Biography
Best known for his buttoned-up professionals with no sense of their own cluelessness, actor Fred Willard emerged from the 1960s improv scene to become a critic's favorite and an admired comedy veteran. After earning an initial cult following as the dimwitted sidekick of talk show host Martin Mull in the cutting-edge parody "Fernwood 2-Night" (syndicated, 1977-78), Willard fans generally caught glimpses of the actor in character roles as …
Fred Willard SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2010 | Co-starred with Michael Cera and Jean Smart in the film adaptation of C.D. Payne's "Youth in Revolt" | |
2009 | Guest starred on ABC's "Modern Family"; earned an Emmy (2010) nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series | |
2008 | Voiced the president of the Buynlarge Corporation in the Pixar animated film "WALL-E" | |
2007 | Cast as sportscaster, Marsh McGinley on the Fox series "Back to You" | |
2007 | Once again teamed with Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer for the spoof/parody film "Epic Movie" | |
2006 | Teamed with Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer for the comedy spoof "Date Movie" | |
2005 | Featured in the big screen adaptation of "Bewitched" | |
2004 | Cast opposite Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate in "Anchorman" | |
2003 | Had a recurring role as Hank McDougal on the CBS comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond"; received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for 2003, 2004 and 2005 | |
2003 | Had a small part in Christopher Guest's "A Mighty Wind" | |
2001 | Cast in the WB's "Maybe It's Me" | |
2001 | Portrayed sportscaster Howard Cosell in the ABC TV-movie "When Billie Beat Bobby" | |
2001 | Had a memorable cameo as a flamboyant dance teacher in "The Wedding Planner" | |
2000 | Reteamed with Guest for the comedy "Best in Show" playing the announcer at a dog show | |
1999 | Was a recurring player on the CBS sitcom "Ladies Man" | |
1999 | Played the Dad in the horror comedy "Idle Hands" | |
1999 | Featured in the quirky independent comedy "Can't Stop Dancing" | |
1998 | Guested on several episodes of NBC's "Mad About You" | |
1998 | Had a supporting role in the biopic "Permanent Midnight" | |
1998 | Featured in the mockumentary "Elvis is Alive, I Swear, I Just Saw Him Eating a Ding-Dong Outside the Piggly Wiggly" | |
1996 | Returned to feature film work in Christopher Guest's "Waiting for Guffman" | |
1995 | Played Martin Mull's gay mate in "Roseanne" (ABC) | |
1995 | Made first of several appearances as President Garner on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" (ABC) | |
1994 | Had a recurring role on the ABC sitcom "Family Matters" | |
1994 | Co-starred with Mull in the Comedy Central special "Subaru Presents Fair Enough: Martin Mull at the Iowa State Fair" | |
| Stayed busy throughout the 1990s with extensive television guest work | ||
1990 | Co-hosted revived "Candid Camera" (CBS) | |
1988 | Co-starred in first movie made for Cinemax, "Martin Mull in 'Portrait of a White Marriage'" | |
1987 | Was regular on "D.C. Follies" (syndicated) | |
1987 | Appeared in the Oscar-winning short "Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall" | |
1987 | Featured in the HBO special "Martin Mull Live! From North Ridgeville" | |
1985 | Co-hosted the syndicated "What's Hot, What's Not" | |
1984 | Had memorable role in Rob Reiner's mock documentary "This Is Spinal Tap"; reunited onscreen with Guest | |
1983 | Was sidekick to Alan Thicke on "Thicke of the Night" (syndicated) | |
1981 | Returned as one of the hosts of "Real People" | |
1979 | Was one of the hosts of "Real People" (NBC) | |
1978 | With Mull, co-hosted "America 2-Night", a short-lived syndicated follow-up to "Fernwood 2-Night" | |
1977 | Tapped by Norman Lear to co-host (with Martin Mull) the syndicated "Fernwood 2-Night" | |
1976 | Was regular on the NBC sitcom "Sirota's Court" | |
1976 | TV-movie debut, "How to Break Up a Happy Divorce" (NBC) | |
1973 | Was regular on "The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour" (ABC) | |
1969 | Made first appearance on "The Tonight Show" (NBC) as member of the Ace Trucking Company improv troupe | |
1969 | Feature film debut, "The Model Shop" | |
1969 | Off-Broadway debut, "Little Murders"; appeared alongside Christopher Guest | |
| Appeared with the Los Angeles' improv troupe The Committee | ||
| Became a regular member of Chicago's Second City | ||
1964 | Made TV debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (CBS) | |
1962 | Started a comedy team with friend and classmate Vic Grecco | |
Awards
2010 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in Modern Family |
2005 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in Everybody Loves Raymond |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in Everybody Loves Raymond |
2003 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in Everybody Loves Raymond |
2000 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Best in Show |