Jamie Lee Curtis, Henry Winkler and Other Stars Mourn Fred Willard
Actors and colleagues of Fred Willard take to their various social media accounts to send their tribute to the comedic icon who recently passed away.
Although death is no respecter of person, it is still hard and heartbreaking to lose someone. While one has no control over death, one can choose to celebrate the memories of the deceased.
Fellow stars and colleagues of Fred Willard took to their various social media accounts to send their tribute and recall fond memories of the legend who recently passed on.
A younger Fred Willard on the set of reality television serious "Real People" during its third season in 1980-81 | Photo: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Fred Willard, who died peacefully on Friday from natural causes at the age of 86, had a robust acting career and was privileged to work with various people over his years in the industry. Following his death, they are paying their tribute.
Actor, Comedian, and producer Henry Winkler took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the late Fred. In his short tweet, Henry wrote:
"RIP Fred Willard ..you were incomparable."
Similarly, actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram and shared a picture of Fred from one of his shows.
She expressed that the world was lucky to have witnessed Fred's great gift. She also thanked him for the deep belly laughs he was able to elicit from those who watched him.
Josh Gad also shared a picture of himself and Fred from their time on the series "Back to You." Josh admitted that he was deeply hurt at the passing away of Fred as the two had gone from being colleagues to being good friends over the years.
Fred was content with spreading joy through his humour.
Judd Apatow and Jimmy Kimmel talked about how sweet and funny Fred was all through their interactions with him. Similarly, Christina Appelgate and Chris O'Dowd thanked Fred for the years of laughter and work ethics he displayed.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson who acted alongside Fred Willard in the sitcom "Modern Family" also said:
"Rest In Peace, sweet @Fred_Willard. You will always be a true original, and I am so honored that our lives intersected. No one will ever come close to replacing your genius."
Fred, whose childhood ambition was to become a pro baseball player and even had a stint at playing in college, ended up acting and is iconic for his funny expression and quirky lines.
Although he started out doing improv comedy, he soon honed his skills and was a delight to watch on screen. An Ohio native, Fred was content with spreading joy through his humor.
A four-time Emmy Award winner and avid tourist, Fred was married to his wife Mary for almost 50 years up until her death less than two years ago. He is survived by his only daughter— Hope, his son-in-law, and his grandson.
Even in death, the works and legacy Fred has left behind would forever be honored by those who met him and immortalized in the movies and shows he made.