Watch: Mel Brooks Talks About Meeting Gene Wilder For The First Time

Mel Brooks joined talk show host Jimmy Fallon to chat about Gene Wilder.

The longtime collaborators had a series of cult classics and box office hits which included, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and The Producers.

During his Tonight Show appearance Mel told Fallon that he knew that his friend was sick, but it was still devastating to hear the news. "I'm still reeling from it," Brooks confessed.

He then went on to describe his first encounter with the actor backstage at a play. Wilder asked Brooks, "Why are they always laughing at me?" To which the director responded, "Look in the mirror. Blame it on God."

The director also chatted about Wilder's doubts about raising money for The Producers, and his eventual tears when Mel told him they had raised the funds.

Watch the heartfelt interview with Mel Brooks below.