# What's the deal with Gene Wilder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131 "2002-03-26T04:12:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/1 "2002-03-26T04:12:54Z")
I’m a big Gene Wilder fan, or rather, I’m a big fan of many of the movies he’s been in (_The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Stir Crazy_.) But something has always struck me as…odd, regarding his mannerisms. He seems a little fruity sometimes. Not that there’s anything wring with that! I’m pretty sure he’s straight, having been married to Gilda Radner and all, but there’s something about his mannerisms that makes my gay-dar go off. He’s very soft spoken, and always seems to get very chummy with his male co-stars, with campy kisses on the cheek and whatnot. For instance, in _Blazing Saddles_, the Cleavon Little character asks him what he likes to do, and he says coyly, “Play chess…screw…”, to which Cleavon Little replies quickly, “Let’s play chess.” Has anyone else noticed this? Does it matter? Why am I asking you? ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/2 "2002-03-26T04:20:56Z")
The answer is “no”. It doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/3 "2002-03-26T04:27:31Z")
No, it doesn’t matter. He’s funny, he’s talented, and apparently he’s comfortable with the people around him, regardless of gender. And why are you asking me? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/4 "2002-03-26T05:05:32Z")
He comes across as slightly effeminate, which is different than gay. Nothing wrong with that. I find it attractive in men. But, oddly, not in women. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/5 "2002-03-26T05:23:49Z")
I’ve always taken that to just be his comedic style, especially in the films you mentioned. Most of the ones you mentioned are Mel Brooks films, whose style is very broad, _shtick_y comedy. IMO, Wilder was acting in a manner that fit the style of those films. Kissing co-stars? Have you seen how many times Mel Brooks will plant one on someone, in films or interviews? It a gag, just like the spit take, or the non-sequitur. “Play chess…screw,” the first time you saw the film did you expect him to say something like that? A gunfighter who comes across as a little fey, that reminds me of Val Kilmer’s Doc Holiday in _Tombstone_. Does he set off your gay-dar also? Wilder’s characters usually comes across as frightened and hysterical to me. A man who is easily upset when the balance and order of his life are disturbed, and overreacts. That’s where the comedy comes in. Granted Jim/the Waco Kid is an exception, but that character isn’t that far apart from Lee Marvin’s Kid Challeen (sp?) in _Cat Ballou_. Both drunk gunfighters, who are strangely calm when they dry out and are faced with danger, not to mention both dressing like a bit of a dandy. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/6 "2002-03-26T05:28:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by widdershins \* > \*\* > Wilder’s characters usually comes across as frightened and hysterical to me. \*\* From The Producers: “I’m hysterical! I’m in hysterics! Abludulahd! agghblahasbdh!” One of my favorite scenes **ever** ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/7 "2002-03-26T05:35:00Z")
The man was deeply in love with Gilda, and if you ever saw them together you’d never question his manhood. I was in love with Gilda too, but because I’m the kinda guy I am, I let Gene have her.😉 One of the great Hollywood love stories, and they loved to dance! Their favorite tune was **Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?** In the end, Gene stood by his Gilda, and no woman could have asked more. The only other celebrity I can say that about is **Paul McCartney** , although I am sure there were (and **are** ) others. But I agree with the others who responded to the OP: It doesn’t matter to me what his sexual orientation is, Mr. Wilder gives great performances, and from what I have read, is a super person to boot. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/8 "2002-03-26T06:06:11Z")
He went to my college!! Lalalalalalalaaaa!! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/9 "2002-03-26T06:28:16Z")
I once read a description by Richard Pryor of a conversation he had with Wilder when they were filming the movie _Stir Crazy_. The movie was a comedy about a prison and parts of it were filmed inside an actual prison. I don’t remember the exact wording but essentially they were talking about prison sex and Wilder commented how difficult not having sex would be. Pryor responded that Wilder would probably find having sex even more difficult. Wilder said “What do you mean? I wouldn’t have sex in a prison. I’m not gay.” Pryor then pointed out to Wilder, who apparently had never realized this, that many men have sex in prison involuntarily. The point is that Wilder explicitly said he wasn’t gay. Combine this with the fact that he was happily married to a woman for a number of years, and I’d conclude gaydar is giving a false reading on this subject. > [@](#): > > In the end, Gene stood by his Gilda, and no woman could have asked more. The only other celebrity I can say that about is Paul McCartney, although I am sure there were (and are) others. Katie Couric stayed with her husband to the end. Tracey Pollan has stayed with her husband Michael Fox throughout not only his illness but also his drinking problem (he has since quit drinking). ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/10 "2002-03-26T06:36:24Z")
I’m sorry, but don’t the vast majority of spouses stay with someone who is ill until the very end? You know, marriage vows, love, respect, all that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/11 "2002-03-26T07:23:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > \*\*I’m sorry, but don’t the vast majority of spouses stay with someone who is ill until the very end? You know, marriage vows, love, respect, all that stuff. \*\* Of course they do, Bob! But if you’ll re-read my post, I specifically mentioned **celebrities** , and **Little Nemo** very aptly pointed out the ones I missed. And yes, your point is well-taken. I would just like to point out that Mr. Wilder was one of the people you spoke of in **your** reply, celebrity or not. If I loved a woman the way he loved **Gilda Radner** you can be assured I’d try to make a deal and have the Grim Reaper take me instead. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/12 "2002-03-26T07:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > \*\* > > Of course they do, Bob! But if you’ll re-read my post, I specifically mentioned **celebrities** , and **Little Nemo** very aptly pointed out the ones I missed. > > Quasi \*\* How about Bogie and Bacall? She saw him through a truly nasty round of cancer, and from all I’ve read, did it with a lot of class and compassion. Oh yeah, and I really like Gene Wilder! ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/13 "2002-03-26T07:53:45Z")
IMDB says he’s married to another woman, and has been fighting cancer himself. > [@](#): > > Karen Boyer (8 September 1991 - present) > Gilda Radner (18 September 1984 - 20 May 1989) (her death) > ‘Mary Joan Schutz’ (27 October 1967 - 1974) (divorced) > [@](#): > > (1999) Was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy. Anyone know his current health status? I hope he’s beaten the disease. I can’t believe he’s 67! That just doesn’t seem right… I always think of him as younger. ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/14 "2002-03-26T08:13:52Z")
I know what you mean, **cazzle**. I have a permanently engraved image of him from _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ and occasional glimpses of him as he is now still don’t erase/replace it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-gene-wilder/100131/15 "2002-03-26T13:16:59Z")
In her book, Gilda says Gene was married and divorced twice before he met her. Another celebrity who stood by his sick wife was Charles Bronson, when Jill Ireland was fighting breast cancer and the drug addiction of her son. Jill’s two books “Life Wish” and “Life Lines” are definitely worth reading.