LIFE Gene Wilder, 1933-2016: The Man Who Was Willy Wonka and So Much More

In a tribute to Gene Wilder, the movies' first Willy Wonka, LIFE presents a lavishly illustrated commemorative edition. This special issue highlights Wilder’s indelible, career-defining roles and traces his life from his childhood in Milwaukee through his marriage to and loss of Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner and beyond:

• Behind the scenes at Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and why Wonka remains such an enduring film for children
• Inside Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers and Wilder’s partnership with director Mel Brooks
• How Wilder and Richard Pryor created comedic gold on screen
• Gilder Radner, Wilder’s beloved late wife, in her own words