Fred Willard

Fred Willard (September 18, 1933 – May 15, 2020) was an American actor and comedian. He gained recognition for his collaborations with Christopher Guest in films such as This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), For Your Consideration (2006), and Mascots (2016). Willard also appeared in popular movies like Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), American Wedding (2003), and WALL-E (2008). He received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his role as Frank Dunphy on the sitcom Modern Family. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Willard graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute and the Virginia Military Institute before serving in the United States Army.