News | Entertainment
12 Feb 2026 5:53
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Fred Willard died from a heart attack

    The veteran comic actor passed away last month at the age of 86 and his death certificate has now been issued, listing the immediate cause of death as cardiac arrest with myelodysplastic syndrome and coronary artery disease listed as underlying issues


    According to TMZ, the document also noted that Fred was a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and had 60 years in the entertainment industry.

    It also confirmed the 'Anchorman' actor was laid to rest at the famous Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

    Hope Mulbarger, Fred's daughter, announced her father's sad passing shortly after he died on 15 May.

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

    Meanwhile, Glenn Schwartz, the later actor's representative, also paid a glowing tribute to the 'Austin Powers' actor.

    He shared: "A four-time Emmy nominee radiated a unique charm that established him as one of our generation's most gifted comic actors.

    "A master of sketch comedy, Fred was most heralded for his quick wit and improvisational expertise, which he demonstrated in hundreds of appearances on stage, on the big screen, and on a wide range of television shows."

    Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel recently paid tribute to the actor, hailing him as a "Christmas tree in June".

    He shared: "In a lot of ways, Fred Willard was like a Christmas tree in June - a little weird, familiar but still surprising to see it, full of good memories and you're just instantly happy that it's there."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     11 Feb: KyIie Kelce is relieved that she has "no skin" in the Super Bowl this year
     11 Feb: Olivia Colman feels as though she is non-binary
     11 Feb: Lindsey Vonn is in a "stable condition" after her frightening crash at the Winter Olympics
     11 Feb: Chase Infiniti is still coming to terms with fame
     11 Feb: ‘New Zealanders are inventive by necessity’: how the master clown Philippe Gaulier shaped NZ theatre
     11 Feb: Blac Chyna is taking a break from dating
     11 Feb: Melissa Joan Hart appreciates how being a child star set her up for life at a young age
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The selections of two young guns plucked out of wider training groups headline the first Super Rugby Wednesday team lists of 2026 More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Calls for Government intervention on power bills - with predictions of another big bump More...



     Today's News

    General:
    Milano Cortina 2026 is the most gender-equal Winter Olympics ever, aside from Nordic Combined 4:37

    Rugby:
    The selections of two young guns plucked out of wider training groups headline the first Super Rugby Wednesday team lists of 2026 21:57

    Entertainment:
    KyIie Kelce is relieved that she has "no skin" in the Super Bowl this year 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Colman feels as though she is non-binary 21:21

    Politics:
    Area school teachers are heading back into pay talks - due to a disagreement between unions 21:17

    Law and Order:
    How the search for Nancy Guthrie played out as police detain a person for questioning 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Lindsey Vonn is in a "stable condition" after her frightening crash at the Winter Olympics 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Chase Infiniti is still coming to terms with fame 20:21

    Entertainment:
    ‘New Zealanders are inventive by necessity’: how the master clown Philippe Gaulier shaped NZ theatre 20:07

    Entertainment:
    Blac Chyna is taking a break from dating 19:51


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd