vic Theatre School. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.154.116.91 (talk) 05:54, 30 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Most likely as an American writing an autobiography primarily for Americans, he would have used those words in the text — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.151.241.222 (talk) 16:00, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Please amend to the correct 'Cambridge'
The section under the heading 'Early career' needs to be amended. The passage shown below requires adjustment because as it stands with just 'Cambridge' in brackets it plainly refers to Cambridge in England, UK and not Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Early career

Wilder's first professional acting job was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he played the...

The above should be amended to read as follows "Wilder's first professional acting job was in 'Cambridge, Massachusetts'". Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 51.9.102.102 (talk) 17:11, 30 August 2016 (UTC)
 * ✅ Strawberry4Ever (talk) 17:32, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

His death date
His death was reported on August 29, 2016, he died on Sunday August 28, 2016. Please correct.:) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:306:BC96:6380:D11D:F205:4656:FDD7 (talk) 18:31, 30 August 2016 (UTC)
 * - NY Times said he died early Monday morning. -- Fuzheado &#124; Talk 19:02, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Monday Bintro guy 6 (talk) 20:43, 7 January 2017 (UTC)

Number of publications
In an interview at the 92nd Street Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezfVc5MGmIU) Gene Wilder says that the 6th book (after the 5th one, Something to Remember You By) is already finished, ready to be published. Is there another book published after 2013 that is missing from this list? Hotgardener (talk) 18:50, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Grammar: "was" vs. "were"
The section "1990s–2000s" included the following sentence: Neither of his last two movies were financially successful.

changed it to say "Neither of his last two movies was financially successful." reverted the edit, saying "Was correct before", and I've restored it based on my reading of The Grammar Bible by Michael Strumpf and Auriel Douglas. On page 184 of their book they say: "Some indefinite pronouns are only singular: ... neither, nobody ..." They give the example: "Nobody knows where my dog has gone." In my edit summary I cited page 188, which isn't as clear because it's talking about neither-nor rather than just neither. The example given on page 189 is: "Neither John nor Bill agreed to tell his story to the reporters." Strawberry4Ever (talk) 17:43, 1 September 2016 (UTC)


 * Both are acceptable per http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/10304/which-is-correct-neither-is-or-neither-are. However Neither of his last two movies WAS financially successful just sounds wrong to my ear.


 * Rcarter555 (talk) 19:30, 1 September 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 3 September 2016
Karen boyer "his death 2016" needs to be changed to "her death 2016"

80.3.104.201 (talk) 16:19, 3 September 2016 (UTC)


 * ❌ NY Times obit. cite claims they were still married. --Light show (talk) 16:24, 3 September 2016 (UTC)
 * Seems like they are requesting to change his to her — RainFallHey! 16:28, 3 September 2016 (UTC)
 * I know. But per the source they were still married when he died. --Light show (talk) 16:40, 3 September 2016 (UTC)
 * ❌ Phrasing is correct; references their marriage lasting up until he (Gene Wilder) died in 2016. -- Dane 2007  talk 23:12, 3 September 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 15 September 2016
Children = Katharine Wilder

92.237.243.125 (talk) 11:24, 15 September 2016 (UTC)


 * ✅ Strawberry4Ever (talk) 12:55, 15 September 2016 (UTC)

Up and Coming Actor?
Merely a suggestion, but 'Star Wars' was released in 1977. I suppose Harrison Ford might have filmed 'The Frisco Kid' before the space opera's success was manifested - but it seems a little rich to call him 'an up and coming actor' in a film that was released in 1979. Doesn't it? Forgive me if I'm missing something! 2.29.157.30 (talk) 23:22, 30 October 2016 (UTC)


 * I must be missing something, what does this have to do with Wilder ? -  Mlpearc  ( open channel ) 23:32, 30 October 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 February 2017
"cremated" misspelled in death section. 38.88.149.50 (talk) 20:13, 2 February 2017 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done  JTP (talk • contribs) 20:30, 2 February 2017 (UTC)

Need to add category
Should be included in Category:American Jewish comedians, but editing seems to be broken.

Semi-protected edit request on 23 August 2017
willy wonka and the chocolate factory 1981 73.209.227.127 (talk) 20:06, 23 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format. — nihlus kryik   ( talk ) 20:18, 23 August 2017 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 31 August 2019
I think he died August 29, 2019? AsdfghjkLaraMae (talk) 02:19, 31 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: No, Wilder died on August 29, 2016 as the article currently states.  General Ization Talk  02:21, 31 August 2019 (UTC)

Forgive me if I’m doing this incorrectly but I just wanted someone to add the movie “Foul Play” to Mr. Wilder’s list of movies. His character died early in the movie, but he should still get credit. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 104.226.29.98 (talk) 06:22, 10 February 2020 (UTC)
 * I don't have a copy of the film handy, but seeing as he doesn't appear in the IMDb listing for the movie, and they're usually pretty good at catching uncredited cameos, is it possible that the person you are seeing is not Wilder? I suspect you're actually referring to Bruce Solomon. --Nat Gertler (talk) 16:01, 22 March 2020 (UTC)
 * I did a bit more research and it does not appear that Gene Wilder appeared in "Four Play". I found a complete cast list on TCM.com, Complete listing for cast. Jurisdicta (talk) 05:31, 8 September 2020 (UTC)

Gene Wilder as Writer
There's a complete section of Gene's works, his novels. So far, I've got the titles of some of them, but I'm not sure if they're all of them or not and I think they should be added when all of them are recorded instead of bit by bit. Here's the ones I wrote about:

2007 "My French Whore: A Love Story" 2008 "The Woman Who Wouldn't" 2010 "What Is This Thing Called Love?" 2010 "Kiss Me Like A Stranger: My Search for Love and Art" 2013 "Something to Remember You by: A Perilous Romance"

EDIT: On this video [1] at 4:29, Gene Wilder talks about the 2013 books as his fifth (so none would be missing), but he mentions he already has prepared a 6th and has to finish a 7th. I haven't found any of those, but I might have missed them.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezfVc5MGmIU

Franzrogar (talk) 08:36, 13 May 2020 (UTC) EDIT: Franzrogar (talk) 08:41, 13 May 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 June 2020
In the quote from Gene’s nephew in the section about his death, there is a typo. It currently says “but more so than the countless young children...” As a visit to the citation article with original quote and common sense would suggest, it should read “but more so that the countless young children...” — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.229.223.196 (talk) 22:15, 8 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅ Jurisdicta (talk) 05:23, 8 September 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 August 2020
Wilder is known for doing comedy in his films. "comedian" should be added in his occupations section and in the first sentance of the article. As shown: "American actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, producer, singer-songwriter and author." Plus here's a source to confirm all this:https://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/comedy-favorites-from-local-comedians/article_575c4a26-d6a0-11ea-bd62-07918c6b81d1.html. 2600:1000:B04B:6399:8841:FD5D:6AA7:E37F (talk) 00:31, 7 August 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅ P,TO 19104 (talk) (contribs) 15:53, 7 August 2020 (UTC)

Garr's comment about Wilder
She termed him a 'jerk' in this interview. I was surpised. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZGPcwoXLZI — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.111.51.247 (talk) 22:30, 20 March 2021 (UTC)