Adored comedic actor Fred Willard has died at 86-years-old, his daughter, Hope Mulbarger, shared in a statement on Saturday.
Fred was perhaps best known for his hilarious role of Frank Dunphy on *Modern Family*.
But by no means was that the be-all and end-all of Fred’s acting resume.
He’s been a Hollywood mainstay since first breaking into the scene back in the late 1970s .
Over the years, Fred made cameo appearances in some of our favorite films and TV shows.
To try and quote Fred’s lengthy and impressive resume would be doing him a disservice.
Through his hard work and dedication, Fred became one of the most familiar faces in comedy.
Fred’s big break happened when he was cast as a member of *SCTV*.
This sketch comedy collective was comprised of some of the hottest young talented comedians in the industry.
John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Martin Short all got their start on SCTV .
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His first real film role came when Fred made a brief appearance in Rob Reiner’s seminal mockumentary *This Is Spinal Tap*.
Fred played a military colonel and chaperone to the band .
He doesn’t have an abundance of screen time but Fred still manages to work his magic.
Fred was always playing background characters. His first starring role didn’t happen until the year 2000 when he appeared in *Best In Show*.
If you haven’t seen this hilarious mockumentary-style film about the competitive world of animal pageantry , add it to your list!
Fred then went on to star alongside hip-hop moguls Redman and Method Man in the hilarious stoner comedy *How High*.
Fred played the hilarious Harvard chancellor, Philip Huntley .
His brief but memorable appearances help make the film the hilarious cult classic that it is today.
And of course, who could forget his brief but memorable appearance alongside Will Ferrell in *Anchorman*?
Fred played network exec, Ed Harken.
His hilarious phone calls about his troubled son served as some of the more hilarious moments in-between scenes.
Fred’s daughter, Hope, took to Twitter to share that her father had passed away peacefully.
“He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end,” she wrote as part of her tribute.
So heartbreaking.
Condolences have already started pouring in from those who worked closely with Fred, including Jamie Lee Curtis.
“A fond farewell to Mr. Fred Willard. How lucky we all are that we got to witness his great gifts. Thanks for the deep belly laughs. You are now with Mary. Home safe,” she wrote.
*Modern Family* star Jesse Tyler Ferguson tweeted about how much of an original icon Fred really was.
RIP.
Even his fellow *Anchorman* co-star Steve Carrell offered Tweets of rememberance.
It is truly such a heartbreaking and sad moment for the world of entertainment.
This year just keeps on taking. Once again, the world collectively mourns a comedy icon. RIP Fred Willard, your legacy will never be forgotten!
Which of Fred’s roles do you most remember him for? Leave a comment below and let us know!
