Wilder's life is an open book; two trophies on parade
IDOL CHATTER When he sat down to write the story of his remarkable career, Gene Wilder wasn't thinking about the money and fame he accumulated making movies with Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor, Madeline Kahn, and Woody Allen. No, the actor born Jerry Silberman 71 years ago wanted to write about irony, or ''the accidents that changed the course of [his] whole life." The result is a revealing memoir, ''Kiss Me Like a Stranger," which the ''Young Frankenstein" star promoted last night in an appearance at BU. As instantly likable in person as he is on-screen, Wilder concedes that some people may find the book too personal, especially in its description of his late wife Gilda Radner as needy and narcissistic. ''There was no point in writing about Gilda if I wasn't going to write truthfully," the two-time Oscar nominee said in an interview. ''She would thank me." So what's he up to these days? Unfortunately, not a lot. ''It's so much more difficult to get a film done now," Wilder said. ''Alan Ladd Jr. used to say, 'Write it on a napkin, and if I like the idea, we'll do it.' "
COMING SOON: ''THE DEPARTED" Actor Anthony Anderson, primarily known for his comic turns in ''Me, Myself & Irene" and ''Barbershop," is in final negotiations to join the cast of Martin Scorsese's ''The Departed," which is slated to begin filming in Boston next month. According to yesterday's Hollywood Reporter, Anderson will join Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, and Todd Peterson in the Warner Bros. police thriller. Scorsese & Co. have been holding auditions at a downtown Boston hotel for smaller speaking roles. Scorsese is still finalizing the lineup for the film, which is set in Boston and based on ''Infernal Affairs," a Hong Kong film of a few years ago. The story centers on a gangster (Damon), who infiltrates the police department, and a cop (DiCaprio), who infiltrates the gangs. The two find out that a mole is in each organization and race to find each other's identity. Nicholson plays an Irish mob boss. And the Hollywood Reporter notes that Anderson will play a cop who has had close ties with both men and ends up in an emotional conflict.
SUPPORT FOR HILLARY Yesterday in Washington, D.C., Boston philanthropist Barbara Lee hosted a day of support for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2006 reelection campaign. The day included a ''hot topics" lunch at Washington hot spot Monocle Restaurant with featured speaker Cecile Richards, president of America Votes and daughter of former Texas governor Ann Richards. There was a private tour of the Senate before a fund-raising dinner at Clinton's home for 30 or so supporters (mostly from New England) hosted by Lee, who has been a huge advocate of women running for political office.
HARDWARE HANGOVER Hard to believe, but there are now dueling trophy tours. Just as the trek of the World Series trophy is hitting its stride, the Patriots are hitting the road with their hardware. The Pats will share the Super Bowl trophy with fans in the Granite State when they take part in Sunday's St. Patrick's parade in Manchester, N.H. (And who better to represent the Pats at a St. Patty's parade than Victor Green?) The Sox trophy, meanwhile, has been to 127 of the Bay State's 351 cities and towns. Ninety-one more stops are scheduled, and 103 municipalities have requested a visit but are not yet on the trophy's itinerary. By our count, that leaves 30 cities and towns that don't give a hoot about the Sox trophy.
THAT'S SETTLED Restaurateur Darryl Settles and his wife, Lisa Owens, welcomed their first baby, daughter Taylor Michelle Settles, the other day at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The newest addition to the Bob the Chef's family weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces and is 18 inches long. But more remarkable was that Taylor Michelle's delivery lasted a mere 15 minutes. And the little one arrived just in time for her parents' second wedding anniversary, which was yesterday.
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