Gene Wilder | Entertainment News, Photos, and Videos

Gene Wilder passed away earlier this week and movie theaters are bringing some of his classic films back to the big screen in order to honor his life.

AMC Theaters and Regal Entertainment Group have plans to bring Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as well as Blazing Saddles to their theaters over Labor Day weekend.

Regal Theaters is set to host two Saturday (September 3) screenings of Willy Wonka at 100 theaters while AMC will include Blazing Saddles in their Saturday and Sunday screenings at 55 locations. Films at AMC will only be $5 a screening!

Gene passed away on Monday (August 29) due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease and celebrities have been sharing touching tributes all week.

Mel Brooks makes an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday (August 30) in New York City.

The 90-year-old legendary filmmaker and comedian’s interview came one day after his longtime friend and collaborator Gene Wilder passed away following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

“He was such a dear friend,” Mel said (via THR). “I expected that he would go but when it happens, it’s still tremendous. It’s a big shock. I’m still reeling. No more Gene? … He was such a wonderful part of my life.”

Mel said that he became good friends with Gene after the actor starred with his late wife Anne Bancroft in the play Mother Courage. “The Chaplain was a great part,” he said about Gene‘s role, which is a serious part that still gets laughs from audiences. “But he said, ‘they always laugh, why are they laughing at me?’ And I said ‘look in the mirror, blame it on God!’ Then we became very good friends.”

Make sure to read what Mel and other celebs said about the sad death.

Click inside for more from Mel’s interview…More Here! »

Chris Martin and his band Coldplay has paid tribute to the late Gene Wilder by sharing a cover of his classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory song “Pure Imagination.”

“Come with me and we’ll be in a world of pure imagination,” the frontman sings while confetti flies through the crowd at one of the band’s concerts.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Chris Martin

Coldplay is currently on tour and we hope to see the band perform the song live at their upcoming shows!

Watch the tribute below.

The actor who player Charlie Buckett in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film – Peter Ostrum – has released a statement on the death of Willy Wonka himself, Gene Wilder.

“He was the pro and I was a rookie,” Peter, who left show business to become a veterinarian, told Variety. “It’s kind of like losing a parent. You know it’s going to happen, but it’s still a shock. He was not in good health at the end and it was not unexpected by any means, but when it happens it hits you like, ‘Gene is gone and there will never be anyone like him again.’”

“He was a gentle man, but he was also a gentleman,” Peter continued. “He treated people with respect and dignity.”

“My gut feeling is that Willy Wonka wasn’t his favorite role,” Peter continued. “But that’s the role now that people across the generations remember him for. He was so quirky. You never knew what to expect from Gene. He never let on how he was going to read a line or convey an expression. That’s why the film works, because he made Wonka so unpredictable.”

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The family of Gene Wilder has released a lengthy statement on his death at the age of 83.

Jordan Walker-Pearlman, the “nephew/child” of the legendary actor, wrote the statement to honor the special person in his life.

“It is with indescribably sadness and blues, but with spiritual gratitude for the life live that I announced the passing of husband, parents, and universal artist Gene Wilder, at his home in Stamford Connecticut. It is almost unbearable for us to contemplate our life without him,” the statement began.

“The cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, with which he co-existed for the last three years,” Jordan explained. “The choice to keep this private was his choice, in talking with us and making a decision as a family. We understand for all the emotional and physical challenges this situation presented we have been among the lucky ones – this illness-pirate, unlike in so many cases, never stole his ability to recognize those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality. It took enough, but not that.”

“The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him ‘there’s Willy Wonka,’ would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world,” he added.

Jordan finished the statement by saying, “He was eighty-three and passed holding our hands with the same tenderness and love he exhibited as long as I can remember. As our hands clutched and he performed one last breath the music speaker, which was set to random, began to bare out one of his favorites: Ella Fitzgerald. There is a picture of he and Ella meeting at a London bistro some years ago that are among each our cherished possessions. She was singing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,’ as he was taken away.”

Read what celebrities and friends of the actor are saying about the loss.

The death of the legendary actor Gene Wilder has left the world in mourning and celebrities are taking to Twitter to react to the loss.

Many stars have been sharing their favorite photos and movie scenes featuring Gene, including plenty of pics of him as Willy Wonka.

Mel Brooks, the director that Gene worked with on movies like The Producers and Blazing Saddles, released a statement on the news.

“Gene Wilder – One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship,” he tweeted.

Click inside to read what more celebs are saying about the loss… More Here! »