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Fred Willard

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Fred Willard
Willard in 2008
Born
Frederic Charles Willard

(1933-09-18)September 18, 1933
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 15, 2020(2020-05-15) (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles
Alma materKentucky Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
Years active1957–2020
Spouse
Mary Lovell
​
​
(m. 1968; died 2018)​
Children1
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Signature

Frederic Charles Willard (September 18, 1933[a] – May 15, 2020) was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work with Christopher Guest in his mockumentary films This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), For Your Consideration (2006), and Mascots (2016). He also appeared in supporting roles in the comedy films Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), American Wedding (2003), and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004). On television, Willard received several Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on the sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond and Modern Family.

Early life

[edit]

Frederic Charles Willard was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 18, 1933.[5] Willard's mother, Ruth (née Weinman) was a housewife.[1] Willard was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio.[5] In 1945, when Fred was 12 years old, his father, Frederick Charles Willard, died. [6]

Willard graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1951[7] and the Virginia Military Institute in 1955.[8] He was stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Army.[9]

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]
Willard (front center) with cast members of the short-lived comedy series Sirota's Court in 1976

Willard's stage career began when he moved to New York in the late 1950s. His initial work included a production of Desperate Hours at a local YMCA where he worked with future comedy partner Vic Grecco. They later performed as Willard & Grecco in the Greenwich Village area, found some success touring, and appeared on The Dean Martin Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Tonight Show. They were offered roles in the television series Get Smart and The Carol Burnett Show, but the offers fell through due to poor management. The two parted ways in 1968.[10]

Willard's film debut was in the 1967 exploitation film Teenage Mother. He later reported that the audience at one screening booed when his character interrupted an attempted sexual assault of the female lead.[11]

One of Willard's earliest performing jobs was at The Second City, Chicago, where he shared the stage with Robert Klein and David Steinberg. He was a founding member of the improvisational comedy group Ace Trucking Company, whose other members included Michael Mislove and Bill Saluga. They performed sketches on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson over 50 times, and appeared regularly on This is Tom Jones.[12]

Rise to prominence

[edit]

Willard achieved wider fame in 1977–78 as Barth Gimble's (Martin Mull) sidekick and announcer Jerry Hubbard on the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman spinoffs Fernwood 2 Night, Forever Fernwood and America 2-Night, which parodied the nighttime talk shows of the day.[13] He was an original cast member of the NBC series Real People in 1979, then again from 1981 to 1983. He played Tom Osbourne in the 1987 Academy Award–winning short film Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. From 1987 to 1989 he starred as a bartender/straightman in Sid and Marty Krofft's D.C. Follies, and was host to the Krofft puppets portraying political figures of the time.[14]

Willard hosted the talk show What's Hot, What's Not, which aired from 1985 to 1986 and earned him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host.[15]

In 1990, Willard hosted the cable TV show Access America on the Ha! Comedy Network. As part of that show, on September 21, 1990, he appeared in episode 7 of the cult public-access television show Decoupage with Summer Caprice.[16]

In 1995, Willard reunited with his Fernwood co-star, Martin Mull, playing Scott, the romantic partner of Mull's character Leon Carp, on Roseanne.[17] The couple married in the episode "December Bride", and Scott became a recurring character during the series' final two seasons.

That same year, Willard guest-starred in three episodes of Sister, Sister, starring Tia and Tamera Mowry; Willard played Carl Mitushka,[18] a teacher at Roosevelt High who often spoke popular teenage slang terms in order to sound cool to his students. Willard voiced travel agent Wally Kogen in the 1999 episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" for The Simpsons.

From 2001 to 2002, he played the father of five children on Maybe It's Me, and also guest-starred in an episode of The Weird Al Show. In 1985, he and Mull joined up again for the mockumentary The History of White People in America. He played Mayor Deebs in Roxanne, starring Steve Martin.

Sustained success

[edit]
Willard in 2009

Willard appeared in several Christopher Guest films, such as A Mighty Wind, in which he played Mike LaFontaine (known for his catchphrase "Eh—whahappen'?"); Best in Show, where he played Buck Laughlin, a dog show announcer with an unending stream of bad jokes and off-color comments; Waiting for Guffman, playing Ron Albertson, a travel agent who performs in amateur stage productions with his wife; This Is Spinal Tap, where he played a lieutenant on the military base where Spinal Tap perform; and For Your Consideration as an obnoxious entertainment television show anchor.[19] For his performance in Waiting for Guffman, Willard received an American Comedy Award nomination and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Funniest Supporting Actor.[20] He received the Boston Film Critics Award, an American Comedy Award, a Sierra Award and a tribute from AFI for his portrayal of Buck Laughlin in Best in Show. He also appeared in American Wedding, and as KVWN news director Ed Harken in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Willard had a recurring role as Hank MacDougall on the later seasons of CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond, which brought him Emmy Award nominations in 2003, 2004, and 2005.[21] He also hosted a VH1 documentary series, Totally Obsessed, about people obsessed with their hobbies. He appeared as Captain Ribmanman in Episode 21 of Channel Frederator, a podcast from Kansas. He provided the voices of nudist family dad Dave Campbell in Family Guy (first in the episode "From Method to Madness"), and of Officer Brown in King of the Hill, and appeared on That '70s Show. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Willard appeared in 100 sketches as a government official, businessman, or other authority figure who was always drinking.[22] In 2006, he voiced Dad in the Academy Award nominated animated film Monster House. He also hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978 (with musical guests Devo), and appeared twice on MADtv.

He was the voice of a clueless companion to a lazy robot (played by Martin Mull) in one episode of the series Dexter's Laboratory and guest-starred on the Adult Swim cartoon Tom Goes to the Mayor. He acted in the Cartoon Network movie Re-Animated and played Vala Mal Doran's "father" in an episode of Stargate SG-1 in 2007. He appeared in two episodes of the Adult Swim program Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. He also starred as the "Boogey Man" in an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and reprised his role in a 2006 video game and the movie Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure. His final appearance as "Boogey" occurred in Billy & Mandy: Wrath of the Spider Queen. In 2007, he made a guest appearance on the children's TV series Come on Over. He also guest-starred on an episode of The Boondocks, providing the voice of "Joe Petto."

Willard was cast as a sportscaster in the television series Back to You, which premiered on the Fox Network on September 19, 2007. He played Shelby Forthright, the CEO of the Buy 'n' Large Corporation, in the first ever live-action speaking segments by Pixar in the animated film WALL-E.[23]

Willard completed a sold-out run of Fred Willard: Alone At Last!, advertised as a "one-man show" but actually featuring a cast of twelve, and received Los Angeles Artistic Director Awards for Best Comedy and Best Production.[24] Willard had several stage roles to his credit, including Off-Broadway performances in Little Murders, directed by Alan Arkin, and Arf, directed by Richard Benjamin. His regional roles include Call Me Madam in Chicago and the musicals Promises, Promises, with Jason Alexander, and Anything Goes with Rachel York, both in Los Angeles.[25][26] He starred in Wendy Wasserstein's Isn't It Romantic and off Broadway in Elvis and Juliet.[20]

On October 5, 2008, he hosted the Nickelodeon Fido Awards.[27]

Willard played Frank Dunphy, father of Phil (Ty Burrell), in several episodes of the ABC sitcom Modern Family.[28] For his performance, he was nominated at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series[29] and in the same category at the 72nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, a posthumous nomination.

Willard (left) and Jack Betts, November 2010

On September 16, 2011, Willard was honored as a Pioneer in Comedy at Burbank International Film Festival.[30] Also in 2011, Willard starred as "Santa Jack," a comical—and somewhat pervy—owner of a local Christmas carnival in episode 12 of the final season of The Closer.

In 2012, he played Al Kaiser in Rob Reiner's film The Magic of Belle Isle. In 2013, he starred in The Bird Men (originally called The Birder) alongside Tom Cavanagh, a film centered around a mild-mannered birder who seeks revenge on a younger rival, after losing the highly coveted Head of Ornithology position at the National Park.[31]

Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters presented Willard with the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at their celebrity luncheon on June 19, 2015.[32]

On August 10, 2018, Willard made a special guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, reprising his role from a 1970s television pilot for an unmade series called Space Force, in light of President Donald Trump's announcement that he will create a space force for the United States military.[33] Following the sketch, Willard made guest appearances on the show on a frequent basis, often portraying comedic, misguided characters parodying current news topics which Jimmy would interview "live via satellite". The characters included the ghosts of Fred Trump and George Washington, a Trump-supporting Santa Claus, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[34][35]

On October 23, 2019, it was announced that Willard was cast as Fred Naird in the 2020 Netflix comedy series, Space Force.[36][37] This was Willard's final acting role, with the series being released two weeks after his death.

Willard's final voice-acting performance was in the 2017 Disney animated cartoon Mickey and the Roadster Racers as the character Mr. Doozy.[38]

Willard's final role was in the 2021 television film Captain Daddy, where he played the role of Daddy, it was released in the summer a year after his death.

Personal life and death

[edit]
Willard at the Night of Comedy 9 benefit to support the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF) in Beverly Hills, California in May 2011

Marriage and family

[edit]

In 1968, Willard married Mary Lovell (1947–2018). They have a daughter and a grandson.[39]

[edit]

On July 18, 2012, Willard was arrested on suspicion of engaging in masturbation at an adult theater on Santa Monica Boulevard and was brought to the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Station. However, there was no proof of any misconduct and no charges were filed.[40] Despite the outcomes, PBS fired Willard from Market Warriors immediately following his arrest, and Mark L. Walberg replaced him on the show.[41] In an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon shortly thereafter, Willard stated that the incident was "very painful" and "very embarrassing", but that he "did nothing wrong". Willard was subsequently required to take a sex education diversion program.[42]

Death

[edit]

Willard died at his home in Los Angeles on May 15, 2020, at age 86, according to his daughter and his representative. His cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, with coronary artery disease and myelodysplastic syndrome as contributing factors.[5][43] Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband Christopher Guest, who frequently worked with Willard, were the first to reveal the news of his death.[2] Willard is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills). [44]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1967 Teenage Mother Coach
1969 Model Shop Gas Station Attendant Uncredited
1970 Jenny Executive
1971 Dynamite Chicken Self – Ace Trucking Co.
1973 The Harrad Experiment Ace Trucking Company employee Uncredited
1974 Harrad Summer
1975 Hustle Interrogator
1976 Chesty Anderson, USN Peter Linden
Silver Streak Jerry Jarvis
1977 Fun with Dick and Jane Bob
Cracking Up Various
1979 Americathon Vincent Vanderhoff
1980 How to Beat the High Co$t of Living Robert
First Family Presidential Assistant Feebleman
1982 National Lampoon's Movie Madness President Robert Fogerty
1983 IMPS* Dad (segment "3-Mile Island People")
1984 This Is Spinal Tap Lt. Bob Hookstratten
1985 Moving Violations Terrence 'Doc' Williams
1987 Roxanne Mayor Deebs
Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall Tom Osborne Short
1988 Portrait of a White Marriage Hal Harrison
1991 High Strung Insurance Salesman
1995 Prehysteria! 3 Thomas MacGregor
1996 Waiting for Guffman Ron Albertson
1998 Permanent Midnight Craig Ziffer
1999 Elvis is Alive! Interviewee
Can't Stop Dancing Chester
Idle Hands Dad Tobias
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Mission Commander
2000 Dropping Out Paul Blanchard
Chump Change Steve's Manager
Best in Show Buck Laughlin
2001 The Wedding Planner Basil St. Mosely
Teddy Bears' Picnic Senator Roger Dickey
How High Philip Huntley
2002 The Year That Trembled Frank Woods
2003 A Mighty Wind Mike LaFontaine
American Wedding Harold Flaherty
Nobody Knows Anything! Mr. McClintock
2004 Killer Diller Ned
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Bucky Brandt
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Dr. Willoughby
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Edward "Ed" Harken
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Direct-to-video
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King Bubble Voice[45]
2005 Chicken Little Melvin Voice[45]
Love Wrecked Ben Taylor
2006 Date Movie Bernie Funkyerdoder
Church Ball Bishop Linderman
Monster House DJ's Dad Voice[45]
Ira & Abby Michael Willoughby
For Your Consideration Chuck
2007 I'll Believe You Mr. Fratus
Epic Movie Aslo
Fighting Words Longfellow
I Could Never Be Your Woman Marty
2008 WALL-E Shelby Forthright, BnL CEO Live-action scenes
Harold Dr. Pratt
Forever Plaid Himself
2010 Scouts Honor Game Master
Holyman Undercover Richard
Youth in Revolt Mr. Ferguson
Expecting Mary Jerry Zee
2011 Fred & Vinnie Movie Star
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur Mr. Hubley Voice[45]
2012 The Magic of Belle Isle Al Kaiser
2013 Max Rose Jim Clark
Dealin' with Idiots Marty
The Bird Men Park President Originally called The Birder
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Edward "Ed" Harken
2014 The Yank Peter Murphy
Planes: Fire & Rescue Secretary of the Interior Voice[45]
All Stars John Carson
2015 Russell Madness TJ
The 1st Annual Carney Awards Self – Host
Bachelors Uncle Ulysses
2016 Fifty Shades of Black Gary
Here Comes Rusty Mak
Mascots Greg Gammons
2018 Blood Type Helicopter Pilot Captain John
The Bobby Roberts Project Ben Brinstein
2020 Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics The 'Just Hang On!' Man Final film role, released four days before his death

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1966 Pistols 'n' Petticoats Ben Episode: "Quit Shootin' Folks"
Hey, Landlord Danny Subanski Episode: "The Big Fumble"
1968 Get Smart Lundy, Agent 198 Episode: "A Tale of Two Tails"
Premiere Bower Episode: "Operation Greasepaint"
1970 Love, American Style Douglas Wiley

Shelley Noodleman

Segment: "Love and the Nuisance"
1973 The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour Various
1975 The Bob Newhart Show John Emil Tobin Episode: "Tobin's Back in Town"
Karen Ritter Episode: "Whistle Blowing"
1976 Laverne & Shirley Charles Episode: "Dog Day Blind Dates"
How to Break Up a Happy Divorce Lance Colson Television film
Good Heavens P.J. Episode: "The Big Break"
1976–1977 Sirota's Court H.R. 'Bud' Nugent 13 episodes
1977 Forever Fernwood Jerry Hubbard
Fernwood 2 Night Jerry Hubbard 65 episodes
Escape from Bogen County Pearson Television film
We've Got Each Other Shop Owner Episode: "The Collector"
Tabitha Mr. Macho Episode: "The Arrival of Nancy"
1978 America 2-Night Jerry Hubbard 65 episodes
Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Fred Willard/Devo"
Space Force Captain Thomas Woods
1979 Flatbed Annie and Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers Jack LaRosa Television film
Salem's Lot Larry Crockett 2 episodes
$weepstake$ Don Season 1, episode 8
1979–1984 Real People Himself Voice
1980 The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter Various roles Television special
1981 An Evening at the Improv Himself Season 1, Episode 2[46]
Pen 'n' Inc. Ralph Television film
1981–1986 The Love Boat Various roles 3 episodes
1982 SCTV Network Himself Episode: "Indecent Exposure"
Madame's Place Himself Episode: "The Prey of Madness"
1984 Mama's Family Willie Potts Episode: "Mama Buys a Car"
Trapper John, M.D. K.K. Laird Episode: "Moonlighting Becomes You"
1985 The History of White People in America Hal Harrison Television film
Getting the Last Laugh ABC Special
George Burns Comedy Week Fred Episode: "Home for Dinner"
Lots of Luck A.J. Foley Television film
Faerie Tale Theatre Paul Link Episode: "The Three Little Pigs"
1985–1986 What's Hot, What's Not Himself (host) Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host
1986 Fast Times Gus Pantelis Episode: "Secret Romance"
The History of White People in America: Volume II Hal Harrison Television film
1987 Fame Casper Wintergreen Episode: "Ian's Girl"
1987–1989 D.C. Follies The Bartender 19 episodes
1988 Out of This World Milton Wiler Episode: "The Box Is Missing"
My Secret Identity Ray Bennett Episode: "For Old Time's Sake"
1989 I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood Psychiatrist Television special
1991 The Golden Girls Bob Episode: "Dateline:Miami"
Nurses Crazy Jim "Dr. Robinson" Episode: "Friends and Lovers"
1992 Married... with Children Stan Mandelson Episode: "My Dinner with Anthrax"
Dream On Fenton Harley Episode: "Up All Night"
1993 The Ben Stiller Show Dad Episode: "At the Beach"
The Jackie Thomas Show Hatfield Walker 2 episodes
1994 Sodbusters Clarence Gentry Television film
Dave's World Bud Episode: "Just Kidding"
Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die Reginald Cobbles Television film
1994–1996 Family Matters Vice Principal Mallet 3 episodes
1995 The Mommies John Episode: "The Dating Pool"
Murphy Brown Dick Episode: "Dick and Dottie"
1995–1997 Roseanne Scott 8 episodes
1996 Back to Back Loan Officer Television film
Friends Mr. Lipson Episode: "The One After the Super Bowl: Part 1"
Clueless Joe Pasadine Episode: "City Beautification"
Sister, Sister Mr. Mitushka 3 episodes
The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper Wally Winkle Voice, 1 episode
1996–1997 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman President Garner 3 episodes
1996 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Mr. Huffington Episode: "Stealing Screech"
1997 Muppets Tonight Himself Episode: "Coolio & Don Rickles"; cameo
Diagnosis: Murder Harry Fellows Episode: "Must Kill TV"
Step by Step Bert Lambert Episode: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
The Weird Al Show Award Show Host Episode: "The Competition"
Breast Men Talk Show Host Television film; uncredited
1998 The Wayans Bros. Dick Ferndale Episode: "All in the Family Feud"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Bobby Calzone Episode: "Rumor Mill"
Oh Baby Dr. Foster Episode: "The Vacation"
Two Guys and a Girl Frank Farber Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Vacation"
City Guys Mr. Brown Episode: "A Noble Profession"
1998–1999 Mad About You Henry Vincent 5 episodes
Hercules Vic Voice, 4 episodes
1999 The Pooch and the Pauper President Television film
Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain Glen Tarantella Voice, episode: "Mr. Doctor"[45]
The Simpsons Wally Kogan Voice, episode: "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday"
Just Shoot Me! Larry Episode: "Hostess to Murder"
G vs E Sam Kleinhauser Episode: "Airplane"
Love & Money Dr. Fielding Episode: "Make Room for Daddy"
1999–2000 Ladies Man Larry Little 2 episodes
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Pa Voice, 3 episodes[45]
The Hughleys Richard Jacobson

Applegate

2 episodes
Bette Jasper Perkins Episode: "Big Business"
2001 Ally McBeal Dr. Harold Madison 2 episodes
When Billie Beat Bobby Howard Cosell Television film
Undeclared Professor Duggan 2 episodes
Girlfriends Dr. Percy Bales
Inside Schwartz Dick Newton Episode: "The Pinch Hitter"
The Downer Channel Mr. McVoid Voice, episode: "Pilot"
2001–2002 Maybe It's Me Jerry Stage 22 episodes
2001–2008 King of the Hill Officer Brown

Ranger Bradley

Reclining Hippie

Voice, 7 episodes
2002 Hey Arnold! Sammy Redmond Voice, episode: "Rich Guy"[45]
Dexter's Laboratory F.R.E.D. Voice, episode: "Lab on the Run"[45]
Family Guy Dave Campbell Voice, 2 episodes
2002–2004 Teamo Supremo Mr. Paulson Voice, 4 episodes
2003 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure Professor Doornitz Television film
That '70s Show Charlie Miller Episode: "The Battle of Evermore"
2003–2004 A Minute with Stan Hooper Fred Hawkins 13 episodes
2003–2005 Everybody Loves Raymond Hank MacDougall
Mad TV Duke Flickman

Gene St. John

2 episodes
2003–2007 Kim Possible Jack Hench Voice, 3 episodes
2004 The Drew Carey Show Fred Tuttle Episode: "Arrivederci, Italy"
What the Blank Himself Host
2004–2005 Saturday Night Live 'Bear City' Narrator Voice, Uncredited
The Batman Speedway Announcer, Ross Darren Voice, 2 episodes[45]
2004–2007 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Boogie Man Voice, 2 episodes[45]
2005 Tom Goes to the Mayor Garry Friendly Voice, episode: "Vice Mayor"
Brandy & Mr. Whiskers Dad Howler Voice, episode: "The Howler Bunny"
2006 Campus Ladies Doctor Episode: "Spring Break"
Re-Animated Milt Appleday Voice, television film
Squirrel Boy Stan the Exterminator 2 episodes
Handy Manny Mr. Dwayne Bouffant Voice, episode: "Valentine's Day/Mr. Lopart Moves In"
Come on Over Dr. Fred Silliness Episode: "Brain Freeze"
My Gym Partner's a Monkey Burt Voice, 2 episodes
2007 Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure Boogey Man Voice, television film[45]
Stargate SG-1 Jacek Episode: "Family Ties"
Odd Job Jack Norm Episode: "Norm and the Magic Pencil"
The Emperor's New School Major Mudka Voice, episode: "Mudka's Secret Recipe"
2007–2008 Back to You Marsh McGinley 17 episodes
2007–2009 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Tragg

Mancierge

2 episodes
2007–2010 Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures Bus Driver Bob Voice, 17 episodes
2008 Pushing Daisies The Great Hermann Episode: "Oh Oh Oh It's Magic"
Larry the Cable Guy's Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza Various roles Television film
Transformers Animated Swindle Voice, 2 episodes[45]
Worst Week Paul 2 episodes
The Boondocks Mr. Joe Petto Voice, episode: "The S Word"
2008–2009 Free Radio Dale Knutson 2 episodes
2009 Everybody Hates Chris Cop Episode: "Everybody Hates the Car"
Wizards of Waverly Place Mr. Stuffleby 2 episodes
2009–2020 Modern Family Frank Dunphy
2010 Castle Hank McPhee Episode: "The Late Shaft"
Important Things with Demetri Martin Scientist Episode: "Money"
Chuck Craig Turner Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models"
Lilly's Light Moylin TV movie; Extended Cut released in 2021 (Posthumous release)
2010–2011 Glory Daze Dr. Reynolds 2 episodes
Funny or Die Presents Professor

Jeff Baker

3 episodes
2010–2014 Waves Sea Donal Wilkins
2011 G.I. Joe: Renegades Mayor Voice, episode: "Fire Fight"[45]
My Future Boyfriend Bob Television film
The Closer Santa Jack Episode: "You Have The Right To Remain Jolly"
Franklin & Bash Wallace Clayton Episode: "She Came Upstairs to Kill Me"
Accidentally in Love Dick Brocton Television film
Retired at 35 Peter Dixon 2 episodes
2011–2012 Easy to Assemble Sigvard Thorsten 3 episodes
2012 Raising Hope Mr. Swift Episode: "Mrs. Smartypants"
Trust Us With Your Life Host Season 1, 8 episodes
The Life & Times of Tim Judd Voice, episode: "Action Packed Heist/Fall Foliage"
Market Warriors Host Season 1
Rob George Episode: "Dad Comes to Visit"
Hot in Cleveland Dr. Hill Episode: "A Box Full of Puppies"
I, Martin Short, Goes Home Mason Macgillivray Television special
Breaking In Marty Mann Episode: "The Legend of Hurley's Gold"
The Cleveland Show Gary Voice, episode: "Menace II Secret Society"
2013 Community Alternate Pierce Hawthorne Episode: "History 101"
Family Tree Mike Morton 3 episodes
Drunk History Deep Throat Episode: "Washington D.C."
Good Luck Charlie Herb Pickler Episode: "All Fall Down"
2014 Black Jesus Mr. Jimmy Maxwell Voice, episode: "Love Thy Enemy Part 2"
The Birthday Boys Archbishop Episode: "Getting Preachy"
2014–2015 Review Jack Walthall 4 episodes
The Bold and the Beautiful John Forrester
2014–2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Various roles 2 episodes
TripTank Various roles Voice, 5 episodes[45]
2015 Hell's Kitchen Himself (Blue Kitchen VIP guest) Episode: "11 Chefs Compete"
Celebrity Family Feud Himself Episode: Kevin McHale vs. Fred Willard
Kevin from Work Roger Trousdale Episode: "Roommates from Work"
2016–2019 The Loud House Albert (Pop-Pop) Reynolds Voice, 7 episodes[45]
2016 The $100,000 Pyramid Himself (Celebrity Guest) Episode: "Fred Willard vs. Yvette Nicole Brown"
The Odd Couple Fred Langford 2 episodes
2017 SuperMansion Champston employee Voice, episode: "School Me Once"
New Girl Beezus Episode: "Five Stars for Beezus"
Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories Dan Episode: "The Demotion"
9JKL Dick Episode: "It Happened One Night"
2017–2019 Milo Murphy's Law Grandpa Murphy Voice, 2 episodes
2017–2021 Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures Mr. Doozy Voice, 8 episodes (final performance, posthumously released)
2018 The 5th Quarter Jerry Hymowitz Episode: "Farewell"
Corporate Bill Hathaway Episode: "The Long Meeting"
Skylanders Academy Announcer Voice, episode: "Off to the Races"
2018–2019 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Various roles 9 episodes
2019 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson New Joe Episode: "It's the Cigars You Smoke That Are Gonna Give You Cancer"
Historical Roasts God Episode: "Anne Frank"
The Bachelorette Himself; Guest Announcer Episode: "Week 2"
What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage Himself Episode: "Assistant"
Tigtone Crackers Voice, episode: "Tigtone and the Wizard Hunt"
2020 The Bachelor Himself; Guest Announcer Episode: "Week 3"
Russell Maniac TJ 7 episodes
Space Force Fred Naird 3 episodes; posthumous release (final appearance)
2021 Captain Daddy Daddy TV movie; Posthumous release (Final role)

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Voice role Notes
2006 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Boogey [45]
2007 Hot Brain[47] Professor Ed Warmer

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ In a 2012 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Willard said he was born on September 18, 1939; that he was "pretty sure" it was in Cleveland; that his birth name was Frederic Charles Willard (without specifying his first name's spelling), and that his father had the same given name, but spelled differently.[1] At the time of his death in 2020, Willard's daughter stated that he was 86, which also places his birth in 1933 or 1934 (1933 if born in September).[2] Some sources cite Willard's birthplace as Shaker Heights, Ohio,[3][4] and Willard himself stated that he grew up there.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Fred Willard Interview Part 1 of 4". The Interviews: An Oral History of Television. Television Academy Foundation. October 23, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2020. My name at birth: Frederic Charles Willard ... I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, I'm pretty sure it's Cleveland, Ohio, September 18th, 1939. [Q: And where did you grow up?] Shaker Heights, Ohio. ... My father's name was also Frederick Willard, spelled a little different than mine. My mother's name was Ruth; her maiden name was Weinman, W-e-i-n-m-a-n.
  2. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (May 17, 2020). "Fred Willard, 'Best in Show' and 'A Mighty Wind' Actor, Dead at 86". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2020. Willard's daughter Hope Mulbarger said in a statement, "My father passed away very peacefully last night at the fantastic age of 86 years old. He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very much! We will miss him forever."
  3. ^ Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2010). Screen World. Applause Theater and Cinema Books. p. 407. ISBN 978-1-55783-729-5.
  4. ^ Hoyle, Matt (2013). Comic Genius: Portraits of Funny People. Chronicle Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-1452125381.
  5. ^ a b c "Fred Willard, Who Played Characters 'Gloriously Out of Their Depth,' Dies at 86". The New York Times. May 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Friend, Tad (July 3, 2006). "Fred Willard, tourist". The New Yorker. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  7. ^ Flora, Jim. "Fred Willard". www.kmialumni.org. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  8. ^ Dagan, Carmel (May 16, 2020). "Fred Willard, actor from 'Modern Family,' 'Best in Show' with Second City roots, dead at 86". Pilotonline via Tribune Content Agency. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  9. ^ From Modern Family to Best in Show, Fred Willard Hits a Home Run. Parade. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Nesteroff, Kliph (2015). The comedians: drunks, thieves, scoundrels, and the history of American comedy (First ed.). ISBN 9780802123985. OCLC 921844606.
  11. ^ Bibbiani, William (November 5, 2014). "Fred Willard Interview: 'Planes' and How to Be Funny". Mandatory. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Buhler, Mike (June 20, 2016). "Willard receives Comedy Legend Award". Norfolk Daily News. Associated Press. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Ess, Ramsey (May 30, 2014). "The Fake Talk Show is Born with 'Fernwood 2 Night'". Vulture.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "Fred Willard on "DC Follies"". YouTube. Television Academy Foundation. August 8, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  15. ^ "Fred Willard – The Second City". Second City.
  16. ^ "DECOUPAGE! Episode 7. Part 4 of 4: "Fred Willard"". YouTube. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
  17. ^ "Fred Willard on "Roseanne"". YouTube. Television Academy Foundation. August 8, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  18. ^ Pegg, Robert (October 5, 2015). Comical Co-Stars of Television: From Ed Norton to Kramer. McFarland. p. 373. ISBN 978-1476610245.
  19. ^ Yagoda, Ben (November 21, 2006). "Unscripted and unleashed Fred Willard is at his funniest when he's thinking on his feet". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Behind the Curtain: Fred Willard". PBS.org. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  21. ^ "Everybody Loves Raymond". www.emmys.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  22. ^ Hill, Jim (November 6, 2014). "From Planes to Show Boat , Fernwood 2 Night to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fred Willard looks back on his storied career". HuffPost. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  23. ^ Schwatz, Dana (August 20, 2018). "Fred Willard reveals how he got to be Pixar's first live-action character in WALL-E". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  24. ^ "Fred Willard". hollywoodbowl.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  25. ^ Christiansen, Richard (May 11, 2001). "Worley makes return of 'Madam' a success". Chicago Tribune.
  26. ^ "Fred Willard". nyphil.org. New York Philharmonic. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  27. ^ "ACTOR/COMEDIAN FRED WILLARD TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL WORLDWIDE FIDO AWARDS PREMIERING SUNDAY, OCT. 5, AT 8:00 pm ON NICK AT NITE". Viacom. September 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  28. ^ "Fred Willard Will Return to Modern Family". TVGuide.com.
  29. ^ "OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES 2010". www.emmys.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012.
  30. ^ "Burbank International Film Festival, 2011 Honorees". Burbankfilmfestival.org. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  31. ^ "The Birder is a low-flying charmer". Windsor Star. April 3, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters Luncheon Honoring Fred Willard". Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  33. ^ Dessem, Matthew (August 11, 2018). "Jimmy Kimmel Talks Space Force with Fred Willard, Star of the Failed 1978 TV Pilot 'Space Force'". Slate. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  34. ^ Tomashoff, Craig (May 16, 2019). "Fred Willard finds solace from tragedy in an unlikely place: 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  35. ^ Evans, Greg (November 7, 2018). "Jimmy Kimmel Unveils Wall of Wolf Blitzers, Announces Senator Kid Rock". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  36. ^ Reimann, Tom (October 23, 2019). "'Space Force' Cast Adds Noah Emmerich, Fred Willard, and Jessica St. Clair". Collider. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  37. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 23, 2019). "'Space Force': Noah Emmerich, Fred Willard & Jessica St. Clair Join Cast Of Netflix Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  38. ^ "Mr. Doozy". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  39. ^ Francis, Nathan (July 14, 2018). "Mary Willard Dies: Wife Of Actor Fred Willard Passes Away Suddenly At Age 71, Couple Had Been Married 50 Years". Inquisitr. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  40. ^ Pelisek, Christine (July 19, 2012). "The Tale Behind Fred Willard's Arrest in an Adult Film Theater". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  41. ^ Jensen, Elizabeth (July 19, 2012). "Fred Willard Loses PBS Job After Arrest". Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  42. ^ "Actor Fred Willard insists he did nothing wrong in lewd conduct arrest". Fox News. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  43. ^ Roberto, Melissa (June 3, 2020). "Fred Willard's cause of death revealed". Fox News. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  44. ^ "Comic Actor Fred Willard's Cause of Death Revealed". Yahoo News. June 3, 2020.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Fred Willard (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 26, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  46. ^ An Evening at the Improv. Season 1. Episode 2. January 9, 1981.
  47. ^ "Hot Brain Sony PSP Trailer – Fred Willard Trailer". YouTube. May 21, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
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