--- title: Gene Wilder Was a True Magician description: The world becomes sober soon enough. God bless the David Wolpers and Gene Wilders for giving us so much magic. canonical: https://time.com/4472665/gene-wilder-magic/ author: Rabbi David Wolpe article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-08-30T16:09:22.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T00:17:24.025Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Gene Wilder Was a True Magician og:description: 'The stories of our childhood retain a charm that nothing else can approach' og:url: https://time.com/4472665/gene-wilder-magic/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc7f84dda338e1b9b/6988a434428a9e85e9cd4145/gene-wilder1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Willy Wonka Wilder og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Gene Wilder Was a True Magician twitter:description: 'The stories of our childhood retain a charm that nothing else can approach' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc7f84dda338e1b9b/6988a434428a9e85e9cd4145/gene-wilder1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Gene Wilder Was a True Magician ## Video: In Memoriam: Gene Wilder [Watch (HLS stream): In Memoriam: Gene Wilder](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/2K60n52t.m3u8) (0:47)  _Published 2016-08-29. Comedic actor Gene Wilder, best known for his roles in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "Blazing Saddles" has died at the age of 83._ by [Rabbi David Wolpe](https://time.com/author/rabbi-david-wolpe/) ## Rabbi David Wolpe Aug 30, 2016 4:09 PM UTC  American actor Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in 'Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory', directed by Mel Stuart, 1971. American actor Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in 'Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory', directed by Mel Stuart, 1971.Silver Screen Collection—Getty Images by [Rabbi David Wolpe](https://time.com/author/rabbi-david-wolpe/) ## Rabbi David Wolpe Aug 30, 2016 4:09 PM UTC Several years ago a man I had never met came to see me about doing his funeral. I had heard of him, of course. Indeed, in a strange twist of fate, I had sometimes mistakenly received his prescription medicine. His name was [David Wolper](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938678/). He was a famous Hollywood producer who happened to (almost) share my name. Wolper produced _Roots_ and _The Thorn Birds_, among many other renowned movie and TV projects. By the time we met, he had grown quite ill but wanted to be assured that a Rabbi who knew him would officiate at his funeral. He was taken by our shared name and made an appointment to see me. We talked for a while and promised to meet again, but sadly the next call I got was that he had passed away. I officiated his funeral and retained a brief but very fond memory. I remember one thing in particular about our short discussion. “You know it is almost 40 years later,” Wolper said, “but the one thing everyone remembers me for is _Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory_.” He told me that people would still stop him on the street to say how much that movie meant to them. I told him I felt just the same way, and the only reason I didn’t stop him on the street was because he was already sitting in my office. Wolper came to mind when I read of the passing of [Gene Wilder](http://time.com/4471502/gene-wilder-death-blazing-saddles-young-frankenstein/). My daughter grew up watching _Willy Wonka_, and Wilder’s passing reminds us anew that the stories of our childhood retain a charm that nothing else can approach. When we are older, we have dreams, but none of them gets close to the glow of the golden ticket. As adults, there are worlds we wish to be admitted to—back rooms or clubs, concerts or first-class seats—but they cannot compare to the yearning to step into the Wonka factory, the enchanted world behind the high gates. Children who are lucky enough to grow up with magic stories have a reservoir of wonder that lasts a lifetime. Kids whose formative years were captured by _Harry Potter_, or in an earlier age by _Narnia_ or _Lord of the Rings_ or Roald Dahl’s wild imagination, all have an imaginative treasury inside to last a lifetime. I hope that the ubiquity of smart phones and video diversions is not robbing children of this storytelling birthright. When my brothers and I were small, our family would gather every year to watch the annual showing of the _Wizard of Oz_. It became part of who we were, our own special tradition. As my father drove us to school each morning, he would sing: “We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.” We would all join in, and the ride became a little bit of an adventure. As a father, I got to sing the song to my daughter on the way to school. I am very grateful that she grew up with Oz and Wonka and Potter. Childhood should be touched by magic wands and secret chocolates and Quidditch games. The world becomes sober soon enough. 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