Birthday Battle of the Wonkas: Johnny Depp, left, takes on Gene Wilder (Photo: Everett)
They have both played eccentric chocolate magnate Willy Wonka, but that's not the only thing Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder have in common. The two actors happen to be celebrating milestone birthdays this week: Depp is now 50 years old, and Gene Wilder turns 80 on Tuesday.
What does that mean?
It's time for a Willy Wonk-Off! (And get your mind out of the gutter – we didn't mean it that way.)
Both based on the 1964 children's book by Roald Dahl, Wilder starred in the more musical "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" in 1971, and Depp played Wonka in the 2005 Tim Burton confection, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
See how these two wacky Wonkas stack up:
Likability
Many critics – and even Wilder himself – grumbled when Johnny Depp took on the role of Willy Wonka. Depp's depiction was decidedly detached and strangely boyish – disturbingly reminiscent of the late Michael Jackson. Wilder's Wonka exuded confidence. His was a larger-than-life madcap portrayal. And while Wilder's character would keep unruly kids in
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