Is Gene Wilder Jewish?

• Home
• Actors
• Gene Wilder

Well, to make a long story short, Gene Wilder is Jewish!

Since Gene Wilder's mother is Jewish, and in Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism, those with a Jewish mother (or those who underwent a halakhic conversion) are considered Jewish, then that makes him Jewish. His father is Jewish too.

Gene Wilder (whose full birth name is Jerome Silberman) was born on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S..

His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He then appeared in Blazing Saddles, The World's Greatest Lover and Young Frankenstein, the latter of which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Wilder is known for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) and for his four films with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991). Wilder has directed and written several of his films, including The Woman in Red (1984).

(Added: 21/12/2013)

If you see any details that require update, please Let us know!