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Comedy is harder, because if there's no laughs, it's pretty bad. But drama, if there's no reaction, you can say, 'Well, it's not their cup of tea. Maybe it's too heavy for the audience.'
Fred Willard -
One of the first shows I ever did was 'Laverne & Shirley.' I played this sleazy guy that came into town with a friend and was going to date Laverne and Shirley, but we really wanted to get into the bowling alley because it was next to the bank we wanted to rob.
Fred Willard
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I still think 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre' was what they call one of those watershed movies. That and 'The Exorcist' and 'Psycho' were just landmarks for those horror films.
Fred Willard -
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.
Fred Willard -
I never got any advice in acting.
Fred Willard -
I loved Bob Hope and the way he would turn to the camera and break the fourth wall.
Fred Willard -
I've found over the years that for some reason, people either are big fans and have to use me, or they don't quite understand what I'm doing.
Fred Willard -
I once was in a project. They were going to do a remake. Somebody started a rumor I wanted more money. I said, 'This is ridiculous. I'd kill for this project!'
Fred Willard
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There's this whole underground world of amateur television production.
Fred Willard -
Suddenly you're like a pirate, you're 65 years old and you've got an earring.
Fred Willard -
Comedy relieves you. A lot of times, we think we're the only people bothered by certain things. Then you hear a comic say, 'Don't you hate it when...' And it's, 'Oh, my God! Of course!'
Fred Willard -
I guess the essence of my comedy is to get into a very abnormal situation but act like it's normal.
Fred Willard -
It's more fun in a way to do ensemble scenes, where you know your background, you know the scene, but you can't prepare because someone else is going to say something that is going to lead you off.
Fred Willard -
I like the characters that have some redeeming quality or if it's interesting to me in any way.
Fred Willard
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When you get to a certain age, it's kind of the same thing. There's no new school to go to, no new teachers. There's some comfort in that.
Fred Willard -
Cleveland is my hometown, and the Indians have a narrow but rich history.
Fred Willard -
If you're not doing something right, you can feel it on stage, and if it isn't going well, the audience will tell you. A teacher can teach you sense memory and this and that, but until you get in front of an audience, you don't really feel it.
Fred Willard -
Some of the Christopher Guest movies, when I'm not really like myself, when I have my hair dyed blonde or had a faux-hawk haircut. Those I like to watch because it takes you away from your real self.
Fred Willard -
I have a guy who does my hair. He's a car nut. And he was taking motorcycle lessons. And, what was my point?
Fred Willard -
I really enjoy working on 'Modern Family.'
Fred Willard
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I love San Francisco!
Fred Willard -
I've always wanted to be on a soap opera.
Fred Willard -
I love sketch; it's my favorite form. But if it's all improv, they're either very good, and it's annoying how good they are, and it makes you feel bad, or they're not too good; then you're sweating for them.
Fred Willard -
If I have to play an obnoxious character, try to find a redeeming feature of him. The most obnoxious people in the world were people, and they had had a reason for doing what they did. So you try to find that and let the obnoxiousness come out.
Fred Willard