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S40E8

Wilder

Premiere: 12/29/2026 | 2:10 |

Follow the journey of actor Gene Wilder, known for his performances in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Young Frankenstein, from his collaborative relationship with Mel Brooks to his rise as a Hollywood leading man and comedic visionary. Featuring never-before-seen interviews with Wilder, archival clips, and an intimate look into Wilder’s legacy from his nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman.

About the Episode

Follow the journey of actor Gene Wilder, known for his performances in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Young Frankenstein, from his collaborative relationship with Mel Brooks to his rise as a Hollywood leading man and comedic visionary. Featuring never-before-seen interviews with Wilder, archival clips, and an intimate look into Wilder’s legacy from his nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman. 

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UNDERWRITING

Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Marc Haas Foundation, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, Seton J. Melvin, Candace King Weir, Anita and Jay Kaufman, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Charina Endowment Fund, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, Filomen M. D’Agostino Foundation, Laura Richards and Jim Naughton, Jeffrey Katz and Beth Rogers

PRODUCTION CREDITS

WILDER is a production of White Horse Pictures & Library Films in association with Sobey Road Entertainment, Harlem Hollywood, Mojo Global Arts and American Masters Pictures. Produced and directed by Chris Smith. Produced by Cassidy Hartmann, Andrew Trapani and Nicholas Ferrall. Edited by Joey Scoma. Executive Producers are Nigel Sinclair, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Michael Kantor, Morris Ruskin, Joseph Mellicker, Brian Nugent, David Sze and David Kirk. 

TRANSCRIPT

- [Interviewer] Gene Wilder can say things like, "What I've been striving for is to be simple but deep.

"So far I've got it half down, the simple."

- Yes, that's right.

I'm working on the deep now.

(laughs) - [Interviewer] Why do you suppress the deep?

- Oh... (dramatic classical music) I don't know if you ever heard of me before.

(film slate clacks) I think I wanted to be someone else, not that guy.

- [Interviewer] Mel Brooks has said of you that you're a vulnerable everyman.

- Yes, I liked him immediately and he worked for $1.80.

(audience laughing) - [Jordan] Gene was my uncle and he really hadn't opened up since the 1970s.

So I was hired to do an interview with him.

- And try to keep up with you.

- And it's never been seen before.

- Hit it!

(electricity zapping) - [Jordan] I wanted Gene to see how much of himself he was willing to put on screen.

- [Gene] Who am I as this character?

What can I use of myself to make this character come alive?

- We liked each other instantly, genuinely.

- Are they watching us?

- Yes, they're watching.

It's on film.

Gene Wilder.

- First appearance ever together?

First one with touching.

- With touching, yeah.

- Where are you cutting this?

(interviewer laughs) (dramatic music) - My uncle's comedy was a very emotional sacrifice because it's real.

(dramatic music) - [Interviewer] How much of your comedy comes out of pain that really goes back?

- You're getting into heavy stuff now, so be careful.

But I wanted to express a feeling that was going on in my heart.

- Cut!

(both laughing) - [Gene] As it happens, it's a comedy.

(sheep bleats) But we were all searching for love.

(Mel smacking lips) - But I'm not here.

- I think I wanted to be an actor because I felt I was freer than I was in real life.

Wahoo!

Can you imagine all the things you would do in that make believe situation?

(bright orchestral music) Be very careful what you want, because you might get it.

(dramatic music) (light upbeat music)