Gene Wilder quotes

Gene Wilder was an American actor, comedian, and writer known for his distinctive roles in classic comedies. His performances in films such as "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" and collaborations with Mel Brooks earned him critical acclaim and a devoted following. He is remembered for his unique blend of warmth, wit, and eccentric humor. Here are 30 of his quotes:

I'd like to do a comedy with Emma Thompson. I admire her as an actress so much. I love her. And I didn't know it until recently that her whole career started in comedy.

Gene Wilder

My favorite author is Anton Chekhov, not so much for the plays but for his short stories, and I think he was really my tutor.

Gene Wilder

If you're not gonna tell the truth, then why start talking?

Gene Wilder

Pride is not the worst of sins. In fact, it's one of the most interesting ones.

Gene Wilder

I don't like giving speeches. It makes me nervous.

Gene Wilder

I'm an actor, not a clown.

Gene Wilder

I don't mean to sound - I don't want it to come out funny, but I don't like show business. I love - I love acting in films. I love it.

Gene Wilder

I never thought of it as God. I didn't know what to call it. I don't believe in devils, but demons I do because everyone at one time or another has some kind of a demon, even if you call it by another name, that drives them.

Gene Wilder

I know a lot of sad people who aren't comedians.

Gene Wilder

I never used to believe in fate. I used to think you make your own life and then you call it fate. That's why I call it irony.

Gene Wilder

I like writing books. I'd rather be at home with my wife. I can write, take a break, come out, have a glass of tea, give my wife a kiss, and go back in and write some more. It's not so bad. I am really lucky.

Gene Wilder

I write funny. If I can make my wife laugh, I know I'm on the right track. But yes, I don't like to get Maudlin. And I have a tendency towards it.

Gene Wilder

My basic mistake in 'The World's Greatest Lover' was that I made the leading character a neurotic kook and sent him to Hollywood. I should have made him a perfectly normal, sane, ordinary person, and sent him to Hollywood. The audience identifies with the lead character.

Gene Wilder

Actors fall into this trap if they missed being loved for who they really were and not for what they could do - sing, dance, joke about - then they take that as love.

Gene Wilder

I wanted to do - there was this film called 'Magic' that Anthony Hopkins did. And the director wanted me. The writer wanted me. Joe Levine said no, I don't want any comedians in this.

Gene Wilder

I love the art of acting, and I love film, because you always have anther chance if you want it. You know, if we - if this isn't going well, you can't say - well, you could say - let's stop. Let's start over again, Gene, because you were too nervous.

Gene Wilder

A lot of comic actors derive their main force from childish behavior. Most great comics are doing such silly things; you'd say, 'That's what a child would do.

Gene Wilder

I'm in complete remission. I'm alive and well.

Gene Wilder

Great art direction is NOT the same thing as great film direction!

Gene Wilder

My mother was suffering every day of her life, and what right did I have to be happy if she was suffering? So whenever I got happy about something, I felt the need to cut it off, and the only way to cut it off was to pray. 'Forgive me Lord.' For what, I didn't know.

Gene Wilder

I thought the script was very good, but something was missing. I wanted to come out with a cane, come down slowly, have it stick into one of the bricks, get up, fall over, roll around, and they all laugh and applaud. The director asked, ‘what do you want to do that for?' I said from that time on, no one will know if I'm lying or telling the truth.

Gene Wilder

Lots of things are hard work, but I think writing, for me, after I started acting at 13 years old. I like writing now much more than I do acting only because, well, partly because the scripts that are offered are junk.

Gene Wilder