Comedian, actor, game and talk show host Fred Willard died Friday night at his home in Los Angeles of natural causes, he was 86. Willard’s daughter, Hope Mulbarger, said the actor passed “very peacefully”.
The Second City alum had many memorable small roles in film and television and was nominated for four Emmys for both “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Modern Family”. He also won a Daytime Emmy for a story arc in “The Bold and the Beautiful” and appeared in many shows from “Fernwood Tonight” to “Roseanne” where he played half of one of the first gay couples on television.
A regular in Christopher Guest films like “Best in Show,” “Waiting for Guffman,” “A Mighty Wind” and “For Your Consideration,” he also appeared in “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Wall-E,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” “American Wedding” and more.
Willard was married for 50 years to Mary Willard, a playwright and collaborator with her husband. She died in 2018 at the age of 71. Willard’s final role will be seen in the upcoming Netflix comedy series “Space Force” opposite Steve Carell.
Source: Variety
