Actor Gene Wilder, who starred in films such as “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Young Frankenstein,” died on Sunday night at the age of 83, according to news reports.

Wilder’s lawyer, Eric Weissmann, confirmed the star’s death Monday afternoon to CNN.

“Even though his characters were eccentric and maniacal, he maintained a sense of relatability,” said Larry Biederman, an associate theatre professor at CSUN. “He’s definitely one of those artists where you feel like you’ve lost a friend.”

As news of Wilder’s death reached campus, some students expressed sadness while being reminded of the legacy he left behind.

“Once I was reminded of who he was, it hit me and then I realized he was part of my childhood,” Darian Ramirez, 18, theatre major, said. “Finding out that he died was just sad because part of your childhood is lost.”

From the 1960s through 1980s, Wilder held lead roles in a list of films that include: “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” and “The Woman in Red.”

According to his lMDB page, his last feature film was “Another You” in 1991, where he starred alongside Richard Pryor.

Wilder also continued to act in some TV movies and occasionally appeared on television shows years after.

He is believed to have died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, according to CNN.