Karen Boyer is the wife of a late American actor. singer, and director Gene Wilder. He is famous for his role as Willy Wonka in the hit movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). Besides this, his other work includes The Producers, Young Frankenstein, and Silver Streak.
Unlike other celebrity spouses, Karen has made a name for herself. She is a costume designer and is famous for her work in Ava’s Possessions (2015), Brightest Star (2013), and The Drowning (2016).
The couple was married for well over 25 years until Gene’s death. However, there isn’t much information about Karen’s life before meeting with her hubby. So, what was her early life like? Who are her parents?
Don’t worry because this article will provide you with all of the answers you might have regarding Karen Boyer. Today we will take a look into her career, relationship, net worth, and more!
Who is Karen Boyer? Information On Her Early Life And Age
Karen Boyer as we said earlier is the wife of the late actor Gene Wilder. She was born on May 25, 1942, in Idaho, USA. She is the daughter of Elsie Boyer and Ira Boyer. Karen is 80 years old as of 2023 and her zodiac sign is Gemini.
The celebrity wife spent most of her childhood in her hometown alongside her sister Nada Boyer but later relocated to Montana where she joined Butte High School.
Karen with her family during her parent’s marriage anniversary.Regarding her ethnicity, Karen belongs to a Caucasian ancestry and is an American by nationality.
On the flip side, her longtime husband was born on June 11, 1933, to Jeanne Silberman and William J. Silberman.
Karen Boyer Has Had A Fair Share Of Career Paths
Gene Wilder’s wife used to work as a speech consultant and supervisor for the New York League for the Hard of Hearing. Besides being a speech pathologist, Karen has also had the privilege to work in the entertainment industry. She has worked as a wardrobe supervisor and costume designer for many movies and TV series.
She is a costume designer and a former speech consultant.Her first work as a wardrobe supervisor was in the movie The Broken Tower (2011). Similarly, a year later she got the opportunity to work in two movies as a costume supervisor, Hellblenders and The Letter. Her other work includes Babygirl (2013), Night of the Wolf (2014), and Ten Thousand Saints (2015).
Besides all of these, Karen gained the most recognition for her work in Brightest Stars (2013), Ava’s Possessions (2015), and The Drowning (2016).
Karen Boyer And Gene Wilder Were Together For More Than Twenty-Five Years, Their Long-Lasting Marriage
The lovebirds became husband and wife on September 8, 1991. The pair had an incredibly private wedding in Stamford Connecticut surrounded by their closest friends and family members. According to Gene’s nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, they spent their days playing tennis, writing, and painting. Karen was by the actor’s side when he died in 2016.
The couple was together for more than 25 years.Talking about their first meeting the future husband and wife met at a clinic where Karen was working as a supervisor. Gene on the other hand visited the clinic while preparing for his role as a deaf person in the movie See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Karen taught him the art of lip reading. The duo later reconnected and this is how their love story began.
Did They Share Any Kids?
Despite being married for more than 25 years the couple didn’t have any children. However, Karen has a son named Kevin Webb from her previous relationship. He was born in November 1970 and is 52 years old as of 2023.
On the other hand, Wilder had adopted a daughter named Katharine Widler after marrying his former wife Mary Joan Schutz. The father-daughter duo had a pretty lovely relationship but it all changed after Katharine suspected that he was having an affair with his co-star Madeline Kahn.
Karen Became The Number One Care Taker For Her Husband Who Was Suffering From Alzheimer’s Disease
She was there for her actor hubby until his last day. Karen first noticed a change in Gene’s behavior after he shouted at their grandson and after the diagnosis, results came back claiming that he had Alzheimer’s. It is a disease where one’s brain slowly starts forgetting things to the point where one would simply forget how to breathe.
The actor died from the complications of Alzheimer’s disease.Karen was there for him for the next six years keeping a watchful eye on the actor. It was pretty hard and agonizing she explained,
“Agonizing. Every day and every time. I was with him as much as I could. Every time I’d see him slip away from me, it would affect my gut. It was truly — I felt ill from it because I was so sad.”
Similarly, the actor’s wife of 25 years also said that Gene hadn’t spoken a word but the night he died, he looked at her straight in the eye and said “I Trust You” three consecutive times.
Karen Boyer’s Husband Died From The Complications Of Alzheimer’s Disease
The famous actor and director Gene Wilder lost his life to complications of Alzheimer’s disease on August 29, 2016. He was 83 years old at the time. The actor was diagnosed with the disease three years prior but decided to keep it away from his fans. Similarly, during an interview, his nephew said,
“The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, 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.”
Did Karen Boyer Marry After Her Husband’s Death?
No, Karen Boyer didn’t marry after Gene Wilder’s death. She lives a peaceful life by herself in her beautiful home in Stamford, Connecticut.
On the other hand, her late husband previously married three different women. The actor walked down the aisle with Mary Mercier on July 22, 1960, but things didn’t work out, and the pair divorced in 1965.
Similarly, he married Mary Joan Schutz on October 27, 1967, divorcing in 1980. Later on, he married Gilda Radner on September 14, 1984, but Gilda died in May 1989 because of ovarian cancer.
What Is Karen Boyer Doing Nowadays?
Since the death of her beloved husband, Karen has been working day and night with the non-profit organization Alzheimer’s Association spreading awareness and looking for ways to cure the disease. Similarly, The Gates Foundation also announced that they would present $100 million for Alzheimer’s research and help eradicate the disease.
She is working with a non-profit organization to find a cure for the disease.Moreover, for her hard work and dedication to the cause Boyer was honored with the hope award at Alzheimer’s Association Gala. According to her, she would proudly continue to use her late husband’s name until it brings money for the organization.
Karen Boyer’s Net Worth; Is She As Rich As Her Late Husband?
The celebrity spouse has made a name for herself in the entertainment field as a costume designer and is a former speech consultant. Karen has a total net worth of $1.5 million.
On the flip side, her late partner Gene Wilder had a total net worth of $20 million. He had made his fortune from his career as an actor, singer, director, and writer.
