Gene Wilder kept his Alzheimer’s a secret to the grave – he couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world

When one thinks of Gene Wilder, it’s impossible not to consider his major 1971 success as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Yet despite his work as an actor, Wilder also became a great novelist and writer. He was also married four times, but sadly, his third ended in a major tragedy.