Gene Wilder. | Katharine Wilder and Gene Wilder. | Source: Getty Images
Katharine Wilder was the late actor Gene Wilder's daughter, with whom he had a close relationship after marrying her mother several years ago. Over time, the father-daughter closeness abruptly changed.
Gene Wilder was regarded as one of the most talented performers in the entertainment industry. He was a man of many talents who excelled in comedy, acting, writing, and filmmaking.
One of his iconic roles was in the 1974 children's film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Company." Unbeknownst to his fans, young and old, and behind his waves of laughter, Gene struggled with marriage and parenthood.
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka on the set of the 1974 fantasy film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory." | Source: Getty Images
Katharine Was Gene Wilder's Only Daughter, Who He Once "Lost"
Katharine is the daughter of Mary Joan Schutz, Gene's former girlfriend in the late 1960s. When her mother and Gene began dating, Katharine started calling the late actor her father.
Having gained Katharine's affection, Gene decided to marry her mother. The late comedian and Mary Joan tied the knot in October 1967, and he ultimately adopted her daughter.
Gene Wilder and Mary Joan Schutz attend the 41st Annual Academy Awards on April 14, 1969, in Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images
But the couple's marriage, on the other hand, failed to flourish. After seven years of marriage, Gene and his wife divorced, leaving Katharine to wonder if infidelity was to blame.
Katharine assumed Gene had an affair with actress Madeline Khan because the two were working on a film together when her parents divorced. The suspicion made Katherine estranged from Gene.
Katherine Wilder and Gene Wilder attend the "Silver Streak" Premiere Party on December 7, 1976 at Tavern on the Green in New York City, New York. | Source: Getty Images
In a 2002 CNN interview with the late Larry King, Gene revealed a sense of alienation between him and his daughter after he split from Mary Joan. When King asked whether he had children, Gene said:
"Do I? No. I had a daughter and lost her a long while ago. That's too sad a story to go into."
Gene said Katharine was 22 or 23 when he lost her. Even though he could never explain why he and Katharine's mother divorced, he published a memoir detailing his previous marriage and career in 2005.
Gene Wilder pictured in 1970 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
In an interview with the New York Daily News, Gene revealed that he wrote his memoir, "Kiss Me Like a Stranger," hoping to reach out to his daughter and get her attention even if she had cut off ties with him.
Gene Wilder had no children of his own, but he did have a nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, whom he raised as his.
He said he loved his daughter deeply despite the estrangement. Although Gene doubted that she would read his book, he still wished she would pick it up, so she could understand why his and her mom's marriage fell apart.
Gene Wilder poses with his memoir "Kiss Me Like A Stranger" at Waterstones Bookshop on June 7, 2005, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner's Attempts to Have a Baby Ended Up Tragically
Gene began dating comedian and "Hanky Panky" co-star Gilda Radner while both were still married to their respective spouses. Both eventually sought divorce from their partners so they could marry.
He and Gilda, who shared "great affection" for each other, married in 1987. However, their marriage was fraught with difficulties, from the inability to conceive a child to dealing with a life-threatening illness.
The couple made numerous attempts to conceive a child, including going through rounds of the IVF process, but their efforts were ultimately fruitless. Gilda also suffered two heartbreaking miscarriages.
Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner attend a Wellness Center benefit on January 30, 1989, at Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
Doctors initially told her that she was infertile. But when they found a tumor on Gilda that was similar to the size of a grapefruit, they eventually diagnosed her with stage IV ovarian cancer.
Gilda feared cancer the most as it was the disease that killed her father. She underwent nine rounds of chemotherapy and 30 radiation treatments, with Gene by her side the entire time. Sadly, Gilda passed away in May 1989.
Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner at the Festival De Deauville on November 9, 1984, in Deauville, France. | Source: Getty Images
Gene Wilder Raised His Nephew as His Own Son
Gene Wilder had no children of his own, but he did have a nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, whom he raised as his. Walker-Pearlman, like his uncle, works in Hollywood. He is a well-known producer, writer, and director.
He and his nephew were very close to each other. When Gene remarried in 1991, Walker-Pearlman served as best man on his wedding day to Karen Webb Boyer, the acclaimed comedian's last wife.
In return, Gene also served several roles during Walker-Pearlman's wedding to his wife, Elizabeth Hunter, in April 2015. He was the best man emeritus, ring bearer, and the groom's parent.
When his uncle died in August 2016 at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, due to Alzheimer's disease, the multi-hyphenate served as the spokesperson of Gene's family.
Elizabeth Hunter and Jordan Walker-Pearlman attend the Annual Gilda Award Gala at InterContinental Hotel on November 9, 2018 in Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
In a statement, Walker-Pearlman reminisced about the beautiful memories he shared with Gene, including when he danced down the church aisle during his and Hunter's wedding day.
He stated Gene passed away while listening to his favorite song by Ella Fitzgerald, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Walker-Pearlman concluded his statement by referring to himself as "Gene's Kid."
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