Gene Wilder's 'Woman In Red' co-star Kelly Le Brock believes he should be awarded a posthumous Oscar.
Gene Wilder
The 56-year-old actress slammed the Academy for never awarding an Oscar to the late star - who passed away last week at the age of 83 - during his lifetime and believes he should be recognised at the 2017 Academy Awards.
She told the Sunday Mirror: "We need to cherish and embrace these icons while they are here and not wait until they die before we applaud them. He should have been given an Oscar. He was Oscar-nominated twice but never won.
"That is what is messed up about the business. Comedy is the hardest skill for any actor, but also the hardest to get recognised for. Gene should still get an Oscar. He was brilliant."
Kelly still fondly remembers working with Gene on the 1984 film and says no one in Hollywood can compare to her late co-star.
She explained: "He was brilliant and a genius. He was very different. He had his own way of making people laugh.
"Throughout my career, I met every Hollywood star and A-lister going. I've had them all at my table from Walter Matthau to all the greats - and none of them came close to Gene.
"Gene was just so gentle, so kind and caring.
"The first thing that hit you about him was his blue eyes, how gentle he was with his hands when he spoke and how deliberate each word he uttered seem to be. He was just so very delicate.
"He looked upon me at the time like a daughter. All I ever felt from him was pure fatherly love and support."
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