Fred Willard ✝

Frederick Charles Willard (born September 18, 1939) is an American actor, comedian, voice actor and writer, best known for his improvisational comedy. He is known for his roles in the Rob Reiner mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap, the Christopher Guest mockumentary films, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Mascots and the Anchorman films. He is an alumnus of The Second City. He received three Emmy nominations for his recurring role on the TV series Everybody Loves Raymond. In 2010, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearances on Modern Family. He was also nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for his role as host of What\'s Hot, What\'s Not.\n', ' Willard was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His father, also named Fred Willard, worked at the financial department of a bank. His father died in 1951. He graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1951.\n', ' Willard\'s film debut was in the 1967 exploitation film Teenage Mother. Willard reports that the audience at one screening of the film booed when his character interrupted an attempted sexual assault of the female lead character.\n', '