Doctors Ignore Warning Signs That Could Have Prevented Gilda Radner's Passing
Think Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale? Shakespeare's got nothing on the story of Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder, two of Hollywood's most revered comedians. Their love was cut short when Gilda suffered an untimely death at the hands of incompetent doctors. They'd all ignored the obvious warning signs of imminent danger, and in his grief, Gene spent the rest of his life fighting to right their wrong.
Instant Connection
The two comedy legends fell in love on the set of Hanky Panky in 1981. Everyone knew the Emmy-winning SNL member and big-shot Willy Wonka star were meant to be. "There was a chemistry that was palpable and an electricity in the air," Gilda's close friend, Pain Katz, told People. Soon, the flirting got... unprofessional.
Real Hanky Panky
"It felt like my life went from black and white to Technicolor," wrote Gilda in her 1989 memoir, It's Always Something. “My heart fluttered — I was hooked." The more Gilda and Gene flirted on set, the harder it became to hide their sexual tension. Gene recalls one hot n' heavy moment.
TMI
"Gilda said that I rubbed my crotch against her knee when I asked her if I could bring her some tea or coffee," wrote Gene in his memoir, Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art. "When she told me this story, I said, 'You're nuts!' And she said, 'No, they were YOUR nuts.'" Soon, Gilda couldn't take it anymore.
Risky Business
One night, Gilda went for it. She made a move on Gene, which he struggled to resist. The problem? Gilda was a married woman. Not only that, but she was married to Saturday Night Music music director G.E. Smith. If they acted on these urges, they would certainly make headlines. But Gilda was ready for it.
