It was with deep sorrow the news broke across the 'newswires' early this morning: that Gene Wilder - the one and only, real Willy Wonka himself - had died at age 83 (of Alzheimers Disease); in Stanford, Connecticut...I believe the home 'town' (or at least later abode) of my all-time favourite psychotherapist, the late great H Scott Peck. (Though I'm sure they had little else in common.)
This is simply to acknowledge the earthly passing of a person truly 'larger than life', whose memory and legacy will burn on for a long time yet in the hearts and souls of many another child at heart. Whose classic work has probably done a heckuva lot more to instill good moral values into the hearts and lives of children and adults the world over than many a moralistic sermon or piece of parental advice; much less political or ideological do gooderism!
And to think that some would-be filmmakers supposed to remake *David L Wolper's all-time best ever kids' film, and with a second-rate Hollywood actor to boot... !
I can only repeat my rather pathetic, faltering words: Willy Wonka (aka Gene Wilder) has died; long live Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka)!
*Of course from the Roald Dahl classic book ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory''.
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