Fred Willard, who performed Phil Dunphy’s father on Fashionable Household, has died on the age of 86.
His agent advised The Hollywood Reporter that the comic died of pure causes on Friday, Could 15. His daughter, Hope, mentioned he handed “very peacefully … He saved transferring, working and making us completely satisfied till the very finish. We beloved him so very a lot! We are going to miss him without end.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, whose husband Christopher Visitor directed Willard in a number of movies together with This Is Spinal Faucet, shared a clip of the actor in Finest in Present, writing on Saturday, Could 16, “How fortunate that all of us received to get pleasure from Fred Willard’s presents. He’s along with his missed Mary now. Thanks for the deep stomach laughs Mr. Willard.” (Willard’s spouse of 50 years, Mary Willard, died in 2018. The couple shared daughter Hope and grandson Freddie.)
The Ohio native, who was nominated for Emmy awards for his recurring roles in Fashionable Household and All people Loves Raymond, received his begin in New York within the late 1950s, teaming with comic Vic Grecco. The pair made appearances on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Dean Martin Present earlier than going their separate methods in 1968.
Willard additionally labored at The Second Metropolis improv comedy theater in Chicago and was a founding member of the comedy group Ace Trucking Firm. They appeared on The Tonight Present With Johnny Carson greater than 50 occasions.
On TV, Willard hosted the speak present What’s Scorching, What’s Not from 1985 to 1986, incomes a Daytime Emmy nomination for Excellent Speak Present Host. He additionally appeared in movies together with A Mighty Wind, Ready for Guffman, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and WALL-E.
The actor scored Emmy nominations for his recurring function as Hank MacDougall on All people Loves Raymond in 2003, 2004 and 2005, hosted Saturday Night time Dwell in 1978 and appeared in additional than 100 sketches on The Tonight Present With Jay Leno. He additionally guested on Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!, enjoying characters together with the ghosts of Fred Trump and George Washington.
Willard’s Fashionable Household character, Frank Dunphy, appeared in episodes throughout 11 seasons of the ABC hit, scoring an Emmy nomination for Excellent Visitor Actor in a Comedy Collection in 2010. His character died of outdated age in January.
Scroll all the way down to learn the celebs’ tributes to Willard.