Actor Fred Willard of ‘Modern Family,’ 'Best in Show’ dead at 86

Beloved actor and comedian Fred Willard has died at the age of 86.

A representative for Willard said he died of natural causes on Friday.

>> Read more trending news

Willard’s only child, Hope Mulbarger, released a statement, saying, “My father passed away very peacefully last night at the fantastic age of 86 years old. He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end.”

Willard appeared in numerous television shows and movies, including “Modern Family,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “This is Spinal Tap,” “Best in Show” and the “Anchorman” films.

“How lucky that we all got to enjoy Fred Willard’s gifts,” actress Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on Twitter. “He is with his missed Mary now. Thanks for the deep belly laughs Mr. Willard.”

“Fred Willard was the funniest person that I’ve ever worked with. He was a sweet, wonderful man,” Steve Carrell wrote on the social media platform.

Less than a week ago, Willard wrote on Twitter after the passing of entertainment figures Little Richard and Jerry Stiller.

>> Related: Jerry Stiller, ‘Seinfeld’ actor and father of Ben Stiller, dead at 92

>> Related: Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard dies at 87

Willard made his film debut in 1967′s “Teenage Mother." He appeared in more works in the late 1970s, including an episode of “Saturday Night Live," which he hosted in 1978. In 1984, he began working with Christopher Guest, who directed “For Your Consideration,” “A Mighty Wind" and “Waiting For Guffman," all of which Willard appeared in.

Willard will appear posthumously alongside Carrell in an upcoming Netflix series called “Space Force."

Willard’s wife, Mary, died in 2018. The pair had been married since 1968.

Cox Media Group