Early life

Willard was born in 1939 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. Willard is a former U.S. soldier, having graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute and the Virginia Military Institute. After his tour in the Army, in 1962, Willard and pal Vic Greco formed a comedy act that was funny and successful enough to earn them an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The duo appeared at the hungry i in San Francisco. Willard auditioned alongside Robert Klein for The Second City, portraying a nightclub manager and his employee. The audition helped the two secure the job. He starred off-Broadway in Jules Feiffer's Little Murders, directed by Alan Arkin. He was a founding member of the improvisational comedy group Ace Trucking Company. Fellow members of Ace included Michael Mislove, Bill Saluga, George Memmoli, and Patti Deutsch. They appeared regularly on This is Tom Jones.

Career

Willard's film debut was in the 1967 exploitation film Teenage Mother. In a brief interview on the DVD extras of the 2007 documentary film Heckler, 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.

Willard achieved wider fame in 1977 and '78 as Martin Mull's sidekick and announcer, "Jerry Hubbard", on the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman spinoffs Fernwood 2 Night, Forever Fernwood, and America 2-Night, which parodied the nighttime talk shows of the day. He was an original cast member of the NBC comedy series Real People in 1979 and again from 1981 to 1983. He played Tom Osbourne in the 1987 Academy Award-winning short film, Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. From 1987 to 1989, he starred as a bartender/straightman in Sid and Marty Krofft's D.C. Follies, and was host to the Krofft puppets portraying political figures of the time. In 1990 Willard hosted the cable TV show Access America on the Ha! Comedy Network. As part of that show, he appeared September 21, 1990, on Episode #7 of the cult public-access television show Decoupage with Summer Caprice. In 1995 Willard reunited with his Fernwood co-star playing Scott, the romantic partner of Mull's character Leon Carp, on Roseanne. The couple married in the episode "December Bride," and Scott became a recurring character during the series' final two seasons. That same year, Willard had guest-starred in three episodes of Sister, Sister, starring Tia and Tamera Mowry; Willard played Carl Mitushka, a teacher at Roosevelt High who often spoke popular teenage slang terms in order to sound cool to his students. Willard guest-voiced a 1999 episode of The Simpsons titled "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" as Wally Kogen, a travel agent. From 2001 to 2002, he played the father of five children on Maybe It's Me. He has also guest-starred in an episode of The Weird Al Show. He and Mull joined up again for the mockumentary The History of White People in America. He played Mayor Deebs in Roxanne, starring Steve Martin; his character's line "I would rather be with the people of this town than with the finest people in the world" has been widely quoted.

His most recent notable work has been in Christopher Guest films, such as A Mighty Wind, in which he played "Mike LaFontaine," a character known for his catchphrase, "Eh? Wha' happened?"; Best in Show, in which he portrayed "Buck Laughlin," a dog show announcer who offered up an unending stream of bad jokes and off-color comments; Waiting for Guffman, in which he played "Ron Albertson," a travel agent who performs in amateur stage productions with his wife; This Is Spinal Tap, in which he played a lieutenant on the military base where Spinal Tap play; and For Your Consideration as an obnoxious entertainment television show anchor. For his performance in Waiting for Guffman he received an American Comedy Award nomination and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Funniest Supporting Actor. He received the Boston Film Critics Award, an American Comedy Award, a Sierra Award and a tribute from AFI for his portrayal as Buck Laughlin in Best in Show. He also appeared in American Wedding, and as KVWN news director Ed Harken in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Willard had a recurring role as "Hank MacDougall" on the later seasons of CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Willard was also the host of a VH1 documentary series called Totally Obsessed about people obsessed with their hobbies. He appears as "Captain Ribmanman" in Episode 21 of Channel Frederator, a podcast from Kansas. Willard also landed a role on Family Guy as Dave Campbell, the father of a nudist family (first appearing in "From Method to Madness"). It is unclear whether the role will be reprised. Willard also voices "Officer Brown" in King of the Hill and has made an appearance on That '70s Show. Willard has appeared in 100 sketches on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as a government official, businessman, or other authority figure named Willard J. Fredericks, who is always drinking. In 2006 he voiced Dad in the Academy Award-nominated animated film Monster House. He also hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978 (musical guest: Devo) and appeared twice on MADtv. Two years before this, he made a minor appearance in the movie Silver Streak as a bemused railroad train master.

He was the voice of a clueless companion to a lazy robot (Martin Mull) in one episode of the series Dexter's Laboratory and guest-starred on the Adult Swim cartoon Tom Goes to the Mayor. He acted in the Cartoon Network movie Re-Animated and played Vala Mal Doran's "father" in an episode of Stargate SG-1 in 2007. He appeared in an episode of the Adult Swim program Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. He has also starred as the "Boogie Man" in an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and reprised his role in the movie Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure. His final appearance as "Boogey" occurred in Billy & Mandy: Wrath of the Spider Queen. In 2007 he made a guest appearance on the children's TV series Come on Over. He has also guest-starred on an episode of The Boondocks, providing the voice of "Joe Petto." In 2008 he guest starred on Transformers Animated as the Decepticon arms dealer Swindle.

Willard was cast as a sportscaster in the television series Back to You, which premiered on the Fox Network on September 19, 2007. He also made an appearance in the 2007 sci-fi comedy I'll Believe You, and he plays Shelby Forthright, the CEO of the Buy 'n' Large Corporation, in the first ever live-action speaking segments by Pixar in the animated film WALL-E.

Willard completed a sold-out run of Fred Willard: Alone At Last!, advertised as a "one-man show" but actually featuring a cast of ten, and received Los Angeles Artistic Director Awards for Best Comedy and Best Production. Willard has several stage roles to his credit, including Off-Broadway performances in Little Murders, directed by Alan Arkin, and Arf, directed by Richard Benjamin. His regional roles include Call Me Madam in Chicago and the musicals Promises, Promises, with Jason Alexander, and Anything Goes with Rachel York, both in Los Angeles. He starred in Wendy Wasserstein's Isn't It Romantic and off Broadway in Elvis and Juliet. He has completed a RiffTrax with Michael J. Nelson for the movie Missile to the Moon.

He was seen roasting William Shatner in the Comedy Central special The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner on August 12, 2006. Also at the roast was George Takei, with whom Willard performed in the improv show Thank God You're Here.

Willard is the voice of the character "Ed Warmer" in the PlayStation Portable game Hot Brain.

In 2007 Willard took the role of "Aslo" in Epic Movie.

Willard was part of the one-night celebrity-performed staging of Howard Ashman's unproduced musical Dreamstuff. The musical was reimagined by Ashman's partners Marsha Malamet and Dennis Green and performed one night only at Los Angeles's Hayworth Theatre as part of the Bruno Kirby celebrity reading series, directed by Ugly Betty's Michael Urie. Willard starred in the show alongside Eden Espinosa, Vicki Lewis, David Blue, and Luke Macfarlane.

On October 5, 2008, he hosted the Nickelodeon Fido Awards.

In 2009 he played Mr Ferguson in Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera.

Willard played Frank Dunphy, father of Phil (Ty Burrell), in several episodes of the show Modern Family. For his performance, he was nominated at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

On September 16, 2011, Willard was honored as Pioneer in Comedy at Burbank International Film Festival. Willard was also hired as the LaQuinta spokesperson for a series of commercials airing in 2012.

In 2011 Willard appeared in a movie called 12 Wishes of Christmas with Elisa Donovan, Gabrielle Carteris, and Sarah Thompson.

In 2012 he played Al Kaiser in the Rob Reiner film The Magic of Belle Isle starring Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen.

In July 2012 Willard served as host for the PBS series Market Warriors, described as a nationwide treasure hunt along the lines of American Pickers, but was dropped after his 2012 arrest for indecent exposure.

He completed The Birder starring Tom Cavanagh, opening in 2013. A mild-mannered birder seeks revenge on a younger rival, after losing the highly coveted Head of Ornithology position at the National Park.

Willard joined Ed Begley Jr. and Michael McKean for the HBO documentary-style comedy Family Tree from Christopher Guest.

In 2013 he played the role of "Alter Pierce" in one of Abed's happy places on the season-four premiere episode "History 101" of Community.

Willard made an appearance on the second season of Celebrity Family Feud playing against actor Kevin McHale

Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters presented Willard with the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at their celebrity luncheon on June 19, 2015.

2012 arrest

On July 18, 2012, Willard was arrested in Hollywood for "engaging in a lewd act" in an adult movie theater. PBS fired Willard from Market Warriors immediately following his arrest, and Mark L. Walberg replaced him on the show.

In an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon shortly thereafter, Willard stated that the incident was "very painful" and "very embarrassing," but that he "did nothing wrong." Willard was ultimately not charged, but was required to take a $380 sex education diversion program.

Charity work

For his considerable, ongoing dedication to charity works with various nonprofits Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Fred and his wife, Mary, were honored in 2010 with the Golden Star Award. Fred was also honored by Actors and Others for Animals with the Man of The Year Award in 2008, and the couple also works with City of Hope, John Wayne Cancer Society, PETA and dozens more, Fred received a commendation from the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Antonio Villaraigarosa for "outstanding humanitarian and philanthropic work helps to further the goal of making the City of Los Angeles a better place."

Personal life

Willard married his wife, Mary in 1968. They have one daughter: Hope (b. 1969) and a grandson Freddie (b. 1997).

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1967	Teenage Mother	Coach
1975	Hustle	Interrogator
1976	Chesty Anderson, USN	Peter Linden
1976	Silver Streak	Jerry Jarvis
1977	Fun with Dick and Jane	Bob
1979	Americathon	Vincent Vanderhoff
1980	How to Beat the High Co$t of Living	Robert
1980	First Family	Presidential Assistant Feebleman
1980	The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter	unknown character
1982	National Lampoon's Movie Madness	President Robert Fogerty
1984	This Is Spinal Tap	Lt. Bob Hookstratten
1985	Moving Violations	Terrence 'Doc' Williams
1987	Roxanne	Mayor Deebs
1987	Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall	Tom Osborne	Short film
1988	Portrait of a White Marriage	Hal Harrison
1991	High Strung	Insurance Salesman
1992	Married... with Children	Condo salesman, Stan Mendelson
1995	Prehysteria! 3	Thomas MacGregor
1996	Waiting for Guffman	Ron Albertson
1997	Breast Men	Talk Show Host	Uncredited
1998	Permanent Midnight	Craig Ziffer
1999	Can't Stop Dancing	Chester
1999	Idle Hands	Dad Tobias
1999	Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me	Mission Commander
2000	Chump Change	Steve's Manager
2000	Best in Show	Buck Laughlin	Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Las Vegas Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor
2001	Wedding Planner, TheThe Wedding Planner	Basil St. Mosely
2001	How High	Philip Huntley
2002	Teddy Bears' Picnic	Senator Roger Dickey
2003	Mighty Wind, AA Mighty Wind	Mike LaFontaine
2003	American Wedding	Harold Flaherty
2003	Nobody Knows Anything!	Mr. McClintock
2004	Killer Diller	Ned
2004	50 Ways to Leave Your Lover	Bucky Brandt
2004	Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle	Dr. Willoughby
2004	Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy	Ed Harken
2004	Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie	Ed Harken
2005	Chicken Little	Melvin - Alien Dad	Voice only
2006	Date Movie	Bernie Funkyerdoder
2006	Church Ball	Bishop Linderman
2006	Monster House	Dad	Voice only
2006	Ira & Abby	Michael Willoughby
2006	For Your Consideration	Chuck
2007	I'll Believe You	Mr. Fratus
2007	Epic Movie	Aslo
2007	Fighting Words	Longfellow
2007	I Could Never Be Your Woman	Marty
2008	Harold	Dr. Pratt
2008	WALL-E	Shelby Forthright, BnL CEO
2010	Holyman Undercover	Richard
2010	Youth in Revolt	Mr. Ferguson
2010	Expecting Mary	Jerry Zee
2013	Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues	Edward "Ed" Harken
2014	Planes: Fire & Rescue	Secretary of the Interior	Voice only
2014	The Birder Movie	The Park President	Short film
2016	Fifty Shades of Black	Gary, Christian's father

Television

Year	Television show	Role	Notes
1966	Pistols 'n' Petticoats	Ben	Episode: "Quit Shootin' Folks"
1968	Get Smart	Lundy, Agent 198	Episode: "A Tale of Two Tails"
1975	The Bob Newhart Show	John Emil Tobin	Episode: "Tobin's Back in Town"
1976	Laverne & Shirley	Charles	Episode: "Dog Day Blind Dates"
1976	How to Break Up a Happy Divorce	Lance Colson	Television film
1976	Sirota's Court	D.A. Ted Nugent	Television series
1977	Fernwood 2 Night	Jerry Hubbard	Series, 65 episodes - starring role
1977	Escape from Bogen County	Pearson	Television film
1978	America 2-Night	Jerry Hubbard	Series, 65 episodes - starring role
1978	Saturday Night Live	Himself / Various Roles	Guest host Episode: "Fred Willard/Devo"
1979	Flatbed Annie and Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers	Jack LaRosa	Television film
1979	Salem's Lot	Larry Crockett	Miniseries
1979-84	Real People	Himself	Television series
1980	The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter	Unknown characters	Television film (HBO special)
1981	Pen 'n' Inc.	Ralph	Television film
1981-86	Love Boat, TheThe Love Boat	Various roles	Three episodes
1984	Mama's Family	Willie Potts (a.k.a. "Willie the Weasel")	Episode: "Mama Buys a Car"
1985	History of White People in America, TheThe History of White People in America	Hal Harrison	Television film
1985	Getting the Last Laugh	ABC Special	Television film
1985	Fred Willard Lots of Luck	A.J. Foley	Television film
1985	Faerie Tale Theatre	Paul Link (second little pig)	Episode: "The Three Little Pigs"
1985-1986	What's Hot, What's Not	Himself	Television series Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host
1986	History of White People in America: Volume II, TheThe History of White People in America: Volume II	Hal Harrison	Television film
1987	Out of This World	Milton Wiler	Episode: "The Box Is Missing"
1988-89	D.C. Follies	The Bartender	19 episodes
1989	My Secret Identity	Jay Bennett	Episode: "For Old Time's Sake"
1991	The Golden Girls	Bob	Episode: "Dateline:Miami"
1994-96	Family Matters	Vice Principal Mallet	Three episodes
1995-97	Roseanne	Scott	8 episodes
1996	Back to Back	Loan Officer	Television film
1996	Friends	Mr. Lipson	Episode: "The One After the Super Bowl: Part 1"
1996	Sister, Sister	Mr. Mitushka	3 episodes
1996-97	Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman	President Garner	3 episodes
1997	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Himself	Guest
1998	The Wayans Bros	Dick Ferndale	Talk show host Episode: "All in the Family Feud"
1998-99	Mad About You	Henry Vincent	5 episodes
1999	Pooch and the Pauper, TheThe Pooch and the Pauper	President	Television film
1999	Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons	Wally Kogan	Episode: "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday"
2001-02	Maybe It's Me	Jerry Stage	22 episodes
2001-08	King of the Hill	Various roles	Seven episodes; voice only
2001	When Billie Beat Bobby	Howard Cosell	Television film
2001	Undeclared	Professor Duggan	Episodes: "So You Do Have a Boyfriend" and "Full Bluntal Nugety"
2001	Girlfriends	Dr. Percy Bales	Episodes: "The Fallout" and "Just Say No"
2002	Dexter's Laboratory	F.R.E.D.	Episode: "Lab on the Run"
2002-2004	Teamo Supremo	Mr. Paulson	TV series
2002, 2005	Family Guy	Dave Campbell	Two episodes; voice only
2003	National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure	Professor Doornitz	Television film
2003	That '70s Show	Charlie Miller	1 episode
2003-04	Minute with Stan Hooper, AA Minute with Stan Hooper	Fred Hawkins	13 episodes
2003-05	Everybody Loves Raymond	Hank MacDougall	13 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (2003-2005)
2003-07	Kim Possible	Jack Hench	Three episodes; voice only
2004-05	Saturday Night Live	'Bear City' Narrator	Voice only; uncredited
2005	Tom Goes to the Mayor	Garry Friendly	Episode: "Vice Mayor"
2006	Re-Animated	Milt Appleday	Television film
2006	Handy Manny	Mr. Dwayne Bouffant
2007	Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure	The Boogey Man	Television film
2007	Stargate SG-1	Jacek	Episode: "Family Ties"
2007-08	Back to You	Marsh McGinley	17 episodes
2007-09	Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!	Tragg / Mancierge	2 episodes
2008	Pushing Daisies	The Great Hermann	Episode: "Oh Oh Oh It's Magic"
2008	Larry the Cable Guy's Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza	Various roles	Television film
2008	Transformers Animated	Swindle	Two episodes
2008	The Boondocks	Mr G. Petto	Episode: "The S Word"
2009	Everybody Hates Chris	Cop	Episode: "Everybody Hates the Car"
2009	Wizards of Waverly Place	Mr. Stuffleby	Two episodes
2009-2015	Modern Family	Frank Dunphy	Episodes: "Undeck the Halls", "Travels with Scout", "A Slight at the Opera", "The Wow Factor", "Goodnight Gracie", "The Help", "ClosetCon '13", and "The Big Guns" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (2010)
2010	Castle	Hank McPhee	Episode: "The Late Shaft"
2010-2014	Waves Sea	Donal Wilkins
2010	Chuck	Craig Turner	Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models"
2011	G.I. Joe: Renegades	Mayor	Episode: "Fire Fight"
2011	My Future Boyfriend	Bob	Television film
2011	The Closer	Santa Jack	Episode: "You Have The Right To Remain Jolly"
2012	Raising Hope	Mr. Swift	Episode: "Mrs. Smartypants"
2012	Trust Us With Your Life	Host	Season 1, 8 episodes
2012	Market Warriors	Host	Season 1
2012	Hot in Cleveland	Dr. Hill	Episode: "A Box Full of Puppies"
2013	Community	Alternate Pierce Hawthorne	Episode: "History 101"
2013	Family Tree	Mike Morton	3 episodes
2013	Drunk History	Deep Throat	Episode: "Washington D.C."
2014	Hollywood Game Night	Himself	Episode: "Clue Boom-Boom Pow!"
2014-2015	Review	Jack Walthall	Recurring
2014-2015	The Bold and the Beautiful	John Forrester	7 episodes Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series
2014	Comedy Bang! Bang!	Johnny Truckdaughter	Episode: "Fred Armisen Wears Black Jeans & Glasses"
2014	Black Jesus	Mr. Jimmy Maxwell	Episode: "Love Thy Enemy Part 2"
2014	The Birthday Boys	Archbishop	Episode: "Getting Preachy"

[ Source: Wikipedia ]