US comedian Fred Willard passes away aged 86
Four-time Emmy award-winning comedian Fred Willard, who appeared in films including "Anchorman" and "This is Spinal Tap" and television shows such as "Modern Family," has died aged 86, his agent announced Saturday.
Tributes poured in for the actor, with long-time friend and fellow showbiz veteran Jamie Lee Curtis tweeting "Thanks for the deep belly laughs Mr. Willard."
"Fred Willard was the funniest person that I've ever worked with. He was a sweet, wonderful man," tweeted actor Steve Carrell.
Fred Willard could not have been funnier. He was pure joy. And the sweetest person you could ever meet. https://t.co/JoLy6PVd9d
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) May 16, 2020
I am sad to say goodbye to Fred Willard, who was still the funniest of men at age 86. Here's what turned out to be our last moment on-air together… pic.twitter.com/inDZVtls6v
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 16, 2020
It was an honor having the legendary Fred Willard be a part of our #ModernFamily. Thank you for all the laughs 🧡🧡🧡 We will miss you and we love you. pic.twitter.com/n6YUKW16se
— Modern Family (@ModernFam) May 16, 2020
Willard himself had just paid homage to two other showbiz legends, singer Little Richard and fellow comedian Jerry Stiller, who also passed away this month.
A bad time! Just getting over the loss of Little Richard, and now I learn my old friend Jerry Stiller has passed away. He was a good friend and a very funny man.
— Fred Willard (@Fred_Willard) May 12, 2020
Modern audiences knew Willard as the TV father of actor Ty Burrell's character Phil Dunphy on ABC's hit sitcom "Modern Family."
But his decades-long career saw him make audiences laugh in ensemble films such as "Waiting for Guffman," "A Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show."
Earlier audiences encountered him as Jerry Hubbard, sidekick to actor Martin Mull in the 70's talk show spoof "Fernwood Tonight."
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 under the moniker Willard & Grecco in the Greenwich Village area.
The comedy duo found some success touring and made appearances on "The Dean Martin Show," "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," and "The Tonight Show."
Willard also had a recurring role as Hank MacDougall on the later seasons of CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond."
He was cast as a sportscaster in the television series "Back to You," which premiered on the Fox Network in 2007.
The Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters presented Willard with the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at their celebrity luncheon in 2015.
His agent, Mike Eisenstadt, did not specify the cause of Willard's death, nor his whereabouts at the time.