Creator / Fred Willard

"His comic delivery is so natural that I don't think he can prevent it. If Fred Willard was a doctor, it would take him 15 tries to convince you he wasn't kidding about your bone cancer."

—Seanbaby on Fred Willard

Frederick Charles Willard (September 18, 1933 – May 15, 2020) was an American actor, comedian, voice actor and writer, best known for his improvisational comedy. He sadly passed away in his sleep from natural causes on May 15, 2020 at the age of 86.

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Works with TV Tropes Pages:

Film roles

• Model Shop (1969): Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
• Silver Streak (1976): Jerry Jarvis
• Fun with Dick and Jane (1977): Bob
• Americathon (1979): Vincent Vanderhoff
• How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980): Robert
• National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1982): President Robert Fogerty
• This is Spın̈al Tap (1984): Lt. Bob Hookstratten
• Moving Violations (1985): Terrence "Doc" Williams
• Roxanne (1987): Mayor Deebs
• Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall (1987): Tom Osborne
• ''Prehysteria! 3 (1995): Thomas MacGregor
• Waiting for Guffman (1996): Rob Albertson
• Idle Hands (1999): Dad Tobias
• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999): Mission Commander
• Best in Show (2000): Buck Laughlin
• The Wedding Planner (2001): Basil St. Mosely
• How High (2001): Philip Huntley
• A Mighty Wind (2003): Mike LaFontaine
• American Wedding (2003): Harold Flaherty
• Killer Diller (2004): Ned
• Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004): Dr. Willoughby
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004): Ed Harken
  • Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013): Ed Harken
• The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (2004): Bubble (voice, English dub)
• Chicken Little (2005): Melvin (voice)
• Date Movie (2006): Bernie Funkyerdoder
• Church Ball (2006): Bishop Linderman
• Monster House (2006): Dad (voice)
• For Your Consideration (2006): Chuck
• Epic Movie (2007): Aslo
• I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007): Marty
• WALL•E (2008): Shelby Forthright, Buy 'N Large CEO^note  to date, the only live-action performance in a Pixar film
• Youth in Revolt (2009): Mr. Ferguson
• Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014): Secretary of the Interior (voice)
• Mascots (2016): Greg Gammons Jr.

Television roles

• Get Smart (1 episode, 1968): Lundy
• Love, American Style (1 episode, 1970): Douglas Wiley
• The Bob Newhart Show (1 episode, 1975): John Emil Tobin
• Laverne & Shirley (2 episodes, 1976): Charles/Man in Bathroom
• Fernwood Tonight (44 episodes, 1977): Jerry Hubbard
• 'Salem's Lot (2 episodes, 1979): Larry Crockett
• The Love Boat (3 episodes, 1981–86): Richard Henderson/Lou/Nil Logan
• Mama's Family (1 episode, 1984): Willie Potts
• SCTV Channel (1 episode, 1984): Fred Winston
• Trapper John, M.D. (1 episode, 1984): K.K. Laird
• Faerie Tale Theatre (1 episode, 1985): Paul
• Fame (1 episode, 1987): Casper Wintergreen
• D.C. Follies (45 episodes, 1987–89): Fred Willard
• Out of This World (1 episode, 1988): Milton Wyler
• My Secret Identity (1 episode, 1988): Ray Bennett
• Not Necessarily the News (2 episodes, 1989): Ken
• Murder, She Wrote (1 episode, 1991): Lt. Phillips
• The Golden Girls (1 episode, 1991): Bob
• Nurses (1 episode, 1991): Crazy Jim
• Married... with Children (1 episode, 1992): Stan
• Dream On (1 episode, 1992): Fenton Harley
• The Ben Stiller Show (1 episode, 1993): Dad
• The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1 episode, 1993): Rich Braithwaite
• Dave's World (1 episode, 1994): Bud
• Family Matters (3 episodes, 1994–96): Vice Principal Mallet
• Murphy Brown (1 episode, 1995): Dick
• Roseanne (8 episodes, 1995–97): Scott
• Friends (1 episode, 1996): Mr. Lipson
• Sister, Sister (3 episodes, 1996): Mr. Mitushka
• The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper (1 episode, 1996): Wally Winkle (voice)
• Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1 episode, 1996): Mr. Huffington
• Lois & Clark (3 episodes, 1996–97): President Garner
• Diagnosis: Murder (1 episode, 1997): Harry Fellows
• Step by Step (1 episode, 1997): Bert Lambert
• The Weird Al Show (1 episode, 1997): Award Show Host
• The Wayans Bros. (1 episode, 1998): Dick Ferndale
• Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1 episode, 1998): Bobby Calzone
• Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (1 episode, 1998): Frank Farber
• City Guys (1 episode, 1998): Mr. Brown
• Hercules: The Animated Series (4 episodes, 1998–99): Vic (voice)
• Mad About You (5 episodes, 1998–99): Henry Vincent
• The Simpsons (1 episode, 1999): Wally Kogen (voice)
• Just Shoot Me! (1 episode, 1999): Larry
• Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain (1 episode, 1999): Dr. Glen Tarantella (voice)
• Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (3 episodes, 2000): Pa (voice)
• The Hughleys (2 episodes, 2000): Applegate/Richard Jacobson
• Teacher's Pet (3 episodes, 2000–02): Mr. Wazselewski (voice)
• Ally McBeal (2 episodes, 2001): Dr. Harold Madison
• Dexter's Laboratory (1 episode, 2001): F.R.E.D. (voice)
• Girlfriends (2 episodes, 2001): Dr. Percy Bales
• The Legend of Tarzan (2 episodes, 2001): Baruti (voice)
• Inside Schwartz (1 episode, 2001): Dick Newton
• Undeclared (2 episodes, 2001–02): Prof. Duggan
• King of the Hill (7 episodes, 2001–08): Various/Officer Brown (voice)
• Hey Arnold! (1 episode, 2002): Sammy Redmond (voice)
• Family Guy (2 episodes, 2002): Dave Campbell (voice)
• Teamo Supremo (5 episodes, 2002): Mr. Paulsen (voice)
• That '70s Show (1 episode, 2003): Charlie
• Everybody Loves Raymond (13 episodes, 2003–05): Hank MacDougall
• Mad TV (2 episodes, 2003–05): Gene St. John/Duke Flickman
• Kim Possible (3 episodes, 2003–07): Jack Hench (voice)
• The Drew Carey Show (1 episode, 2004): Fred Tuttle
• Saturday Night Live (5 episodes, 2004–05): "Bear City" Narrator (voice, uncredited)
• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2 episodes, 2004–07): Boogeyman (voice)
  • Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure (2008): Boogeyman (voice)
• Brandy & Mr. Whiskers (1 episode, 2005): Dad Howler (voice)
• Kim Possible (1 episode, 2005): Jack Hench (voice)
• Tom Goes to the Mayor (1 episode, 2005): Garry Friendly (voice)
• The Batman (2 episodes, 2004–05): Ross/Instructor/Speedway Announcer (voice)
• My Gym Partner's a Monkey (2 episodes, 2006): Burt (voice)
• Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen (2006): Santa Claus/Dog Catcher (voice)
• Re-Animated (2006): Milt Appleday (voice)
• Stargate SG-1 (1 episode, 2007): Jacek
• Squirrel Boy (1 episode, 2007): Stan (voice)
• Odd Job Jack (1 episode, 2007): Norm (voice)
• The Emperor's New School (1 episode, 2007): Maj. Mudka (voice)
• Slacker Cats (2 episodes, 2007–09): (voice)
• Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2 episodes, 2007–09): Tragg/Mancierge
• The Boondocks (1 episode, 2008): Mr. Joe Petto (voice)
• Pushing Daisies (1 episode, 2008): The Great Herrmann
• Handy Manny (2 episodes, 2008): Dwayne Bouffant (voice)
• Transformers: Animated (2 episodes, 2008–09): Swindle (voice)
• Everybody Hates Chris (1 episode, 2009): Police Officer
• Wizards of Waverly Place (2 episodes, 2009): Mr. Stuffleby
• Modern Family (14 episodes, 2009–20): Frank Dunphy
• Castle (1 episode, 2010): Hank McPhee
• Chuck (1 episode, 2010): Craig Turner
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! (10 episodes, 2010–20): Various
• G.I. Joe: Renegades (1 episode, 2011): Mayor Lockridge (voice)
• Franklin & Bash (1 episode, 2011): Wallace Clayton
• Versailles (7 episodes, 2011): Hoyt
• Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011): Mr. Hubley (voice)
• The Closer (1 episode, 2011): Santa Jack
• Raising Hope (1 episode, 2012): Mr. Swift
• The Life & Times of Tim (1 episode, 2012): Judd (voice)
• Breaking In (1 episode, 2012): Marty Mann
• The Cleveland Show (1 episode, 2012): Gary (voice)
• Hot in Cleveland (1 episode, 2012): Dr. Hill
• Good Luck Charlie (1 episode, 2013): Herb Pickler
• Community (1 episode, 2013): Alter-Pierce
• Family Tree (3 episodes, 2013): Mike Morton
• Drunk History (1 episode, 2013): Deep Throat
• Black Jesus (1 episode, 2014): Mr. Jimmy Maxwell, Landlord
• The Bold and the Beautiful (7 episodes, 2014–15): John Forrester
• Review (5 episodes, 2014–15): Jack T. Walthall
• Comedy Bang! Bang! (2 episodes, 2014–16): Johnny Truckdaughter/Merlin
• TripTank (5 episodes, 2014–16): Various (voice)
• The Odd Couple (2 episodes, 2016): Fred Langford
• The Loud House (7 episodes, 2016–19): Pop-Pop (voice)
• SuperMansion (1 episode, 2017): Dean Worthers/Mascot Tryout Judge (voice)
• New Girl (1 episode, 2017): Beezus
• Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories (1 episode, 2017): Dan
• Milo Murphy's Law (2 episodes, 2017–18): Grandpa Murphy (voice)
• Mickey and the Roadster Racers (8 episodes, 2017–21): Mr. Doozy (voice)
• Corporate (1 episode, 2018): Bill Hathaway (uncredited)
• Skylanders Academy (1 episode, 2018): Announcer (voice)
• Tigtone (1 episode, 2019): Crackers (voice)
• I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (1 episode, 2019): New Joe
• Space Force (3 episodes, 2020): Fred Naird

Video game roles

• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2006): Boogeyman (voice)

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Tropes that apply to his works include:

• Cloudcuckoolander: He was well-known for playing characters with a perpetual spaciness to them. His quavering voice certainly helped him in this regard.
• The Comically Serious: His signature was spouting off inane nonsense with enough straight-faced sincerity to make his characters seem like genuine eccentrics you could actually encounter in real-life rather than affected performances by an actor.
• Cool Old Guy: He was already well into middle age when he broke out, and his roles made excellent use of his charisma and confidence, making his characters much funnier.
• Cuckoolander Commentator: He commonly played inept and unqualified event announcers in Christopher Guest's works.
• Improv: Was known to have been an excellent improviser. According to Christopher Guest, several of Willard's parts in his films were completely improvised; the scripts didn't even include rough outlines for his characters.
• Nice Guy: As deluded and idiotic as they were, his characters always had his natural warmth and charm, making them impossible not to like.
• Pigeonholed Actor: His career consisted almost entirely of playing men who were either pompous idiots, Cloudcuckoolanders, or some combination of the two.
• Production Posse: A regular of Christopher Guest's films.
• Small Name, Big Ego: Several of his characters were excessively proud has-beens or never-weres.
• So Unfunny, It's Funny: He was a master at delivering terrible jokes and quips that would normally make one groan with such confidence and self-satisfaction that they became hilarious.

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