Katharine Wilder is the only child of multi-talented American comic actor Gene Wilder. He is best known for his iconic portrayal of ‘Willy Wonka’ in the children’s film. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Gene adopted Katherine after he married Katharine’s biological mother in 1967.
However, when the marriage fell apart in 1974, Katharine separated from her father. Her belief that Wilder had had an extramarital affair contributed to the estrangement, which led her to sever all ties with her father. The relationship between father and daughter remained the same until his death in 2016.
The biography of Katharine Wilder
Katharine Wilder is the daughter of Gene Wilder’s second wife from a previous marriage. Gene Wilder adopted her when he married his biological mother Mary Joan Schutz. Wilder is sometimes thought to have married Katherine’s mother in order to adopt her. Katharine was Gene Wilder’s only child, although he was married four times.
Katharine severed all contact with her father at 23 when he divorced Katharine’s mother after several years of marriage. The divorce that left Katharine devastated follows Gene Wilder’s alleged extramarital affair with his Young Frankenstein co-star Madeline Khan.
When his book Kiss Me Like a Stranger came out , Wilder spoke freely about his ex-daughter. He added that, being someone who always liked to be the center of attention, he couldn’t share that space, even with his own daughter. He had felt “too crowded” for him and he was unable to provide emotional support even to an adult child.
Katharine probably never forgave her father. Gene Wilder had admitted that he had written the book Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art for His Daughter. However, he wasn’t sure Katharine would ever read it. Nevertheless, Wilder still hoped that Katharine would read the book and that it would help make things better between them.
Parents
Katharine’s father, Gene Wilder was an iconic comedic actor who starred in classics such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Producers. Besides being a genius comedian, Gene Wilder was also a director, screenwriter, author, singer, songwriter and producer. You could describe him as a man of many talents!
He died in 2016, aged 83, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. The actor had kept his illness a secret so as not to spoil the beloved comic book character ‘Willy Wonka’ for kids who loved the movie world. He couldn’t bear to have one less smile in the world because of his illness. He was really attached to his art.
His mother Mary Joan Schutz was a friend of Gene’s sister Corinne de Wilder. She had Katharine from a previous marriage before meeting Wilder. However, Katharine started calling Wilder “Dad” while he was dating his mother. Wilder “did the right thing” and in October 1967 the couple married and Gene adopted Katharine.
The marriage lasted seven years, but they divorced following Gene Wilder’s extramarital affair with a younger co-star.
The children and family of Katharine Wilder
After severing all ties with her father at the age of 23, Katharine slipped off the media radar and very little is known about her recent activities. She probably disappeared from the limelight to avoid being associated with Gene Wilder. It is not known whether she married or had her own family.
Wilder never really left his daughter, hoping that she would reconcile with him until his end in 2016. He admitted on several occasions that “losing” his daughter was really sad for him.
There were no reports of Katharine visiting her father when he woke up. His death was announced by his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman, who called himself the “son of Gene”. Although the relationship between father and daughter was questionable, Katharine remained Gene’s adopted daughter, bearing his last name and therefore deserved a part of Wilder’s net worth of $20 million. It was speculated that Wilder’s leaked daughter would continue her legacy, but there was no official confirmation to that effect.
Facts About Katharine Wilder
1. Katharine is Gene Wilder’s only child
Although the multi-talented actor was married four times, Katharine was his only child.
2. Katharine was adopted by Gene Wilder
Katharine is the daughter of Gene Wilder’s second wife. Gene loved her dearly and adopted her after they married in 1967.
3. Katharine cut off all contact with her father when she was 23.
She was devastated by her parents’ divorce and the fact that Gene was unfaithful to his mother.
4. Katharine never reconciled with her father Gene Wilder
Even though Gene Wilder deeply loved his only daughter and wished he could mend fences, Katharine never contacted him until his death in 2016.
5. Katharine kept a low profile
After being separated from her father, she completely fell off the media radar. Probably because it’s the only way she can avoid associating with her larger-than-life father, Gene Wilder.
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