Kiss Me Like A Stranger, Gene Wilder
Kiss Me Like A Stranger, Gene Wilder
20 Rating(s)
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Kiss Me Like A Stranger
My Search for Love and Art

Author: Gene Wilder

Narrator: Gene Wilder

Unabridged: 6 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/01/2005


Synopsis

Told in his own words, a very personal story from the star of many beloved and classic comedies, including Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Gene Wilder is one of the great comic actors who defined the 1970s and 1980s in movies. From his work with Woody Allen, to the rich group of movies he made with Mel Brooks, to his partnership on screen with Richard Pryor, Wilder's performances are still discussed and celebrated today. KISS ME LIKE A STRANGER is an intimate glimpse of the man behind the image on the screen. In this book, Wilder talks about everything from his experiences in psychoanalysis to why he got into comedy—his first goal was to be a Shakespearean actor—to how a midwestern childhood with a sick mother changed him. He writes about the creative process on stage and on screen, and divulges moments from life on the sets of some of the most iconic movies of our time. He also opens up about his search for love and his marriages, including his marriage to comedienne Gilda Radner. But the core of KISS ME LIKE A STRANGER is an actor's search for truth and a thoughtful analysis of why the choices he made—some of them so serendipitous they were practically accidental—changed the course of his life.

About Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder (1933-2016) began acting when he was thirteen and writing for the screen in the early 1970s. After a small role in "Bonnie and Clyde" pulled him away from a career onstage, he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Leo Bloom in "The Producers", which led to "Blazing Saddles" and then to another Academy nomination, this time for writing "Young Frankenstein". Wilder appeared in twenty-five feature films and a number of stage productions. His first book, about his own life, was Kiss Me Like A Stranger. It was followed by the novels My French Whore, The Woman Who Wouldn’t, and Something to Remember You By and a book of stories, What Is This Thing Called Love?.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lily on July 24, 2008

Before reading this book, I was a huge fan of Gene Wilder and included him on my list of "Celebrities I'd Like to Get a Drink With." I am still a fan of and believe that he is one of the funniest actors ever, but I no longer want to have a drink with him. Why? Because this book made me realize on th......more

Goodreads review by Meagan on August 29, 2007

Amazing, amazing, amazing. I've always loved Gene Wilder, and usually I shy away from autobios by people I love, just for the simple fact that I might end up not liking them as much once I hear them speak. But Gene Wilder is Gene Wilder, and I snatched this up as soon as I found it. I was not disappo......more

Goodreads review by Lavonne on February 06, 2010

I read this after reading Gilda Radner's "It's Always Something". I thought it would be interesting to read the other side of the story and see what his perspective was. I had come away from Gilda's book with the idea that Gene Wilder was a saint. From his book, I concluded that he is altogether hum......more

Goodreads review by Kressel on September 06, 2016

After Gene Wilder’s death last week, I binged on interviews he did at various stages of his career. The most poignant was in 2013 at the 92nd Street Y because you can see that he was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, but the most in-depth interview, unsurprisingly, was with Terry Gross in promotio......more


Quotes

“a gracious, endearing book” —The New York Times

“I always knew Gene Wilder was a remarkable person, but I didn't realize how remarkable until I read this brave, riveting book.” —Charles Grodin, actor

“...an honest, affecting look at his life. Strong, tender and revealing” —Kirkus

“A wonderful addition to the entertainment memoir Gene pool.” —Library Journal

“A witty memoir. It's also a reflective and well-written meditation on the life of someone who has more on his mind than the next big part or belly laugh.” —Los Angeles Times

“It's impossible to not feel deep affection for Gene Wilder.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Come for inside dish on his funniest movies, stay for touching stories about Mel Brooks, Gilda Radner and others. A classy memoir.” —Newsweek


Awards

  • Audie Award Finalist