Fred Willard Biography (2)

Fred Willard radiates a unique charm that has established him as one of our generation's most gifted comic actors. A master of sketch comedy, Willard is most heralded for his quick wit and improvisational expertise, which he has exemplified in recent appearances on Ladies Man, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. He is also well known for his distinguished recurring roles on other successful, award-winning television sitcoms including Mad About You and Roseanne (for which he received an Emmy nomination).

Willard's featured appearances in sketches on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno are indicative of his ability to transform any character into a unique comic portrayal.

Willard's work in Best in Show brought him an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture and a Best Supporting Actor award from the Boston Society of Film Critics. Waiting For Guffman earned him an American Comedy Award nomination and a Screen Actor's Guild nomination for Funniest Supporting Actor. Some of his other film work includes The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, Idle Hands, Permanent Midnight, This is Spinal Tap, Roxanne and the Academy Award winning short film, Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall.

Willard is an alumnus of Second City and was founding member of the classic improv group The Ace Trucking Company. Willard and Martin Mull co-starred in Norman Lear's innovative cult classic late night talk show, Fernwood 2Night, which aired recently on Nick At Nite and was celebrated this year at the Museum of Television & Radio. Years later Willard was a series regular, playing Martin Mull's gay lover on the award winning show, Roseanne.

Willard's theatre credits include Promises, Promises, Little Murders, Isn't It Romantic and Elvis and Juliet. Willard recently completed a sold out run of his one-man show, Fred Willard: Alone At Last! (with a cast of twelve) and received two Los Angeles Artistic Director awards, for Best Comedy and Best Production.

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