Gene Wilder for posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame star?
Gene Wilder could be set for a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Ana Martinez, a producer for Hollywood Walk of Fame, has admitted the late actor – who died aged 83 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease at his home in Stamford, Connecticut – might be honoured with one of the five-pointed terrazzo and brass public monuments if his family allow it.
She tweeted: "We do posthumous stars w/ family/estate consent. (sic)"
Ana revealed Gene hasn’t got a star on the Walk of Fame already because the ‘Blazing Saddles’ star wasn’t keen to be recognised in such a way.
She tweeted: "Sadly, Gene Wilder doesn’t have. Forms never submitted. I recall that he wasn’t interested. I always hoped to put his by Gilda’s. (sic)
Gene’s third wife, actress Gilda Radner, died from ovarian cancer in 1989 aged just 42 but was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2003.
Should Gene get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame he will have to wait a while as according to their website, a posthumous nomination has a five-year waiting period after the date of the person’s death.
What’s more, only one posthumous award is given each year.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a public pavement covered in the stars of famous names which are laid out on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles, California.
An average of 20 to 24 stars are selected each year and they are voted in once a year in June.
Following Gene’s death, his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman confirmed the ‘Young Frankenstein’ actor had been secretly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
He said: "The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him ‘there’s Willy Wonka’, would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world."
