Fred Willard

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Fred Willard (2008)

Fred Willard (born September 18, 1933 in Shaker Heights , Ohio - † May 15, 2020 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actor and comedian .

Life

Fred Willard studied at the Kentucky Military Institute and Virginia Military Institute and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He was considered one of the best improvisation artists in the USA and was present in the cinema and television with roles and series from the mid-1960s. He was also one of the founding members of the Ace Trucking Company . He played in over 300 films and series episodes, although most of them were supporting roles and guest appearances.

After he had appeared in smaller roles since 1966, he became popular in 1977 in the television series Fernwood 2 Nite . In addition to several nominations for the Emmy , he received the American Comedy Award and the BSFC Award in 2001 for his role in the film Best in Show . He had a special relationship with Christopher Guest , in whose mockumentary films such as This Is Spinal Tap (1984) or When Guffmann Comes (2000) he often starred. Willard has appeared in supporting roles in many American comedies, such as the head of a television station in Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and the father of Alyson Hannigan's character in American Pie - Getting Married (2003). From 2009 until the year he died, Willard had a recurring supporting role as Frank Dunphy on the television series Modern Family . Willard passed away even before the first broadcast of the series Space Force , which was published on Netflix . The series is his last appearance in front of the camera.

Willard was married to Mary Lovell from 1968 until her death in 2018, the couple had one daughter.

Filmography (selection)

Feature films

Fred Willard, 2011

watch TV

In addition, various appearances on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show and the NBC show Saturday Night Live .

Web links

Commons : Fred Willard  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Carmel Dagan Variety: Fred Willard, actor from 'Modern Family,' 'Best in Show' with Second City roots, dead at 86.Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
  2. ↑ TMZ: Death Certificate. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  3. ^ Johnny Diaz: Fred Willard, Comic Actor Who Thrived in Ensembles, Dies at 86. In: The New York Times. May 16, 2020, accessed May 17, 2020 (American English).
  4. ↑ Mary Willard Dies: Wife Of Actor Fred Willard Passes Away Suddenly At Age 71, Couple Had Been Married 50 Years. Retrieved May 17, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Willard, Fred
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and comedian
DATE OF BIRTH September 18, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Shaker Heights , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH May 15, 2020
Place of death los Angeles