“Gene Wilder, star of 'Willy Wonka,' dead at 83”

Los Angeles, California - Gene Wilder, who brought a wild-eyed desperation to a series of memorable and iconic comedy roles in the 1970s and 1980s, died on Monday. He was 83. Wilder is best known for his collaborations with director Mel Brooks, starring as the stressed-out Leo Bloom in Brooks' breakout 1967 film "The Producers," and later in the monster movie spoof "Young Frankenstein." He also portrayed a boozing gunslinger in "Blazing Saddles.” For many people, Wilder might be best remembered for "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," playing the mysterious candy tycoon in the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl's book. In a statement to CNN on Monday, Brooks called Wilder "one of the truly great talents of our time.” Wilder died due to complications from Alzheimer's disease, which he struggled with for three years, his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said in a statement to CNN.

In Other News "I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag. I know that I am a black man in a white world.“ That's not Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback whose refusal to stand during the national anthem has invited criticism from all corners of the sports world. That's Jackie Robinson, beloved baseball pioneer and civil rights activist, writing in his 1972 autobiography, "I Never Had It Made." After Kaepernick was spotted sitting during the anthem preceding last Friday's NFL preseason game, the struggling quarterback said he would not stand "to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." It's hard not to notice their words are almost perfectly aligned. Kaepernick is far from the first athlete to question its scope. The cast of Season 23 of "Dancing With the Stars" was revealed Tuesday morning on "Good Morning America.” Vying for the Mirror Ball trophy this time around are: Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte -- Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez -- Former "Brady Bunch" star Maureen McCormick-- Talk show host Amber Rose--"Little Women: LA" reality star Terra Jole --Former "Taxi" star Marilu Henner --Former Texas Governor Rick Perry--Former child star Jake T. Austin--Former pro football player Calvin Johnson-- Super producer and recording artist Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds --Former rapper Vanilla Ice--Race car driver James Hinchcliffe --Country singer Jana Kramer.