Jeremey Allen White’s comparable appearances have led to speculation that he could take over the role of Willy Wonka from film star Gene Wilder. But do the performers share more than just huge blue eyes and quirky good looks?
White has already cleared this point, and the two actors do not share a bloodline. “I am not related to Gene Wilder. I’ve already addressed this. During a BuzzFeed Puppy interview with his “The Iron Claw” co-stars Zac Efron and Harris Dickinson, he commented, “I think a lot of people think I am.” White has answered the topic several times previously, with everyone from InStyle Magazine to Seth Meyers, and his response has always been consistent.
While the actor from “The Bear” is not linked to Wilder, he does not find the similarity objectionable. In 2022, he told InStyle that he once spotted a meme comparing his character, Carmy Berzatto, to the actor from “Young Frankenstein”. “They called Carmy ‘Ketamine Gene Wilder,’ which I thought was weird and funny,” according to him. White has found similarities between himself and Wilder flattering on several occasions.
Jeremy Allen White Greatly Admires Gene Wilder, Even Though They’re Not Related
Jeremy Allen White doesn’t seem bothered by the repeated similarities between himself and Gene Wilder. During an Actually Me video with British GQ Magazine, he admitted that he would never play James Bond, but found the questions flattering. While exploring Reddit at GQ’s request, he came upon a thread with side-by-side photos of a young Wilder and himself. In the caption, the Redditor playfully speculated if “The Bear” actor was a piece of Wilder that had fallen off and become fully conscious.
“No, that is not who I am, but it is insane. “I’d take a comparison any day,” he admitted at the time. Additionally, White admires Wilder’s acting approach. He told Seth Meyers that his favorite film by the acting icon is the very wonderful “Young Frankenstein.” So, while White is not directly tied to the legend, it appears he has done his research on Wilder’s legacy. However, one essential point remains unanswered: Did Gene Wilder have any children of his own?
Does Gene Wilder Have Children?
Gene Wilder adopted Mary Joan Schutz, his second wife’s daughter, despite not having any biological children himself. According to Wilder’s autobiography “Kiss Me Like a Stranger,” Katharine Schutz eventually got estranged from Wilder after he divorced her mother. Mary Joan Schutz accused Wilder of having an affair with Madeline Kahn, leading to their divorce.
“I had a daughter but lost her a long time ago. During a 2002 interview with Larry King, Wilder stated that he had not communicated with Schutz since she was around 23 years old. He declined to elaborate on the subject. Unfortunately, Wilder attempted and failed to conceive biological children with his third wife, Gilda Radner. Their inability to conceive, combined with an apparent miscarriage and other symptoms, resulted in a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, which killed Radner on May 20, 1989. Wilder would eventually co-found Gilda’s Club, a charity that helps cancer patients, leaving behind a meaningful and significant legacy.
