Young Frankenstein: 12 Behind the Scenes Stories of How Mel Brooks’ Monster Hit Came Alive

Gene Wilder Asked Mel Brooks Not to be in Young Frankenstein

Mel Brooks recalled in his memoir that Gene Wilder had just won request for him, and delivered with “with a big smiles on his face.” He asked that Brooks — who played four roles in Blazing Saddles — not appear in Young Frankenstein.

When Brooks asked why, Wilder replied, “Because I don’t want a minute of your concentration to be split between your acting and directing.”

Brooks did ultimately record several voice parts, and played a German villager in one short scene. He also got plenty of screen time in his next film, 1976’s Silent Movie, in which he was the lead.

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