Actor/Comedian Fred Willard Dies at 86

Actor/Comedian Fred Willard Dies at 86

By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor

Popular actor/comedian Fred Willard died over the weekend at the age of 86. His cause of death has not yet been released.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my father passed away very peacefully last night at the fantastic age of 86 years old. He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very much! We will miss him forever,” said Willard’s daughter, Hope, on Twitter.

Willard attended the 17^th Annual Movieguide® Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, where he accepted one of the awards for Best Family Movie for Wall-E.

“This is a wonderful movie,” he said. “I’m so tickled to be a part of it. All the praise goes to [writer and director] Andrew Stanton and [producer] John Lasseter and all the people at Pixar. Thank you, MOVIEGUIDE®,” Willard said in his acceptance speech.

He also told Movieguide®, “I think it’s a terrific idea [in reference to extolling virtues in the entertainment industry], there’s not enough of them anymore, so it’s great! I have a grandson. There’s got to be family, good-quality entertainment. It’s important. The movies that are family-oriented always make a lot of money. They do very well, so there’s a huge audience for them out there, and a lot of producers don’t realize that.”

Willard’s career spanned more than 50 years with roles in multiple award-winning movies and TV-shows. Yet, Willard didn’t always want to be a star in Hollywood.

The New York Times reported his start in Hollywood after dreaming of becoming a baseball player:

“I always wanted to be a baseball player,” Mr. Willard once told an interviewer. But, he was also an avid radio fan and thought that show business might be an interesting — and easy — career.

He studied at the Showcase Theater in Manhattan and spent a year working in Chicago with the Second City, the comedy improvisation troupe. He and a comedy partner, Vic Grecco, began performing in coffee houses and worked their way up to appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.”

Willard and Grecco were even offered a job on “The Carol Burnett Show” when it was new (1967), but Mr. Grecco decided he wanted a new partner, and the deal fell through. Mr. Willard later worked with the Ace Trucking Company, a five-member comedy troupe.

From there, the rest is history.

Willard left a profound impact on many comedians in the industry.

Fred Willard was the funniest person that I’ve ever worked with. He was a sweet, wonderful man.

— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) May 16, 2020

Years ago I was in a sweet little movie about girls softball. I couldn’t wait to work with Fred Willard! I was a super fan. He was so nice and hilarious and such a smart improvisor. A comic hero and a kind man. Rest in peace. My love to his family. pic.twitter.com/TQwIGiJ0UW

— Angela Kinsey🍩 (@AngelaKinsey) May 17, 2020

Fred Willard. The dear hilarious kind man we just lost. Here am I with he and Martin Mull while shooting a documentary about Martin. Seeing them having fun together reminiscent of the Fernwood days was truly a joy. Rest In Peace dear Fred. pic.twitter.com/mnYHzhlxLQ

— bob saget (@bobsaget) May 16, 2020

Though we do not know for certain, we hope that Willard accepted Christ as his Savior before his death. Please pray for Willard’s daughter, Hope, during this hard time.

From Emmys.com
Second Avenue
With a dramatic turn on Modern Family, Fred Willard considers new roads. Read more: https://www.emmys.com/news/mix/second-avenue

Posted by Fred Willard on Monday, August 14, 2017

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What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.