Gene Wilder

Because I copied Cher's wig maker who had a German accent.

You were working on the Sonny and Cher show at the time.

Yes, I was working on the Sonny and Cher show at the time.

And it was Renata, Vista Vigs.

Did you learn things about comic timing working with Mel Brooks on Young Frankenstein?

Well, I don't think you can learn comic timing.

I think I must have innately grown up with, you know, my mother and father from Vaudeville and stuff and lots of jokes around the house.

But I had been working on Sonny and Cher Show as a dancer and also in these horrible comedy sketches.

And I sort of had learned comic timing then.

Also, I was an incredible fan of Mel Brooks, the 2,000-year-old man.

I had listened to those records hundreds of times before.

as a kid and memorized them and did them over and over again.

So I sort of knew his rhythm.

But he is one of God's gifts to this planet.

Mel Brooks is just the funniest man in the world.

He is really funny.

What did he call you, a shiksa goddess?

Shiksa goddess, my long-waisted shiksa goddess.

And then he called Peter Boyle and I, come here, treif.

We were both treif.