Today Gene Wilder died, at the age of 83. He suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for the final years of his life but didn’t want it to be known for one, amazing reason: he was still regularly recognized by children as Willy Wonka and he wanted them to only be happy when they saw him.

Here is my humble tribute to the late, great actor who made me laugh so much over the years:

Haiku: Bygone humor

Leo Bloom, Wonka,

the Waco Kid, Frankenstein.

Wilder Days indeed!