Fred Willard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fred Willard
Willard in 1976
Born	Frederic Charles Willard (1933-09-18)September 18, 1933 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	May 15, 2020(2020-05-15) (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Alma mater	Kentucky Military Institute Virginia Military Institute
Occupation	Actor comedian writer
Years active	1957–2020
Spouse(s)	Mary Lovell ​ ​ (m. 1968; died 2018)​
Children	1
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Signature

Frederic Charles Willard (born September 18, 1933 – died May 15, 2020) was a famous American actor, comedian, and writer. He was known for his quick wit and funny characters. Many people remember him from movies made with director Christopher Guest, like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. He also played Ed Harken in the Anchorman movies. Later in his career, he earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for playing Frank Dunphy on the TV show Modern Family.

Early Life and Military Service

Frederic Charles Willard was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 18, 1933. His mother, Ruth, was a housewife. His father, Frederick Charles Willard, passed away in 1945 when Fred was only 12 years old. Fred grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

He finished school at the Kentucky Military Institute in 1951. Then, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1955. After college, he served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany.

Starting a Comedy Career

Fred Willard began his acting journey in New York in the late 1950s. He first performed in a play at a local YMCA. There, he met Vic Grecco, who became his comedy partner. They formed a duo called Willard & Grecco.

Willard & Grecco performed in Greenwich Village and toured around the country. They even appeared on popular TV shows like The Dean Martin Show and The Tonight Show. However, their partnership ended in 1968.

Early Acting Roles

Willard's first movie role was in 1967. He also performed at The Second City in Chicago, a famous comedy theater. He was a founding member of an improv group called Ace Trucking Company. This group performed sketches on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson over 50 times.

Becoming a Well-Known Actor

Fred Willard became more widely known in the late 1970s. He played Jerry Hubbard, a funny sidekick, on the TV shows Fernwood 2 Night and America 2-Night. These shows made fun of late-night talk shows. He was also an original cast member of the NBC series Real People from 1979 to 1983.

He hosted a talk show called What's Hot, What's Not from 1985 to 1986. This show earned him an Emmy nomination for best talk show host. In the 1990s, he guest-starred on many popular shows. He played Scott, the romantic partner of Martin Mull's character, on Roseanne. He also voiced Wally Kogen on The Simpsons.

Working with Christopher Guest

Willard in 2011

Fred Willard was famous for his roles in several movies directed by Christopher Guest. These movies were often "mockumentaries," which are fake documentaries that look real.

• In Waiting for Guffman, he played Ron Albertson, a travel agent who loves amateur theater.
• In Best in Show, he was Buck Laughlin, a dog show announcer who tells silly jokes. For this role, he won several awards, including the Boston Film Critics Award.
• In A Mighty Wind, he played Mike LaFontaine, known for his funny catchphrase.
• He also appeared in This Is Spinal Tap and For Your Consideration.

Other Notable Roles

Willard in 2011

Willard had a recurring role as Hank MacDougall on the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. This role earned him three Emmy Award nominations. He also voiced characters in animated films like Monster House and WALL-E. In WALL-E, he played Shelby Forthright, the CEO of the Buy 'n' Large Corporation, in live-action scenes.

He was a guest star on many other TV shows, including That '70s Show, Family Guy, and King of the Hill. He even hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978. Fred Willard also played the "Boogey Man" in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy cartoon series and its video game.

Willard in 2012

One of his most beloved later roles was Frank Dunphy, the father of Phil Dunphy, on the hit show Modern Family. He appeared in 13 episodes and received two Emmy nominations for this role, one of them after he passed away. His final acting role was in the 2020 Netflix comedy series Space Force, which was released just two weeks after his death. His last voice-acting performance was as Mr. Doozy in the Disney cartoon Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures.

Personal Life

Fred Willard was married to Mary Lovell from 1968 until she passed away in 2018. They had one daughter and a grandson.

Death

Fred Willard died at his home in Los Angeles on May 15, 2020, at the age of 86. The cause of his death was a heart attack. He is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Images for kids

• 

  Willard and Jack Betts in November 2010

• 

  Willard at "Cats for Cats", August 2011

See also

In Spanish: Fred Willard para niños