Sad news for the Modern Family family, whose octogenarian actor died in mid-May 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
"My father died very peacefully last night at the extraordinary age of 86. Until his last days, he worked and he made us tremendously happy people, we loved him so much! " his daughter Hope told People magazine.
Fred Willard: A look back at his career up to Modern Family (ABC)
Born in Ohio (USA), Frederick Charles Willard began his career in the late 50s. When he was younger, he began his schooling at Shaker Heights High School. Then he joined the Kentucky Military Institute. Before appearing on screen, he joined the world of stand-up and improvisation, in New York and later, the prestigious troupe of Second City in Chicago, of which Bill Murray was a member. Fred Willard landed his first television appearances in the 60s, notably on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show on NBC. He then multiplied his appearances in satirical shows in 70, including Saturday Night Live. From the top of his 50-year career, he has more than 90 films and series to his credit. Both an actor on the big and small screen, he dubbed animated films such as Wall-e, Chicken Little and Planes. He has also appeared in films and series such as Spın̈al Tap, Austin Powers, How High, American Pie, Everyone Loves Raymond and Lois and Clark. In 2010, the actor received a second Emmy nomination, for his role in Modern Family. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQpFLdBtKI/
"Fred Willard. You will always be a true original. Thank you for these years of laughter and these brilliant characters. To say that we were honored to have you as a member of the Modern Family would be the understatement of the year. Rest in peace, my dear Fred," said Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Mitchell Pritchett's interpreter.
One last role on the small screen
From May 29, Netflix subscribers will be able to discover him in the new series Space Force, in which he plays the role of Steve Carell's father. Space Force reunites Carell and The Office creator Greg Daniels. The satirical series also stars Lisa Kudrow, John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Jimmy O. Yang, Tawny Newsome and Diana Silvers. It follows General Naird, played by Carell, as he is hired to lead a new branch of the Armed Forces, tasked with putting "American boots on the moon" by 2024. A first posthumous role that will be an opportunity to enjoy a little more of the talents of the actor, in a new unpublished series.
