This death really hit home because Fred wasn’t just a name from the distant past. Just a few months ago he was still appearing regularly on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and he was almost as quick as ever. He was an underrated giant, an absolute master at what he did and, as the article points out, “Willard was one of those actors who made you smile at first sight.” Like many people, I first took notice of Willard when he played the hilariously clueless Jerry Hubbard on Fernwood 2 Night, a show I watched religiously and still occasionally quote.
Fernwood 2 Night: “Talk to a Jew” – from the first episode.
The complete first episode. “Leisure Suits Cause Cancer” – guest starring Dabney Coleman as Fernwood’s mayor.
I remember Fred primarily from the TV movie Salem’s Lot. He had the worst part in the film, a lame plotline that had zilch to do with the main vampire plot. He had a scene in which George Dzundza shoved a shotgun in his mouth and Fred shat his pants in fear. Later he became a really bad-acting vampire. But he was a fav in Fernwood 2Night, and many other things. Whenever he guest starred on stuff like Love Boat or Wonder Woman, I knew it’d be an entertaining show. Sucks that he passed, but I do think he gained general respect for his talents long ago. I’ll feel exactly the same way when Martin Mull takes the eternal dirt nap.