Gene Wilder Quotes To Remember 'Willy Wonka' Actor On His Death Anniversary

Gene Wilder, the legendary Hollywood actor, who starred in famous films like "Blazing Saddles," "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory" and "Stir Crazy" died on Aug. 28, 2016, when he was 83 years old, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 11, 1933, to Jewish parents. His father, William had emigrated from Russia. Wilder began his movie career with the movie "Bonnie and Clyde" in 1967 and became a favorite of writer and director Mel Brooks. With roles in films like "Young Frankenstein," Wilder became an unforgettable comedy icon in the industry, according to Biography.com.

Here are some of the legendary actor's famous sayings to remember him by on his first death anniversary, collected from Goodreads, AZ quotes and Inspiringquotes.

• "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.'"
• "If the physical thing you're doing is funny, you don't have to act funny while doing it. ... Just be real and it will be funnier."
• "Climbing hills was never one of my great ambitions. Perhaps I was just lazy, but I admit — now that I've been climbing a hill every other day — that it's very difficult to think about the stresses in your life while you're trying to avoid falling backwards when a goat with large horns is chasing you because you came too close to the little patch of grass he was planning to eat for breakfast."
• "It's difficult to continue loving someone who s**** on you."
• "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."
• "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."
• "Time is a precious thing. Never waste it."
• "Success is a terrible thing and a wonderful thing. If you can enjoy it, it's wonderful. If it starts eating away at you, and they're waiting for more from me, or what can I do to top this, then you're in trouble. Just do what you love. That's all I want to do."
• "I love the art of acting, and I love film because you always have another 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."
• "I trust if your life is right, the right things will happen at the right time. If the chords are in harmony inside, I think other things will happen in the same way. That sounded highfalutin' to me once, but I believe it now."