Fred Willard Biography: Movies & TV Shows, Wife, Daughter, Death, Career, Parents, Age, Net Worth

Frederic Charles Willard Jr. was an American actor, comedian, and writer, celebrated for his masterful improvisational comedy and scene-stealing roles in mockumentaries and sitcoms.

Renowned for playing lovable, clueless characters, he shone in Christopher Guest‘s films like This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Best in Show (2000), and A Mighty Wind (2003), as well as TV shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond and Modern Family, earning multiple Emmy nominations.

Profile

• Full Name: Frederic Charles Willard Jr.
• Stage Name: Fred Willard
• Born: 18, September 1933
• Date of death: May 15, 2020 (Age: 86 years old)
• Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, Comedian, Writer, Voice Actor
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Ruth Weinman Willard, Frederic Charles Willard Sr.
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Mary Lovell (m. 1968–2018)
• Children: Hope Mulbarger
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Fred Willard was born on September 18, 1933, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Ruth Weinman, a housewife, and Frederic Charles Willard Sr., a bank employee who died when Fred was 12.

Raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, he attended the Kentucky Military Institute, graduating in 1951, and the Virginia Military Institute, earning a degree in 1955.

After serving in the U.S. Army, he pursued acting in New York, studying at the Showcase Theater and forming a comedy duo with Vic Greco.

His early love for radio and baseball influenced his comedic style, blending earnestness with absurdity.

His ethnicity was Caucasian, and he did not publicly discuss his religious beliefs.

Career

Fred Willard’s career began in the late 1950s with stand-up and improv in New York alongside Vic Greco, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Steve Allen Show.

In 1965, he joined Chicago’s The Second City, performing in revues like Off the Road and This and That, and co-founded the Ace Trucking Company, a comedy troupe that appeared over 50 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

His breakout role came in 1977 as Jerry Hubbard, the dimwitted sidekick to Martin Mull’s Barth Gimble, in the satirical talk show Fernwood 2 Night (later America 2-Night), establishing his knack for playing endearing buffoons.

Willard became a staple in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, starting with This Is Spinal Tap (1984) as Lieutenant Bob Hookstratten, followed by Waiting for Guffman (1996) as Ron Albertson, earning American Comedy Award and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

His role as Buck Laughlin in Best in Show (2000) won him a Boston Film Critics Award, an American Comedy Award, and an AFI tribute for his hilarious, clueless dog-show commentator.

Other Guest films include A Mighty Wind (2003) as Mike LaFontaine, known for his catchphrase “Eh—whahappen’?”, and For Your Consideration (2006) as a vacuous TV host.

He also played Ed Harken in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and appeared in films like American Wedding (2003) and WALL-E (2008) as Shelby Forthright.

On television, Willard earned three Emmy nominations (2003–2005) for playing Hank MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond and two (2010, 2020) for Frank Dunphy on Modern Family.

He won a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for The Bold and the Beautiful.

His extensive TV credits include Roseanne, The Simpsons, D.C. Follies, and over 100 appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and frequent sketches on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, often parodying news figures.

His stage work included Fred Willard: Alone At Last! (with a 12-person cast), which won Los Angeles Artistic Director Awards, and Off-Broadway roles in Little Murders and Isn’t It Romantic.

His final role was Fred Naird in Netflix’s Space Force (2020), released posthumously.

Willard’s improvisational brilliance and ability to steal scenes with deadpan humor made him a beloved figure in comedy.

Social Media

Fred Willard does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Fred Willard married playwright Mary Lovell in 1968, and they remained together until her death in 2018.

They had one daughter, Hope Mulbarger, and a grandson.

Willard lived in Los Angeles, where he was known for his charitable work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Actors and Others for Animals, and LA’s Best, earning a commendation from the City of Los Angeles.

In 2012, he was arrested for alleged lewd conduct in an adult theater, but no charges were filed due to lack of evidence.

During his lifetime, Willard maintained a warm, approachable persona, often citing teaching his daughter to catch a fly ball as his proudest achievement.

Filmography

• Teenage Mother (1967)
• This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
• Waiting for Guffman (1996)
• Best in Show (2000)
• American Wedding (2003)
• A Mighty Wind (2003)
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
• For Your Consideration (2006)
• WALL-E (2008)
• Everybody Loves Raymond (2003–2005)
• Modern Family (2009–2020)
• The Bold and the Beautiful (2014–2015)
• The Dirt (2019)
• The Righteous Gemstones (2019)
• Space Force (2020)

Net Worth

Fred Willard had an estimated net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 2020, accumulated through his extensive work in film, television, and voice acting.

His roles in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, Emmy-nominated performances in Everybody Loves Raymond and Modern Family, and voice work in films like WALL-E were significant contributors.