Gene Wilder On His First & Only Argument With Mel Brooks | Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Many years ago I bagged Gene Wilder's groceries at Trader Joe's. As he was leaving the register I managed to work up the nerve to express to him how big of a fan I was. I expected a smile and thank you in passing, but I didn't get that. He instead came to a complete stop, locked eye contact, and in a soft voice gave me the most sincere, heartfelt expression of gratitude I've ever seen. I was floored, and honored.

What strikes me the most about Gene is his sincerity. Not a single word feels careless, and it feels like he's inviting you into his life when he talks.

Gene's up there with Robin Williams, for me. Still can't believe he's gone, nor that the world could go on without him. What a tremendous talent, and incredible person.

"I'm happier than I've ever been in my life." Such a wonderful, beautiful man.

I forgot how nice his voice sounded, it’s soft and kind. Hearing him speak is like catching up with an old friend.

Gene didn't do too many interviews. The fact he interviewed with Conan says alot

Both of them seem so genuine. Conan saying he wants him to be happy, followed by Gene putting his hand on Conan's and reassuring him he's the happiest he's ever been is such a sincere moment. I rewatch this clip a lot, in awe how 2 men who've influenced so many can be so humble and kind to one another.

Probably the most genuine interview I’ve seen, really touching how he holds Conan’s hand at the end love it 👍

It’s rare when there’s pin drop silence in the audience when a guest speaks. A Legend and Genius.

I didn't realise how nostalgic his voice would be.

You can tell there's a genuine reverence from Conan here. Like so many of us, he grew up watching Gene's movies and they meant as much to him as they did to the rest of us.

When I was 13, my best friend and I saw Young Frankenstein - it was the first movie we had seen in an actual theater. For a month after we saw it, we did lines from the movie back and forth, and proceeded to thoroughly crack ourselves up. We were both fans for life. Thanks for all the laughs, Gene - we love you!

A class act and a comic genius. The world dimmed a little the day he passed.

When I was graduating from medical school in 1992 our class voted and selected Gene Wilder as our ask for commencement speaker. Our Dean told us the process. Dean Chobanian reached out to Wilder’s people who kindly rejected the invite saying that it is generally not something Mr. Wilder chooses to do. Wilder’s PR person asked Dean Chobanian why he wanted Mr. Wilder as speaker. Chobanian told him that it was not his idea but that of the graduating class. Said it was something about The Gilda Radner Foundation and about being a loving survivor of a cancer patient. The PR guy called the next day stating that Mr. Wilder wanted only to know when & where. He met with the graduates privately and spoke to us as a group and shook all of our hands and thanked us individually for choosing our mission of healing. For a slight man I remember how big and soft his hands were and how his eyes twinkled. His nature was so genuine and kind. I really think he was blessed in his life with appreciation and grace. I’ll never forget that day with him. On the other hand, “we bad, we bad”😄

This isn't an interview. This is a conversation between 2 beautiful souls.

The hand hold at the end almost made my eyes tear up. Such sincerity and just genuine niceness. Gene Wilder, such a wonderful human being . I never met him or had a run in with him or anything. But he just seems like a genuinely wonderful person, apart from also being a timeless actor.

You can tell Conan genuinely respects Wilder. One of the best interviews I've seen him conduct.

Such a class act. He was married to Gilda Radner. Gilda died of cancer. Towards the end she was in pain, and nauseated from the chemo. She snapped at a pizza delivery boy, a teenager. After Gilda took the pizza inside, Gene ran outside to apologize to the kid, and gave him a big tip. He later said that he will never forget the day Willy Wonka apologized to him and gave him a big tip.

One of the sweetest men to ever walk the earth, Miss you Gene!

Conan is lucky to talk to him and have Gene hold his hand. What a gem Gene Wilder is still in our hearts.