Comedy legend Fred Willard has died at the age of 86 due to natural causes, his family have confirmed.
The actor had been working in the industry since the late 1950s and had an extensive CV, appearing in hundreds of TV and film productions.
In recent years Willard became known to new audiences as Phil's father Frank Dunphy in the comedy Modern Family, with his character being killed off earlier this year before the show ended for good.
Announcing the news on Twitter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis - wife of Christopher Guest, Willard's long-time collaborator - wrote: "How lucky that we all got to enjoy Fred Willard's gifts. He is with his missed Mary now. Thanks for the deep belly laughs Mr. Willard."
Willard's other credits include Everybody Loves Raymond, This Is Spinal Tap and Roseanne.
Neil Wilkes
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