My first impression of Gene Wilder came as the eccentric Willy Wonka back in the 1971 classic, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Since then he’s had a couple movies here and there but the impact he’s had on children’s imaginations everywhere with that role can’t be matched.

92Y and BlankonBlank came together to animate this interview that Wilder did in 2007 with Ms. magazine founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin.

You can hear the entire interview in all of its glory here: http://92YOnDemand.org

“I felt on stage or in the movies I could do whatever I wanted to. I was free.”  – Gene Wilder, March 2007