Gene Wilder, who brought a wild-eyed desperation to a series of memorable and iconic comedy roles in the 1970s and 1980s, has died, his lawyer, Eric Weissmann, said. <br />He was 83. <br /> <br />Wilder is best known for his collaborations with director Mel Brooks, starring as the stressed-out Leo Bloom in Brooks' breakout 1967 film "The Producers" and later in the monster movie spoof "Young Frankenstein." He also portrayed a boozing gunslinger in "Blazing Saddles." <br />Brooks called Wilder "one of the truly great talents of our time" in a statement Monday. <br />"He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship," Brooks wrote.
