Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art

By Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder defined film comedy in the 1970s and '80s. But this is no traditional autobiography, rather it's an intelligent, quirky, humorous account of key events that have affected him in search for love and art.

In this very personal, fascinating book, Wilder gives a great insight into the creative process on stage and screen. He discusses his experiences of working with the very best of movie talent, including Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Sidney Poitier and Richard Pryor, and tells how he developed his own unique style from his early days at The Actors' Studio with Lee Strasberg.

Amongst other incidents, he describes his time in the UK, which he has great fondness for, studying at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. During this period he came top of his class at fencing and doorstepped Sir John Geilgud to ask him to explain the use of iambic pentametre.

Wilder also talks amusingly about his failed love life off-screen (including 4 marriages) and is candid about much darker times such as the death of his third wife, comedienne Gilda Radner, from cancer. He also reveals his own recent battle with the disease, which he's now come through, and which changed his perspective on life.

This isn't a traditional celebrity 'tell all' but an insight into the life and mind of a great comic actor who has a rare ability to write as well as he performs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Jun 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9780007382088

Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder (1933-2016) began acting when he was thirteen and writing for the screen in the early 1970s. After a small role in "Bonnie and Clyde" pulled him away from a career onstage, he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Leo Bloom in "The Producers", which led to "Blazing Saddles" and then to another Academy nomination, this time for writing "Young Frankenstein". Wilder appeared in twenty-five feature films and a number of stage productions. His first book, about his own life, was Kiss Me Like A Stranger. It was followed by the novels My French Whore, The Woman Who Wouldn’t, and Something to Remember You By and a book of stories, What Is This Thing Called Love?.

Reviews for Kiss Me Like a Stranger

[melydia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Though I enjoy his movies, I would not consider myself a Gene Wilder fan. I'm not sure I've ever thought about him outside the characters he's portrayed. It was kind of a weird experience reading the life story of a complete stranger, especially one as brutally honest as this. Wilder tiptoes around nothing. Still, it was surprisingly readable, at once touching and funny. I got a little choked up reading about Gilda Radner's final days. Wilder focuses mostly on his personal life and romantic relationships, though there is also a fair amount of information about his experiences as an actor and later writer. It's refreshing to read a memoir written at the proper time in a person's life: after they've settled down with the right person, are more or less retired from what made them famous, and have the time to sit back and reflect. While I wouldn't recommend this to someone who hates Gene Wilder movies, you certainly don't have to be a fanatic to enjoy this tale of self-discovery.

[wodehousegirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a great summer read! I've always loved Gene Wilder, watching him go from sweet and gentle to manic and loud on the screen is always an exhilarating experience. The story of his life is just as divided as his on-screen persona was, some things came easy to him and others were extremely difficult. He tells his life story in snippets, as if in a journal or diary rather than a proper novel, which makes for an easy and refreshing read. Recommended for those who love his work or are interested in the ins and outs of normal, neurotic love:)

[dawndowney · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love Gene Wilder, but I've read only a quarter of this book. He chronicles his life, year by year, production by production, but I'm disappointed. I prefer a memoir that offers insights about the author's personality--revelations, aha moments, transformation, redemption. Or funny stories about celebrities. Or writing that shows a love of words. Kiss Me... wasn't emotional or funny or literary. This memoir would be a great resource for anybody doing research on American theater and film, but it didn't hold my interest.

[langclouse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened to this unabridged audiobook - read by the author. Enjoyed his writing and reading style very much. Tastefully written; reminded me of all the wonderful movies Wilder has worked on (in front of & behind the camera).

[maneekuhi · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm a huge fan of "Young Frankenstein" (YF) and I like "The Producers very, very much. I think Wilder was just perfect in both movies. So I was more than a little predisposed to a very good review of his book, but instead I found it poorly written, dull, skimpy, and not very funny. YF spans about 8 pages and the pages in KMLAS include a lot of air, i.e., a typical page had a bit more than 300 pages, and chapters were short, with a blank page+ between each. Air. And within these 8 pages, there were breakaways to describe the latest wisdom from therapist Margie, the breakup of his marriage and how painful it was (really?), and plans for the next movie. Margie.....Wilder shares many of the insights and advice that Margie dropped on him over the years. Dull. Obviously a big deal for Wilder but dull nevertheless. So what are some of the wonderful inside scoops, the behind-the-scenes stuff from YF. "Walk this way", "Eyegore", "...you take da blonde..." all things we've heard a million times. And the marriages....I lost count. But, despite all that what you really wanted to hear about was the marriage with Gilda, the Love Story. Wilder writes on page 202 - "if the dog hadn't eaten the rat poison, I honestly don't think that Gilda and I would ever have gotten married." Ah, true love.

[evacatherder · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was a very disappointing book. I figured the guy who wrote Young Frankenstein would be able to write a decent book. I was wrong. It was all whining about his sexual hang-ups and not even very reflective at that.

[tbert204_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I suppose I should've known by the book's title that Wilder was playing his cards close to the chest when he wrote the book. It's mostly about his career. His disclosure about his life comes out in tidbits and, at times, feel inconsequential. There's a part where he mentions his dad died then goes on about his career like it was no more than a cold day. I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because there were some interesting insights into working with Richard Pryor and Gilda Radner, but the book could've been much deeper. The guy has been a brilliant actor. But there are parts of his life he doesn't want to show the public, I get that, and if you're okay with that then read it. Otherwise, put it down.

[montzaleew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Artby Gene WilderI have always enjoyed the comedic humor of Gene Wilder but really didn't know anything about him except he was married to Radner ( who I also loved) at one time. This book takes the reader through his whole life. Childhood, school, family life, boarding school, bullies, love life, adulthood, professional life, love life, marriages. His grief, his happiness, what it felt like to be a Jew and bullied, his battle with cancer, watching Glenda's battle with cancer, and so much more.I picked this up for a couple of bucks on Chirp and Wilder narrates it himself. It's so open and honest to the point of being shocking in spots. It's heartwarming and heartfelt as he lays his life open for all to see. I don't think I could be that brave. He wrote this when his cancer was in remission in 2005. He died in 2016 after battling three years of dementia. I looked this up after I finished the book. That made me cry. Such a brilliant and witty mind and it was crippled in the end.

[bearette24 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this book on audio, narrated by the author. His reading was enjoyable to listen to. I knew him mainly from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and this was a more faceted portrait. He was much more poetic and sensitive than I would have imagined. Also a bit neurotic (less surprising). There were a couple of cringey moments when he lamented the lack of sex from his third wife (who had stage four cancer at the time), but otherwise it was an entertaining read.

[james_patrick_joyce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very nice, easy to read and revealing. I only wish I'd been able to listen to him narrating his own audiobook.