Remembering Fred Willard: Tributes and Some Classic Scenes
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Fred Willard in 2003’s A Mighty Wind
Although he was never what you would call a movie star, actor Fred Willard always made the films he was in better. And he was in a lot of them. The veteran actor died on May 15, 2020, at age 86.
Willard was part of Christopher Guest’s large repertory company for such films as Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. The comic actor was also in Rob Reiner’s classic mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, plus part of the great ensemble cast in the Anchorman films. TV viewers enjoyed watching him in such series as Fernwood 2 Night. Willard had a recurring role in the 2020 Netflix comedy series, Space Force.
When the news arrived of his passing, many of his co-stars paid tribute to the actor. Guest’s wife, Jaime Lee Curtis, wrote, “How lucky that we all got to enjoy Fred Willard’s gifts.” Steve Carell called Willard “the funniest person that I’ve ever worked with.”
Michael McKean wrote in part, “I’m at a loss for words, a state Fred Willard never found himself in.”
I’m at a loss for words, a state Fred Willard never found himself in. My friend for 40+ years, a great comic actor who had no competition because there was only one of him. We were all so lucky. Goodbye, Fred.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) May 16, 2020
Filmmaker Judd Apatow wrote, “Fred Willard could not have been funnier. He was pure joy. And the sweetest person you could ever meet.”
Fred Willard was the funniest person that I’ve ever worked with. He was a sweet, wonderful man.
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) May 16, 2020
Just learned of Fred Willard’s passing. Just about the funniest human ever to walk the planet. An amazing talent, in telekinetic contact with the very wellspring of comedy.
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 16, 2020
Penn Jillette called Willard’s acting “Genius.”
Such a sad day. We’ve lost #FredWillard and he will be missed. He was in our “Aristocrats” and killed. He’ll always be “Fernwood Tonight” to me, inventing modern comedy with #MartinMull. Fred never winked, he played the comedy pure. Genius. Perfect. pic.twitter.com/AZ0IrIrQyA
— Penn Jillette (@pennjillette) May 16, 2020
Watch Willard judging the hounds in Best in Show
“We are such fans of your music… and all of your records… I’m not speaking of yours personally, but the whole genre…”
Related: Another classic scene from This is Spinal Tap
“Hey, wha’ happened?”
Watch a scene with the great ensemble cast of Anchorman
Willard was born Sept. 18, 1933.
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationLoved his bits on tonight show with Jay Leno.
Absolutely one of the funniest comedic actors to ever grace the screen. I remember first seeing Fred Willard with the Ace Trucking Company on Johnny Carson. Then with Martin Mull on Fernwood Tonight. His delivery and insights were hysterical.
He was great as the timeshare huckster on “Married, With Children”.
“Is that the new Big ‘Uns? I had a letter published there last month.”
Priceless. As the story says, he didn’t wink or smile ala Benny Hill. He let the audience figure it out.