About
"Often at a party you might have something to say and you start to say it, and someone else comes in with a line and suddenly you're off. But in front of the camera it comes time for you to say something and you just say it. That's what I like about being an actor, when it comes time for me to say my line, everyone else has to be quiet."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Fred Willard (1939-2020) talks about his earliest appearances on television -- sketches with comedy partners on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Steve Allen Show. He describes his involvement with the comedy troupe Ace Trucking Company, which led to regular appearances on The Tom Jones Show (in England) and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He recalls several guest appearances on sitcoms The Bob Newhart Show, Get Smart, Mad About You, and Modern Family. He speaks in great detail about portraying "Jerry Hubbard," the hapless sidekick on the television talk-show parody Fernwood 2-Night with Martin Mull, and chronicles reuniting with Mull for a groundbreaking storyline on Roseanne, which led to one of television's first gay weddings. He discusses his roles in several of Christopher Guest's mockumentary films and speaks of his part as the only human actor among a band of puppets in the series D.C. Follies. He comments on his fans, his favorite kinds of roles to play, and the role of improvisational acting in his career. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on September 28, 2012 in Encino, CA.
Highlights
Fred Willard on appearing in the feature film "This Is Spinal Tap"
Fred Willard on The Mike Douglas Show with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Fred Willard on working with Martin Mull as "Barth Gimble" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
Fred Willard on playing "Scott" on Roseanne
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on radio he listened to as a child; on his early memories of television and appearing on The Steve Allen Show
On his early comedy career; on participating in various comedy troupes and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
On appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with his comedy troupe, The Ace Trucking Company; on appearing on Get Smart and The Bob Newhart Show
On appearing as "Jerry Hubbard" and Fernwood 2-Night (later America 2-Night) with guest starts such as Carol Burnett, Burt Lancaster and Charlton Heston
Chapter 2
On his Fernwood 2-Night character "Jerry Hubbard"; on critical reaction to Fernwood 2-Night; on a typical production day on the show
On the set of Fernwood 2-Night and the acts who appeared; on working with Martin Mull as "Barth Gimble" on Fernwood 2-Night; on the show transitioning to America 2-Night in its second season
On hosting Real People; on his Real People co-stars and stories he covered on the show; on hosting Saturday Night Live in 1978
On acting in the feature film "This Is Spinal Tap"; on acting in director Christopher Guest's mockumentaries
Chapter 3
On improv acting; on hosting What's Hot and What's Not; on hosting D.C. Follies
On playing the gay character "Scott" on Roseanne; on being reunited with Martin Mull on Roseanne; on his gay marriage on the show
On guest starring in various sitcoms; on playing "Hank McDougall" on Everybody Loves Raymond; on playing a "TV Dad"
On appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; on guest starring on Modern Family and various other 2012 shows
Chapter 4
On guest starring in various series; on the types of roles he plays; on his fans
On what he enjoys about acting; on advice to aspring actors; on what he'd like to do in the future
Shows
Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78)
Fred Willard on appearing on The Bob Newhart Show
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Fred Willard on his early comedy career
Divorce Court
Fred Willard on guest starring in various series and appearing on Divorce Court
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Fred Willard on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Everybody Loves Raymond
Fred Willard on guest starring as "Hank MacDougall" on Everybody Love Raymond
Fred Willard on working with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond
Fred Willard on acting in specific episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond
Fred Willard on playing a "TV Dad" on Everybody Loves Raymond
Fernwood 2 Night
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on his character "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night and his nightclub act
Fred Willard on the critical reaction to Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on a typical production day on Fernwood 2-Night and the improv and writing process
Fred Willard on the atmosphere on the set of Fernwood 2-Night, and the acts who appeared on the show
Fred Willard on working with Martin Mull as "Barth Gimble" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on the change from Fernwood 2-Night to America 2-Night
Fred Willard on various cast members of Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
Fred Willard on the end of America 2-Night
Get Smart
Fred Willard on acting on Get Smart and missing out on a few opportunities
Mad About You
Fred Willard on guest starring on Mad About You
Mike Douglas Show, The
Fred Willard on The Mike Douglas Show with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Modern Family
Fred Willard on guest starring on Modern Family
Fred Willard on guest starring as "Frank Dunphy" on Modern Family
Murder, She Wrote
Fred Willard playing dramatic roles and the types of roles he usually plays
Real People
Fred Willard on becoming a host of Real People
Fred Willard on some of the stories he covered on Real People
Fred Willard on his Real People co-stars
Roseanne
Fred Willard on playing "Scott" on Roseanne
Fred Willard on playing a gay couple with Martin Mull on Roseanne
Fred Willard on how it felt to be reunited with Martin Mull on Roseanne in a groundbreaking storyline
Fred Willard on the wedding of his and Martin Mull's characters on Roseanne
Saturday Night Live
Fred Willard on hosting Saturday Night Live in 1978
Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)
Fred Willard on appearing on The Steve Allen Show
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Fred Willard on appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The
Fred Willard on appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
Characters & Catchphrases
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Fred Willard on his comedic influences
Criticism of TV
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
Emmy Awards
Fred Willard on hosting his talk show What's Hot, What's Not? and being nominated for a Daytime Emmy
Fred Willard on his Emmy nominations
LGBTQIA+
Fred Willard on playing the character "Scott", who was gay, on Roseanne
Pop Culture
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Representation on Television
Fred Willard on playing the character "Scott", who was gay, on Roseanne
Television Industry
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
Professions
Actor
Fred Willard on what he's learned about improv acting from the Christopher Guest movies
Fred Willard on playing dramatic roles and the types of roles he usually plays
Fred Willard on what he likes about acting, doing research for roles, and what attracts him to a role
Fred Willard on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Fred Willard on what he's learned about improv acting from the Christopher Guest movies
Fred Willard on playing dramatic roles and the types of roles he usually plays
Fred Willard on what he likes about acting, doing research for roles, and what attracts him to a role
Fred Willard on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on playing "Scott" on Roseanne
Fred Willard on guest starring as "Hank MacDougall" on Everybody Love Raymond
Reality TV
Fred Willard on co-hosting Real People
People
Dabney Coleman
Fred Willard on various cast members of Fernwood 2-Night
Phil Donahue
Fred Willard on hosting his talk show What's Hot, What's Not? and being nominated for a daytime Emmy
Georgia Engel
Fred Willard on working with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond
Brad Garrett
Fred Willard on working with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond
Christopher Guest
Fred Willard on appearing in Christopher Guest's feature films
Fred Willard on what he's learned about improv acting from the Christopher Guest movies
Charlton Heston
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Monica Horan
Fred Willard on working with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond
Marty Krofft
Fred Willard on hosting the comedy puppet show D.C. Follies
Sid Krofft
Fred Willard on hosting the comedy puppet show D.C. Follies
Burt Lancaster
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Norman Lear
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
John Lennon
Fred Willard on The Mike Douglas Show with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Martin Mull
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on working with Martin Mull as "Barth Gimble" on Fernwood 2-Night
Bob Newhart
Fred Willard on appearing on The Bob Newhart Show
Sarah Purcell
Fred Willard on his Real People co-stars
Ray Romano
Fred Willard on working with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond
Roseanne
Fred Willard on playing "Scott" on Roseanne
Tom Snyder
Fred Willard on the critical reaction to Fernwood 2-Night
Alan Thicke
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Frank De Vol
Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night