“It scared me to death to think about improv, but I got hired for a year at Second City in Chicago, which made me nervous, but I found I could improvise. Then I was in a group called the Ace Trucking Company, which we'd do, like, a half hour set of material, then open up for improvisation.”

American actor and comedian

Fred Willard was an American actor and comedian. He was known for a long career in film and television, and for his collaborations with Christopher Guest in mockumentary comedies. He appeared in This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, and Mascots. He also had supporting roles in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, American Wedding, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Everybody Loves Raymond and Modern Family.