Gene Wilder listening to one of his favorite songs, a rendition of "Over the Rainbow" sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Gene Wilder Jerome Silberman (June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016), known professionally as Gene Wilder, was an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, singer-songwriter and author. Wilder began his career on stage, and made his screen debut in an episode of the TV series "The Play of the Week" in 1961. Although his first film role was portraying a hostage in the 1967 motion picture "Bonnie and Clyde", Wilder's first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1967 film "The Producers" for
James Dugan (director) James Dugan (director) James Dugan (May 19, 1898 – August 5, 1937), also known as James S. Dugan or Jimmy Dugan was an American film director of the silent and early sound film eras. While mostly used as an assistant or second unit director, he had the opportunity to helm a few silent films. Dugan's career was cut short when he died in 1937 due to heart disease. Born on May 19, 1898 in Los Angeles, California, Dugan would enter the film industry at the age of 23, assisting the prolific director/actor Jerome Storm on the 1921 silent film, "Her