Picture this: You’re fresh out of college, just landed your dream job, and you’re walking into your first cast meeting at Saturday Night Live. Sounds exciting, right? For former SNL writer Alan Zweibel, it was more nerve-wracking than thrilling. So much so, he actually hid behind a plant in producer Lorne Michaels’ office during that first meeting. But then Gilda Radner found him. Not only did she ask if he could help her write dialogue for a parakeet sketch, but she also offered to sit with him. “She said, ‘It’s my first TV show, and I’m a little nervous, too,’” Zweibel recalls in an interview with Closer.
Gilda Radner wasn’t just another funny lady; she was a trailblazer. On SNL, she proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that women could be every bit as hilarious as men. Her relentless pursuit of laughter allowed her to stand toe-to-toe with some of the best comedians of her generation. But it’s her immense kindness and generosity that have kept her memory alive for over three decades.
Gilda’s Sweetness: The Heart Behind the Humor
What made Gilda so special wasn’t just her ability to make people laugh—it was her ability to touch their hearts. SNL alum Laraine Newman remembers Gilda’s unique gift for showcasing her sweetness in characters like Judy Miller and Emily Litella. “What was special about Gilda is that you could see her true sweetness,” Newman tells Closer. And yet, Gilda wasn’t afraid to get gritty either. She played gross, subversive, and hard-edged characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna and Candy Slice with the same passion and authenticity she brought to her more lighthearted roles.
Read also:Elsbeth Season 2 Finale A Starstudded Return
It’s hard to imagine someone as talented and universally loved as Gilda passing away so young. But before she passed at the age of 42, she used her platform to spark a much-needed conversation about cancer patients’ needs. “To me, her connection to the world of cancer was unique,” says Lisa D’Apolito, director of the 2018 documentary Love, Gilda. Gilda’s book, It’s Always Something, and her organization, Gilda’s Club, continue to make a profound impact on people’s lives.
Growing Up Gilda: A Life Shaped by Loss and Love
Gilda came from a well-off family in Detroit. Her brother, Michael Radner, recalls how their father adored her from the moment she was born. “He loved show business, and she used to sing and perform for him,” Michael tells Closer. “She loved doing it because it made him so happy.” But life took a tragic turn when Gilda was just 13. Her father passed away after battling an inoperable brain tumor, leaving Gilda devastated.
This early loss deeply impacted Gilda’s relationships with men throughout her life. “She was very open about how she was always looking to replace her dad,” says Zweibel, who penned Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story about their close friendship. It’s no wonder that Gilda found herself in Toronto after a failed romance, eventually joining the Second City comedy troupe in 1973 and becoming a featured performer on the National Lampoon Radio Hour.
A Star is Born: Gilda’s Journey to SNL
Producer Lorne Michaels recognized Gilda’s incredible talent and cast her as the first person on SNL in 1975. In the early years, Gilda, Laraine Newman, and Jane Curtin shared a dressing room. “In retrospect, it’s remarkable that there was no ‘mean girl’ behavior amongst us,” says Laraine. “It formed a great sisterhood.”
Gilda spent countless hours with Zweibel developing characters like Emily Litella, who was inspired by her childhood housekeeper. “What a ride it was for all of us!” Zweibel says. “It was playtime. It was fun. And Gilda got all the adoration she ever wanted because she was the darling.” But success wasn’t without its challenges. The constant recognition on the street, the grueling SNL schedule, and her lifelong struggle with eating disorders took their toll. “Quite often I heard her say, ‘I just want a life,’” says Laraine.
Love and Loss: Gilda’s Life Beyond SNL
By 1982, Gilda had left SNL, sought help for her eating disorder, and started pursuing a career in movies. On the set of Hanky Panky, she met the love of her life, Gene Wilder. Unlike many of the men she’d dated, Gene was older, established, and financially secure. “In Gene, she found the man she had been looking for her whole life,” says Michael. Together, they starred in The Woman in Red and Haunted Honeymoon, and Gilda embraced her newfound role as a homemaker.
Read also:David Hasselhoff Grapples With Loss Of Exwife Pamela Bach
But life threw another curveball when Gilda was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 1986. Despite the love and support from everyone around her, she felt isolated and eventually turned to the Wellness Community, a place where cancer patients could come together and talk. “I think finding community was what helped Gilda the most,” says D’Apolito. Humor remained her coping mechanism even in the darkest moments. Today, the Wellness Community has merged with Gilda’s Club to form the global Cancer Support Community (CSC).
During a period of remission, Gilda reunited with her SNL castmates at a party. “We hadn’t
