# Fred Willard

Frederick Charles Willard Jr. (September 18, 1933 – May 15, 2020) was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work with Christopher Guest in his mockumentary films This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), For Your Consideration (2006), and Mascots (2016). He also appeared in supporting roles in the comedy films Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), American Wedding (2003), and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004). On television, Willard received several Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on the sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond and Modern Family.

## Early life

Frederick Charles Willard was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 18, 1933. Willard's mother, Ruth (née Weinman) was a housewife. Willard was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. In 1945, when Fred was 12 years old, his father, Frederick Charles Willard, died.
Willard graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1951 and the Virginia Military Institute in 1955. He was stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Army.

## Career
### Early career

Willard's stage career began when he moved to New York in the late 1950s. His initial work included a production of Desperate Hours at a local YMCA where he worked with future comedy partner Vic Grecco. They later performed as Willard & Grecco in the Greenwich Village area, found some success touring, and appeared on The Dean Martin Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Tonight Show. They were offered roles in the television series Get Smart and The Carol Burnett Show, but the offers fell through due to poor management. The two parted ways in 1968.
Willard's film debut was in the 1967 exploitation film Teenage Mother. He later reported that the audience at one screening booed when his character interrupted an attempted sexual assault of the female lead.
One of Willard's earliest performing jobs was at The Second City, Chicago, where he shared the stage with Robert Klein and David Steinberg. He was a founding member of the improvisational comedy group Ace Trucking Company, whose other members included Michael Mislove and Bill Saluga. They performed sketches on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson over 50 times, and appeared regularly on This is Tom Jones.

### Rise to prominence

In 1977-78, Willard achieved wider fame as Barth Gimble's (Martin Mull) obtuse sidekick and announcer Jerry Hubbard on the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman spinoffs, Fernwood 2 Night and America 2-Night, which parodied television talk shows of the day. He was an original cast member of the popular NBC series Real People in 1979, then again from 1981 to 1983. He played Tom Osbourne in the 1987 Academy Award–winning short film Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. From 1987 to 1989 he starred as a bartender/straightman in Sid and Marty Krofft's D.C. Follies, and was host to the Krofft puppets portraying political figures of the time.
Willard hosted the talk show What's Hot, What's Not, which aired from 1985 to 1986 and earned him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
In 1990, Willard hosted the cable TV show Access America on the Ha! Comedy Network. As part of that show, on September 21, 1990, he appeared in episode 7 of the cult public-access television show Decoupage with Summer Caprice.
In 1995, Willard reunited with his Fernwood co-star, Martin Mull, playing Scott, the romantic partner of Mull's character Leon Carp, on Roseanne. The couple married in the episode "December Bride", and Scott became a recurring character during the series' final two seasons.
That same year, Willard guest-starred in three episodes of Sister, Sister, starring Tia and Tamera Mowry; Willard played Carl Mitushka, a teacher at Roosevelt High who often spoke popular teenage slang terms in order to sound cool to his students. Willard voiced travel agent Wally Kogen in the 1999 episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" for The Simpsons.
From 2001 to 2002, Willard played the father of five children on Maybe It's Me, and also guest-starred in an episode of The Weird Al Show. In 1985, he and Mull joined up again for the mockumentary The History of White People in America. He played Mayor Deebs in Roxanne, starring Steve Martin.

### Sustained success

Willard appeared in several Christopher Guest films, such as A Mighty Wind, in which he played Mike LaFontaine (known for his catchphrase "Eh—whahappen'?"); Best in Show, where he played Buck Laughlin, a dog show announcer with an unending stream of bad jokes and off-color comments; Waiting for Guffman, playing Ron Albertson, a travel agent who performs in amateur stage productions with his wife; This Is Spinal Tap, where he played a lieutenant on the military base where Spinal Tap perform; and For Your Consideration as an obnoxious entertainment television show anchor. For his performance in Waiting for Guffman, Willard received an American Comedy Award nomination and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Funniest Supporting Actor. He received the Boston Film Critics Award, an American Comedy Award, a Sierra Award and a tribute from AFI for his portrayal of Buck Laughlin in Best in Show. He also appeared in American Wedding, and as KVWN news director Ed Harken in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
Willard had a recurring role as Hank MacDougall on the later seasons of CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond, which brought him Emmy Award nominations in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He also hosted a VH1 documentary series, Totally Obsessed, about people obsessed with their hobbies. He appeared as Captain Ribmanman in Episode 21 of Channel Frederator, a podcast from Kansas. He provided the voices of nudist family dad Dave Campbell in Family Guy (first in the episode "From Method to Madness"), and of Officer Brown in King of the Hill, and appeared on That '70s Show. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Willard appeared in 100 sketches as a government official, businessman, or other authority figure who was always drinking. In 2006, he voiced Dad in the Academy Award nominated animated film Monster House. He also hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978 (with musical guests Devo), and appeared twice on MADtv.
He was the voice of a clueless companion to a lazy robot (played by Martin Mull) in one episode of the series Dexter's Laboratory and guest-starred on the Adult Swim cartoon Tom Goes to the Mayor. He acted in the Cartoon Network movie Re-Animated and played Vala Mal Doran's "father" in an episode of Stargate SG-1 in 2007. He appeared in two episodes of the Adult Swim program Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. He also starred as the "Boogey Man" in an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and reprised his role in a 2006 video game and the movie Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure. His final appearance as "Boogey" occurred in Billy & Mandy: Wrath of the Spider Queen. In 2007, he made a guest appearance on the children's TV series Come on Over. He also guest-starred on an episode of The Boondocks, providing the voice of "Joe Petto."
Willard was cast as a sportscaster in the television series Back to You, which premiered on the Fox Network on September 19, 2007. He played Shelby Forthright, the CEO of the Buy 'n' Large Corporation, in the first ever live-action speaking segments by Pixar in the animated film WALL-E.
Willard completed a sold-out run of Fred Willard: Alone At Last!, advertised as a "one-man show" but actually featuring a cast of twelve, and received Los Angeles Artistic Director Awards for Best Comedy and Best Production. Willard had several stage roles to his credit, including Off-Broadway performances in Little Murders, directed by Alan Arkin, and Arf, directed by Richard Benjamin. His regional roles include Call Me Madam in Chicago and the musicals Promises, Promises, with Jason Alexander, and Anything Goes with Rachel York, both in Los Angeles. He starred in Wendy Wasserstein's Isn't It Romantic and off Broadway in Elvis and Juliet.
On October 5, 2008, he hosted the Nickelodeon Fido Awards.
Willard played Frank Dunphy, father of Phil (Ty Burrell), in several episodes of the ABC sitcom Modern Family. For his performance, he was nominated at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series and in the same category at the 72nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, a posthumous nomination.
On September 16, 2011, Willard was honored as a Pioneer in Comedy at Burbank International Film Festival. Also in 2011, Willard starred as "Santa Jack," a comical—and somewhat pervy—owner of a local Christmas carnival in episode 12 of the final season of The Closer.
In 2012, he played Al Kaiser in Rob Reiner's film The Magic of Belle Isle. In 2013, he starred in The Bird Men (originally called The Birder) alongside Tom Cavanagh, a film centered around a mild-mannered birder who seeks revenge on a younger rival, after losing the highly coveted Head of Ornithology position at the National Park.
Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters presented Willard with the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at their celebrity luncheon on June 19, 2015.
On August 10, 2018, Willard made a special guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, reprising his role from a 1970s television pilot for an unmade series called Space Force, in light of President Donald Trump's announcement that he will create a space force for the United States military. Following the sketch, Willard made guest appearances on the show on a frequent basis, often portraying comedic, misguided characters parodying current news topics which Jimmy would interview "live via satellite". The characters included the ghosts of Fred Trump and George Washington, a Trump-supporting Santa Claus, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
On October 23, 2019, it was announced that Willard was cast as Fred Naird in the 2020 Netflix comedy series, Space Force. This was Willard's final acting role, with the series being released two weeks after his death.
Willard's final voice-acting performance was in the 2017 Disney animated cartoon Mickey and the Roadster Racers as the character Mr. Doozy.
Willard's final role was in the 2021 television film Captain Daddy, where he played the role of Daddy, it was released in the summer a year after his death.

## Personal life and death
### Marriage and family

In 1968, Willard married Mary Lovell (1947–2018). They had a daughter and a grandson.

### Legal issues

On July 18, 2012, Willard was arrested on suspicion of engaging in masturbation at an adult theater on Santa Monica Boulevard and was brought to the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Station. However, there was no proof of any misconduct and no charges were filed. Despite the outcomes, PBS fired Willard from Market Warriors immediately following his arrest, and Mark L. Walberg replaced him on the show. In an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon shortly thereafter, Willard stated that the incident was "very painful" and "very embarrassing", but that he "did nothing wrong". Willard was subsequently required to take a sex education diversion program.

### Death

Willard died at his home in Los Angeles on May 15, 2020, at age 86, according to his daughter and his representative. His cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, with coronary artery disease and myelodysplastic syndrome as contributing factors. Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband Christopher Guest, who frequently worked with Willard, were the first to reveal the news of his death. Willard is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1967 | Teenage Mother | Coach | |
| 1969 | Model Shop | Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Jenny | Executive | |
| 1971 | Dynamite Chicken | Self – Ace Trucking Co. | |
| 1973 | The Harrad Experiment | Ace Trucking Company employee | Uncredited |
| 1974 | Harrad Summer | Ace Trucking Company employee | Uncredited |
| 1975 | Hustle | Interrogator | |
| 1976 | Chesty Anderson, USN | Peter Linden | |
| 1976 | Silver Streak | Jerry Jarvis | |
| 1977 | Fun with Dick and Jane | Bob | |
| 1977 | Cracking Up | Various | |
| 1979 | Americathon | Vincent Vanderhoff | |
| 1980 | How to Beat the High Co$t of Living | Robert | |
| 1980 | First Family | Presidential Assistant Feebleman | |
| 1982 | National Lampoon's Movie Madness | President Robert Fogerty | |
| 1983 | IMPS* | Dad | (segment "3-Mile Island People") |
| 1984 | This Is Spinal Tap | Lt. Bob Hookstratten | |
| 1985 | Moving Violations | Terrence 'Doc' Williams | |
| 1987 | Roxanne | Mayor Deebs | |
| 1987 | Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall | Tom Osborne | Short |
| 1988 | Portrait of a White Marriage | Hal Harrison | |
| 1991 | High Strung | Insurance Salesman | |
| 1995 | Prehysteria! 3 | Thomas MacGregor | |
| 1996 | Waiting for Guffman | Ron Albertson | |
| 1998 | Permanent Midnight | Craig Ziffer | |
| 1999 | Elvis is Alive! | Interviewee | |
| 1999 | Can't Stop Dancing | Chester | |
| 1999 | Idle Hands | Dad Tobias | |
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Mission Commander | |
| 2000 | Dropping Out | Paul Blanchard | |
| 2000 | Chump Change | Steve's Manager | |
| 2000 | Best in Show | Buck Laughlin | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActorAmerican Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (2nd place)Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place)Nominated—Las Vegas Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2001 | The Wedding Planner | Basil St. Mosely | |
| 2001 | Teddy Bears' Picnic | Senator Roger Dickey | |
| 2001 | How High | Philip Huntley | |
| 2002 | The Year That Trembled | Frank Woods | |
| 2003 | A Mighty Wind | Mike LaFontaine | |
| 2003 | American Wedding | Harold Flaherty | |
| 2003 | Nobody Knows Anything! | Mr. McClintock | |
| 2004 | Killer Diller | Ned | |
| 2004 | 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover | Bucky Brandt | |
| 2004 | Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle | Dr. Willoughby | |
| 2004 | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | Edward "Ed" Harken | |
| 2004 | Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | Edward "Ed" Harken | Direct-to-video |
| 2004 | The Nutcracker and the Mouse King | Bubble | Voice |
| 2005 | Chicken Little | Melvin | Voice |
| 2005 | Love Wrecked | Ben Taylor | |
| 2006 | Date Movie | Bernie Funkyerdoder | |
| 2006 | Church Ball | Bishop Linderman | |
| 2006 | Monster House | DJ's Dad | Voice |
| 2006 | Ira & Abby | Michael Willoughby | |
| 2006 | For Your Consideration | Chuck | |
| 2007 | I'll Believe You | Mr. Fratus | |
| 2007 | Epic Movie | Aslo | |
| 2007 | Fighting Words | Longfellow | |
| 2007 | I Could Never Be Your Woman | Marty | |
| 2008 | WALL-E | Shelby Forthright, BnL CEO | Live-action scenes |
| 2008 | Harold | Dr. Pratt | |
| 2008 | Forever Plaid | Himself | |
| 2010 | Scouts Honor | Game Master | |
| 2010 | Holyman Undercover | Richard | |
| 2010 | Youth in Revolt | Mr. Ferguson | |
| 2010 | Expecting Mary | Jerry Zee | |
| 2011 | Fred & Vinnie | Movie Star | |
| 2011 | Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur | Mr. Hubley | Voice |
| 2012 | The Magic of Belle Isle | Al Kaiser | |
| 2013 | Max Rose | Jim Clark | |
| 2013 | Dealin' with Idiots | Marty | |
| 2013 | The Bird Men | Park President | Originally called The Birder |
| 2013 | Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues | Edward "Ed" Harken | |
| 2014 | The Yank | Peter Murphy | |
| 2014 | Planes: Fire & Rescue | Secretary of the Interior | Voice |
| 2014 | All Stars | John Carson | |
| 2015 | Russell Madness | TJ | |
| 2015 | The 1st Annual Carney Awards | Self – Host | |
| 2015 | Bachelors | Uncle Ulysses | |
| 2016 | Fifty Shades of Black | Gary | |
| 2016 | Here Comes Rusty | Mak | |
| 2016 | Mascots | Greg Gammons | |
| 2018 | Blood Type | Helicopter Pilot Captain John | |
| 2018 | The Bobby Roberts Project | Ben Brinstein | |
| 2020 | Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics | The 'Just Hang On!' Man | Final film role, released four days before his death |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1966 | Pistols 'n' Petticoats | Ben | Episode: "Quit Shootin' Folks" |
| 1966 | Hey, Landlord | Danny Subanski | Episode: "The Big Fumble" |
| 1968 | Get Smart | Lundy, Agent 198 | Episode: "A Tale of Two Tails" |
| 1968 | Premiere | Bower | Episode: "Operation Greasepaint" |
| 1970 | Love, American Style | Douglas Wiley Shelley Noodleman | Segment: "Love and the Nuisance" |
| 1973 | The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour | Various | |
| 1975 | The Bob Newhart Show | John Emil Tobin | Episode: "Tobin's Back in Town" |
| 1975 | Karen | Ritter | Episode: "Whistle Blowing" |
| 1976 | Laverne & Shirley | Charles | Episode: "Dog Day Blind Dates" |
| 1976 | How to Break Up a Happy Divorce | Lance Colson | Television film |
| 1976 | Good Heavens | P.J. | Episode: "The Big Break" |
| 1976–1977 | Sirota's Court | H.R. 'Bud' Nugent | 13 episodes |
| 1977 | Forever Fernwood | Jerry Hubbard | |
| 1977 | Fernwood 2 Night | Jerry Hubbard | 65 episodes |
| 1977 | Escape from Bogen County | Pearson | Television film |
| 1977 | We've Got Each Other | Shop Owner | Episode: "The Collector" |
| 1977 | Tabitha | Mr. Macho | Episode: "The Arrival of Nancy" |
| 1978 | America 2-Night | Jerry Hubbard | 65 episodes |
| 1978 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Fred Willard/Devo" |
| 1978 | Space Force | Captain Thomas Woods | |
| 1979 | Flatbed Annie and Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers | Jack LaRosa | Television film |
| 1979 | Salem's Lot | Larry Crockett | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | $weepstake$ | Don | Season 1, episode 8 |
| 1979–1984 | Real People | Himself | Voice |
| 1980 | The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter | Various roles | Television special |
| 1981 | An Evening at the Improv | Himself | Season 1, Episode 2 |
| 1981 | Pen 'n' Inc. | Ralph | Television film |
| 1981–1986 | The Love Boat | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1982 | SCTV Network | Himself | Episode: "Indecent Exposure" |
| 1982 | Madame's Place | Himself | Episode: "The Prey of Madness" |
| 1984 | Mama's Family | Willie Potts | Episode: "Mama Buys a Car" |
| 1984 | Trapper John, M.D. | K.K. Laird | Episode: "Moonlighting Becomes You" |
| 1985 | The History of White People in America | Hal Harrison | Television film |
| 1985 | Getting the Last Laugh | ABC Special | Television film |
| 1985 | George Burns Comedy Week | Fred | Episode: "Home for Dinner" |
| 1985 | Lots of Luck | A.J. Foley | Television film |
| 1985 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Paul Link | Episode: "The Three Little Pigs" |
| 1985–1986 | What's Hot, What's Not | Himself (host) | Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host |
| 1986 | Fast Times | Gus Pantelis | Episode: "Secret Romance" |
| 1986 | The History of White People in America: Volume II | Hal Harrison | Television film |
| 1987 | Fame | Casper Wintergreen | Episode: "Ian's Girl" |
| 1987–1989 | D.C. Follies | The Bartender | 19 episodes |
| 1988 | Out of This World | Milton Wiler | Episode: "The Box Is Missing" |
| 1988 | My Secret Identity | Ray Bennett | Episode: "For Old Time's Sake" |
| 1989 | I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood | Psychiatrist | Television special |
| 1991 | The Golden Girls | Bob | Episode: "Dateline:Miami" |
| 1991 | Nurses | Crazy Jim "Dr. Robinson" | Episode: "Friends and Lovers" |
| 1992 | Married... with Children | Stan Mandelson | Episode: "My Dinner with Anthrax" |
| 1992 | Dream On | Fenton Harley | Episode: "Up All Night" |
| 1993 | The Ben Stiller Show | Dad | Episode: "At the Beach" |
| 1993 | The Jackie Thomas Show | Hatfield Walker | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Sodbusters | Clarence Gentry | Television film |
| 1994 | Dave's World | Bud | Episode: "Just Kidding" |
| 1994 | Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die | Reginald Cobbles | Television film |
| 1994–1996 | Family Matters | Vice Principal Mallet | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | The Mommies | John | Episode: "The Dating Pool" |
| 1995 | Murphy Brown | Dick | Episode: "Dick and Dottie" |
| 1995–1997 | Roseanne | Scott | 8 episodes |
| 1996 | Back to Back | Loan Officer | Television film |
| 1996 | Friends | Mr. Lipson | Episode: "The One After the Super Bowl: Part 1" |
| 1996 | Clueless | Joe Pasadine | Episode: "City Beautification" |
| 1996 | Sister, Sister | Mr. Mitushka | 3 episodes |
| 1996 | The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper | Wally Winkle | Voice, 1 episode |
| 1996–1997 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | President Garner | 3 episodes |
| 1996 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Mr. Huffington | Episode: "Stealing Screech" |
| 1997 | Muppets Tonight | Himself | Episode: "Coolio & Don Rickles"; cameo |
| 1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | Harry Fellows | Episode: "Must Kill TV" |
| 1997 | Step by Step | Bert Lambert | Episode: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" |
| 1997 | The Weird Al Show | Award Show Host | Episode: "The Competition" |
| 1997 | Breast Men | Talk Show Host | Television film; uncredited |
| 1998 | The Wayans Bros. | Dick Ferndale | Episode: "All in the Family Feud" |
| 1998 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Bobby Calzone | Episode: "Rumor Mill" |
| 1998 | Oh Baby | Dr. Foster | Episode: "The Vacation" |
| 1998 | Two Guys and a Girl | Frank Farber | Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Vacation" |
| 1998 | City Guys | Mr. Brown | Episode: "A Noble Profession" |
| 1998–1999 | Mad About You | Henry Vincent | 5 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | Hercules | Vic | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1999 | The Pooch and the Pauper | President | Television film |
| 1999 | Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain | Glen Tarantella | Voice, episode: "Mr. Doctor" |
| 1999 | The Simpsons | Wally Kogan | Voice, episode: "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" |
| 1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Larry | Episode: "Hostess to Murder" |
| 1999 | G vs E | Sam Kleinhauser | Episode: "Airplane" |
| 1999 | Love & Money | Dr. Fielding | Episode: "Make Room for Daddy" |
| 1999–2000 | Ladies Man | Larry Little | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Pa | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2000 | The Hughleys | Richard Jacobson Applegate | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Bette | Jasper Perkins | Episode: "Big Business" |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Dr. Harold Madison | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | When Billie Beat Bobby | Howard Cosell | Television film |
| 2001 | Undeclared | Professor Duggan | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Girlfriends | Dr. Percy Bales | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Inside Schwartz | Dick Newton | Episode: "The Pinch Hitter" |
| 2001 | The Downer Channel | Mr. McVoid | Voice, episode: "Pilot" |
| 2001–2002 | Maybe It's Me | Jerry Stage | 22 episodes |
| 2001–2008 | King of the Hill | Officer Brown Ranger Bradley Reclining Hippie | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 2002 | Hey Arnold! | Sammy Redmond | Voice, episode: "Rich Guy" |
| 2002 | Dexter's Laboratory | F.R.E.D. | Voice, episode: "Lab on the Run" |
| 2002 | Family Guy | Dave Campbell | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2002–2004 | Teamo Supremo | Mr. Paulson | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2003 | National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure | Professor Doornitz | Television film |
| 2003 | That '70s Show | Charlie Miller | Episode: "The Battle of Evermore" |
| 2003–2004 | A Minute with Stan Hooper | Fred Hawkins | 13 episodes |
| 2003–2005 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Hank MacDougall | 13 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (2003, 2004, 2005) |
| 2003–2005 | Mad TV | Duke Flickman Gene St. John | 2 episodes |
| 2003–2007 | Kim Possible | Jack Hench | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2004 | The Drew Carey Show | Fred Tuttle | Episode: "Arrivederci, Italy" |
| 2004 | What the Blank | Himself | Host |
| 2004–2005 | Saturday Night Live | 'Bear City' Narrator | Voice, Uncredited |
| 2004–2005 | The Batman | Speedway Announcer, Ross Darren | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2004–2007 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Boogie Man | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Garry Friendly | Voice, episode: "Vice Mayor" |
| 2005 | Brandy & Mr. Whiskers | Dad Howler | Voice, episode: "The Howler Bunny" |
| 2006 | Campus Ladies | Doctor | Episode: "Spring Break" |
| 2006 | Re-Animated | Milt Appleday | Voice, television film |
| 2006 | Squirrel Boy | Stan the Exterminator | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Handy Manny | Mr. Dwayne Bouffant | Voice, episode: "Valentine's Day/Mr. Lopart Moves In" |
| 2006 | Come on Over | Dr. Fred Silliness | Episode: "Brain Freeze" |
| 2006 | My Gym Partner's a Monkey | Burt | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure | Boogey Man | Voice, television film |
| 2007 | Stargate SG-1 | Jacek | Episode: "Family Ties" |
| 2007 | Odd Job Jack | Norm | Episode: "Norm and the Magic Pencil" |
| 2007 | The Emperor's New School | Major Mudka | Voice, episode: "Mudka's Secret Recipe" |
| 2007–2008 | Back to You | Marsh McGinley | 17 episodes |
| 2007–2009 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Tragg Mancierge | 2 episodes |
| 2007–2010 | Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures | Bus Driver Bob | Voice, 17 episodes |
| 2008 | Pushing Daisies | The Great Hermann | Episode: "Oh Oh Oh It's Magic" |
| 2008 | Larry the Cable Guy's Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza | Various roles | Television film |
| 2008 | Transformers Animated | Swindle | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Worst Week | Paul | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | The Boondocks | Mr. Joe Petto | Voice, episode: "The S Word" |
| 2008–2009 | Free Radio | Dale Knutson | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Everybody Hates Chris | Cop | Episode: "Everybody Hates the Car" |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Mr. Stuffleby | 2 episodes |
| 2009–2020 | Modern Family | Frank Dunphy | 13 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (2010, 2020) |
| 2010 | Castle | Hank McPhee | Episode: "The Late Shaft" |
| 2010 | Important Things with Demetri Martin | Scientist | Episode: "Money" |
| 2010 | Chuck | Craig Turner | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models" |
| 2010 | Lilly's Light | Moylin | TV movie; Extended Cut released in 2021 (Posthumous release) |
| 2010–2011 | Glory Daze | Dr. Reynolds | 2 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Professor Jeff Baker | 3 episodes |
| 2010–2014 | Waves Sea | Donal Wilkins | |
| 2011 | G.I. Joe: Renegades | Mayor | Voice, episode: "Fire Fight" |
| 2011 | My Future Boyfriend | Bob | Television film |
| 2011 | The Closer | Santa Jack | Episode: "You Have The Right To Remain Jolly" |
| 2011 | Franklin & Bash | Wallace Clayton | Episode: "She Came Upstairs to Kill Me" |
| 2011 | Accidentally in Love | Dick Brocton | Television film |
| 2011 | Retired at 35 | Peter Dixon | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Easy to Assemble | Sigvard Thorsten | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Raising Hope | Mr. Swift | Episode: "Mrs. Smartypants" |
| 2012 | Trust Us With Your Life | Host | Season 1, 8 episodes |
| 2012 | The Life & Times of Tim | Judd | Voice, episode: "Action Packed Heist/Fall Foliage" |
| 2012 | Market Warriors | Host | Season 1 |
| 2012 | Rob | George | Episode: "Dad Comes to Visit" |
| 2012 | Hot in Cleveland | Dr. Hill | Episode: "A Box Full of Puppies" |
| 2012 | I, Martin Short, Goes Home | Mason Macgillivray | Television special |
| 2012 | Breaking In | Marty Mann | Episode: "The Legend of Hurley's Gold" |
| 2012 | The Cleveland Show | Gary | Voice, episode: "Menace II Secret Society" |
| 2013 | Community | Alternate Pierce Hawthorne | Episode: "History 101" |
| 2013 | Family Tree | Mike Morton | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Drunk History | Deep Throat | Episode: "Washington D.C." |
| 2013 | Good Luck Charlie | Herb Pickler | Episode: "All Fall Down" |
| 2014 | Black Jesus | Mr. Jimmy Maxwell | Voice, episode: "Love Thy Enemy Part 2" |
| 2014 | The Birthday Boys | Archbishop | Episode: "Getting Preachy" |
| 2014–2015 | Review | Jack Walthall | 4 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | The Bold and the Beautiful | John Forrester | 7 episodesDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series (Tied with Donna Mills and Ray Wise) |
| 2014–2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | TripTank | Various roles | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself (Blue Kitchen VIP guest) | Episode: "11 Chefs Compete" |
| 2015 | Celebrity Family Feud | Himself | Episode: Kevin McHale vs. Fred Willard |
| 2015 | Kevin from Work | Roger Trousdale | Episode: "Roommates from Work" |
| 2016–2019 | The Loud House | Albert (Pop-Pop) Reynolds | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 2016 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Himself (Celebrity Guest) | Episode: "Fred Willard vs. Yvette Nicole Brown" |
| 2016 | The Odd Couple | Fred Langford | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | SuperMansion | Champston employee | Voice, episode: "School Me Once" |
| 2017 | New Girl | Beezus | Episode: "Five Stars for Beezus" |
| 2017 | Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories | Dan | Episode: "The Demotion" |
| 2017 | 9JKL | Dick | Episode: "It Happened One Night" |
| 2017–2019 | Milo Murphy's Law | Grandpa Murphy | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2017–2021 | Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures | Mr. Doozy | Voice, 8 episodes (final performance, posthumously released) |
| 2018 | The 5th Quarter | Jerry Hymowitz | Episode: "Farewell" |
| 2018 | Corporate | Bill Hathaway | Episode: "The Long Meeting" |
| 2018 | Skylanders Academy | Announcer | Voice, episode: "Off to the Races" |
| 2018–2019 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Various roles | 9 episodes |
| 2019 | I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson | New Joe | Episode: "It's the Cigars You Smoke That Are Gonna Give You Cancer" |
| 2019 | Historical Roasts | God | Episode: "Anne Frank" |
| 2019 | The Bachelorette | Himself; Guest Announcer | Episode: "Week 2" |
| 2019 | What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage | Himself | Episode: "Assistant" |
| 2019 | Tigtone | Crackers | Voice, episode: "Tigtone and the Wizard Hunt" |
| 2020 | The Bachelor | Himself; Guest Announcer | Episode: "Week 3" |
| 2020 | Russell Maniac | TJ | 7 episodes |
| 2020 | Space Force | Fred Naird | 3 episodes; posthumous release (final appearance) |
| 2021 | Captain Daddy | Daddy | TV movie; Posthumous release (Final role) |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
| 2006 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Boogey | |
| 2007 | Hot Brain | Professor Ed Warmer | |