Comedic Actor Fred Willard, best known for this roles on sitcoms such as “Modern Family” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” passed away this past Friday at the age of 86.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my father passed away very peacefully last night at the fantastic age of 86 years old,” Hope Willard tweeted on Saturday. “He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very much! We will miss him forever.”

With a career that lasted over 50 years,  Fred Willard played roles in iconic films such as The Rob Reiner mockumentary film “This Is Spinal Tap” and the Christopher Guest mockumentaries “Best In Show,” “A Might Wind,” “Waiting for Guffman,” and “Mascots: to name a few.

The Ohio native began his stage career in New York City in the late 1950s. His first line of work was in production of “Desperate Hours” where he worked alongside his future comedy partner Vic Grecco. The two would later tour as Willard & Grecco and perform in TV shows like “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Tonight Show.”

In 1967, Willard appeared in his debut filed called “Teen Mother,” but the actor wouldn’t rise to fame until the late 70s when he made a regular appearance on the satires “Fernwood 2 Night”, “Forever Fernwood” and “America 2-Night.”

Willard found joy through making people laugh, and he continued to use his talents up until his death. The late actor had just recently finished filming the Netflix series “Space Force,” with Executive producer and actor Steve Carrell.

“Fred Willard was the funniest person that I’ve ever worked with. He was a sweet, wonderful man,” Carrell said in a tweet.

The four time Emmy nominee also appeared in Broadway comedies such as “Waiting for Guffman” and “A Might Wind.”  The actor has starred in more than 300 movies and TV shows throughout his career, making a lasting impression on Hollywood filmmakers, comedians, and actors. Following the announcement of his death, tributes started pouring in from stars such as Kathy Griffin, Chris O’dowd, and Jimmy Kimmel, all who credited Willard for the impact he made in their careers.

The actor is survived by his only daughter, Hope, along with a son-in-law and his grandson Freddie. His wife, Mary, passed away in 2018.