Culture

Tributes Are Pouring In After The Death Of Legendary Comedic Actor Fred Willard

"He is with his missed Mary now"

by Rebecca Shaw  17 May 2020
Fred Willard

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

Tributes are pouring in after the family of legendary comedian and actor Fred Willard confirmed that he has passed away of natural causes at age 86. 

Following the news of Fred Willard’s death, tributes have been flowing in from fans, celebrity fans, and colleagues, all paying tribute to the hilarious and iconic comedy actor. You may know Willard from his incredible turns in the various Christopher Guest mockumentaries he is so beloved for, such as Best In Show and A Mighty Wind. The news of his death was shared on Twitter by Jamie Lee Curtis, who is married to Guest. The ‘Mary’ she references is Willard’s wife of 40 years, who passed away in 2018. I’m not crying you’re crying.

If you haven’t seen Willard in the Christopher Guest movies (which you should immediately), you might still know him from roles in movies like Austin Powers or Anchorman, or being a delight on screen in every TV comedy he has popped up in. He earned four Emmy nominations, including three in a row for his role as Hank MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond, and for playing Phil Dunphy’s father on Modern Family.

Willard was not only a wonderful actor and incredible improvisor, but had a sweet and genuine manner and vibe that was evident whenever he appeared on screen. And it was obviously the same offscreen.

He never stopped working, and recently appeared in an absolutely deranged sketch on the Netflix show I Think You Should Leave. Let’s all watch that, and watch some of Willard’s movies, and have a little laugh-cry. Or maybe that will just be me.