Actor
Fred Willard
Born 18 September 1933 · Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA — died 15 May 2020
Fred Willard (1933–2020) was an American actor and comedian from Ohio, celebrated for his deadpan, improvised comic performances. A Second City alumnus, he became a fixture of Christopher Guest's mockumentaries and played oblivious, upbeat characters in many studio comedies and TV shows.
Key films
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Early small role in the landmark mockumentary that launched the improvisational style he later became known for.
Waiting for Guffman (1997)
First Christopher Guest ensemble film for him, showcasing his gift for clueless, cheerful improvisation.
Best in Show (2000)
His turn as a tactless dog-show commentator is often cited as his signature comic performance.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Popular mainstream comedy where he played a supporting role in the Will Ferrell-led newsroom ensemble.
WALL·E (2008)
Voiced a corporate figure in Pixar's acclaimed film, his best-known work in animation.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 135
- 1967Teenage Mother · as CoachActor
- 1969Model Shop · as Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)Actor
- 1970Jenny · as ExecutiveActor
- 1971Dynamite Chicken · as Self - Ace Trucking Co.Actor
- 1973The Harrad Experiment · as The Ace Trucking CompanyActor
- 1974Harrad Summer · as Gary LoganActor
- 1975Hustle · as InterrogatorActor
- 1976Silver Streak · as Jerry JarvisActor
- 1976Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy · as Peter LindenActor
- 1976How to Break Up a Happy Divorce · as Lance ColsonActor
- 1977Fun with Dick and Jane · as BobActor
- 1977Cracking UpActor
- 1977Escape from Bogen County · as PearsonActor
- 1977The People's Command Performance: '77 · as Self - Ace Trucking CompanyActor
- 1978Space Force · as Captain Thomas WoodsActor
- 1979Americathon · as Vincent VanderhoffActor
- 1979Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers · as Jack LaRosaActor
- 1980How to Beat the High Cost of Living · as RobertActor
- 1980First Family · as Presidential Assistant FeeblemanActor
- 1981The Perfect Woman · as King KrogerActor
- 1982National Lampoon's Movie Madness · as President Robert Fogerty - 'Success Wanters'Actor
- 1982Twilight Theater II · as Self- GuestActor
- 1983Imps* · as DadActor
- 1984This Is Spinal Tap · as Lt. HookstrattenActor
- 1985Moving Violations · as Terrence "Doc" WilliamsActor
- 1985The History of White People in America · as Hal HarrisonActor
- 1985Lots of Luck · as A.J. FoleyActor
- 1986The History of White People in America: Volume II · as Hal HarrisonActor
- 1987Roxanne · as Mayor DeebsActor
- 1987Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall · as Tom OsborneActor
- 1987Martin Mull Live from North Ridgeville, Ohio · as SelfActor
- 1988Portrait of a White Marriage · as Hal HarrisonActor
- 1988Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel · as Finn Howard, Metropolis Deputy MayorActor
- 1989I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood · as Man #2 at PartyActor
- 1991Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth · as SelfActor
- 1991The 1984 Los Angeles Comedy Competition With Host Jay Leno · as Self / Celebrity JudgeActor
- 1992High Strung · as Insurance SalesmanActor
- 1992A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out · as Lt. Bob HookstrattenActor
- 1992Martin Mull: Talent Takes a Holiday · as SelfActor
- 1994Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die · as Reginald CobblesActor
- 1994Sodbusters · as Clarence GentryActor
- 1995Prehysteria! 3Actor
- 1996Back to Back · as Loan OfficerActor
- 1997Waiting for Guffman · as Ron AlbertsonActor
- 1997Breast Men · as Talk Show Host (uncredited)Actor
- 1997steve.oedekerk.comActor
- 1998Permanent Midnight · as Craig ZifferActor
- 1999Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me · as Mission CommanderActor
- 1999Idle Hands · as DadActor
- 1999Can't Stop Dancing · as ChesterActor
- 2000Best in Show · as Buck LaughlinActor
- 2000The Pooch and the Pauper · as PresidentActor
- 2000Chump Change · as Steve's ManagerActor
- 2000Dropping Out · as Paul BlanchardActor
- 2001The Wedding Planner · as Basil St. MoselyActor
- 2001How High · as Philip HuntleyActor
- 2001When Billie Beat Bobby · as Howard CosellActor
- 2001Teddy Bears' Picnic · as Senator Roger DickeyActor
- 2001Elvis Is Alive! I Swear I Saw Him Eating Ding Dongs Outside the Piggly Wiggly'sActor
- 2002The Year That Trembled · as Frank WoodsActor
- 2003American Wedding · as Harold FlahertyActor
- 2003A Mighty Wind · as Mike LaFontaineActor
- 2003Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure · as Professor DoornitzActor
- 2004Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy · as Ed HarkenActor
- 2004Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle · as Dr. WilloughbyActor
- 2004Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie · as Ed HarkenActor
- 2004American Pie: Revealed · as SelfActor
- 2004Nobody Knows Anything! · as Mr. McClintockActor
- 200450 Ways to Leave Your Lover · as Bucky BrandtActor
- 2004The Nutcracker and the Mouseking · as Bubble (voice)Actor
- 2004Frasier: Analyzing the Laughter · as AnalystActor
- 2004Killer Diller · as NedActor
- 2004Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown · as SelfActor
- 2005Chicken Little · as Melvin - Alien Dad (voice)Actor
- 2005Love Wrecked · as Ben TaylorActor
- 2005The Aristocrats · as SelfActor
- 2006Monster House · as Dad (voice)Actor
- 2006Date Movie · as Bernie FunkyerdoderActor
- 2006For Your Consideration · as ChuckActor
- 2006Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner · as Self - RoasterActor
- 2006Re-Animated · as Milt AppledayActor
- 2006Ira & Abby · as Michael WilloughbyActor
- 2006Church Ball · as Bishop LindermanActor
- 2006Fighting Words · as LongfellowActor
- 2006Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen · as Santa Claus / Dog Catcher (voice)Actor
- 2007Epic Movie · as AsloActor
- 2007I Could Never Be Your Woman · as MartyActor
- 2007Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure · as The Boogey Man (voice)Actor
- 2007Billy & Mandy: Wrath of the Spider Queen · as Boogey (voice)Actor
- 2007Fired! · as SelfActor
- 2007I'll Believe You · as Mr. FratusActor
- 2008WALL·E · as Shelby Forthright, BnL CEOActor
- 2008Harold · as Dr. PrattActor
- 2009Youth in Revolt · as Mr. FergusonActor
- 2009Official Rejection · as SelfActor
- 2009Scouts Honor · as Game MasterActor
- 2009School Gyrls · as Mr LockwoodActor
- 2010Holyman Undercover · as RichardActor
- 2010Expecting Mary · as Jerry ZeeActor
- 2010Hermie & Friends: Antonio Meets His Match · as AngusActor
- 2010Lilly's Light · as MoylinActor
- 2011Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur · as Mr. Hubley (voice)Actor
- 2011My Future Boyfriend · as BobActor
- 2011Your Love Never Fails · as PaulActor
- 201112 Wishes of Christmas · as Jack VolaraActor
- 2011Accidentally in Love · as Dick BroctonActor
- 2011Fred & Vinnie · as Movie StarActor
- 2012The Magic of Belle Isle · as Al KaiserActor
- 2012I, Martin Short, Goes Home · as Mason MacgillivrayActor
- 2013Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues · as Ed HarkenActor
- 2013Dealin' with IdiotsActor
- 2013The Birder · as Park PresidentActor
- 2014Planes: Fire & Rescue · as Secretary of the Interior (voice)Actor
- 2014All-Stars · as John CarsonActor
- 2014Wish Wizard · as Hope GiverActor
- 2014The Yank · as Peter MurphyActor
- 2015Russell Madness · as TJActor
- 2015Bachelors · as Uncle UlyssesActor
- 2015Show Boat · as Cap'n Andy HawksActor
- 2016Fifty Shades of Black · as GaryActor
- 2016Mascots · as Greg Gammons, Jr.Actor
- 2016Max Rose · as Jim ClarkActor
- 2016Here Comes Rusty · as MakActor
- 2017Oh DamnActor
- 2017Every 40 Years · as HimselfActor
- 2018Lovesick Fool - Love in the Age of Like · as SmittyActor
- 2020Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics · as The 'Just Hang On!' ManActor
- 2020Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness · as SelfActor
- 2020Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp · as SelfActor
- 2020Kaufmania! · as SelfActor
- 2020Lilly's Light: The Movie · as MoylinActor
- 2021Captain Daddy · as Daddy (voice)Actor
- 2021Live at Mister Kelly's · as SelfActor
- 2025Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2026Who Is Martin Mull? · as SelfActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.