Fred Willard Dead at 86: Jamie Lee Curtis, Steve Carell and More Stars Pay Tribute to Comedian

Stars are paying tribute to legendary comedian Fred Willard, who passed away on Friday night at age of 86.

Best known for his roles in sitcoms such as "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Modern Family," as well as films like "Best in Show," "This Is Spinal Tap" and "Anchorman," Willard had a long, successful career in both television and film, with over 300 acting credits.

"My father passed away very peacefully last night at the fantastic age of 86 years old," his daughter Hope told TMZ. "He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very much. We will miss him forever."

After news broke of Willard's passing on Saturday morning, Jamie Lee Curtis, Steve Carell, and more stars took social media to pay tribute to the beloved comedic actor.

"A fond farewell to Mr. Fred Willard," Curtis wrote alongside a photo of Willard in "Best in Show," which was directed by her husband, Christopher Guest. "How lucky we all are that we got to witness his great gifts. Thanks for the deep belly laughs. You are now with Mary. Home safe."

Willard's final project was a role in the upcoming Carell-led comedy series "Space Force," which hits Netflix later this month. "Fred Willard was the funniest person that I've ever worked with," Carell tweeted. "He was a sweet, wonderful man."

Henry Winkler shared his thoughts in a simple tweet: "RIP Fred Willard... you were incomparable."

Patricia Heaton, who starred alongside Willard in "Everybody Loves Raymond," posted a clip from the actor's time on the show and wrote, "Heaven is full of the most wonderful people. First Peter, then Doris, Georgia and now Fred. Fred was such a master of his craft, and though we will miss him, I'm so happy is has joined his lovely wife Mary. #ripfredwillard."

Willard's "Modern Family" co-star, Jessie Tyler Ferguson, also paid tribute. "Rest In Peace sweet @Fred_Willard," he wrote. "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."

The final season of "Modern Family" included the death of Willard's character, Frank Dumphy, the father of Phil Dumphy, played by Ty Burrell. Frank passed away off-camera and the episode ended with Phil giving a eulogy. As Willard was a beloved actor in the industry for decades, it seems only fit he had a television sendoff.

See how stars are reacting to Willard's passing, below.

Willard died of natural causes, a rep for Willard told People. The comedy legend was married to his wife Mary from 1968 until she passed away in 2018. Willard is survived by his daughter, Hope, his son-in-law, Mitch Mulbarger, his grandson Freddie.