Take a nostalgic dive into the 1960s with these once-unstoppable celebrities whose fame faded over time, from teen idols and TV stars to pop chart legends people swore would never disappear.

Gene Wilder once said, “I’d be insane to lose my insanity”. And he was right. Best known for his role as Willy Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Wilder left audiences in stitches. But lurking behind his crazy hair and impish grin was a life that brought more tears than laughs.

By December 1969, the 60s had already delivered moon landings, assassinations, protests, and a total rewrite of what pop culture could look like. But when The Rolling Stones rolled into Northern California for a free show at Altamont Speedway, what was supposed to be a triumphant celebration curdled into catastrophe. By the end of the night, a young man was dead—and the flower-powered optimism of the era felt like it had slipped through everyone’s fingers.

You know a film's truly special when you've seen it ten times and still find yourself reaching for it on a lazy Sunday. The magic lies in how these stories hold up under scrutiny.

A movie can fade fast, but one line can stick for life. It shows up in jokes, arguments, and quiet thoughts, carrying the mood of a moment long after the screen goes dark.

For a stretch there, musicians couldn’t stop name-dropping him. Blues singers blamed him. Rock bands partied with him. Country artists outran him. The 60s and 70s especially treated him like a recurring guest star.