When the family of Gene Wilder announced Monday that he died at 83 from complications due to Alzheimer's, many were shocked to hear he had been living with the disorder for the past three years. In a statement, they explained why the actor decided to keep his diagnosis private.
The decision to wait to disclose Wilder's condition had nothing to do with "vanity," his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman wrote, "but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him, 'There's Willy Wonka,' would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment, or confusion. He simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world."
Walker-Pearlman also shared one bit of good fortune the family had — they were "among the lucky ones — this illness-pirate, unlike in so many cases, never stole his ability to recognize those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality. It took enough, but not that."
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