You are viewing a list of Fred Willard’s 15 appearances on Modern Family

Undeck the Halls
Season 1, Episode 10 – Aired December 9 2009

Phil and Claire threaten to cancel Christmas when none of the kids will come clean about burning a hole in the couch. Jay is uncomfortable with Gloria and Manny’s holiday traditions. Cameron and Mitchell take Lily to meet Santa, though this mall’s Santa is less than jolly.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Travels with Scout
Season 1, Episode 21 – Aired April 28 2010

When Phil’s father stops by in the RV, Claire is suspicious he’s hiding a serious reason for the visit. Cameron fills in for the drummer in Dylan’s band. Meanwhile, Manny is traumatized when Jay takes him to see a horror movie.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

A Slight at the Opera
Season 4, Episode 14 – Aired February 6 2013

Cameron is putting on the school production of “Phantom of the Opera,” but when their star falls ill, Manny pulls all the stops to land the lead — even if that means going against Luke. Meanwhile, Jay teaches Phil to golf and they wind up in a golf-off with Pepper and Mitch; Gloria takes Alex along on errands which include a visit to a psychic; and Claire’s adventures in babysitting Joe and Lily become a comedy of errors.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

The Wow Factor
Season 4, Episode 18 – Aired March 27 2013

Claire and Cam are entrenched in the house flip, but when they hit an impasse on a big landscaping decision, a “neutral” third party is brought in – Pam (guest star Wendi McLendon-Covey), the lesbian mom from Lily’s school. Meanwhile, Phil decides to teach the kids basic fix-it skills around the house; Gloria spends some quality one-on-one time with Manny, leaving Jay alone with baby Joe; and Mitch helps Lily deal with a schoolyard bully.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Goodnight, Gracie
Season 4, Episode 24 – Aired May 22 2013

Everyone flies down to Florida to be with Phil after his mom’s passing. Claire helps Phil with Gracie’s last wish for Frank, and the kids reflect on the gifts grandma left for them. Gloria has to contend with an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida, Cam finds himself fitting right into an elderly women’s group at Frank’s retirement community, and Jay runs into a pivotal person from his past.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

The Help
Season 5, Episode 6 – Aired October 23 2013

When Gloria hires a too-good-to-be-true male nanny (guest star Adam DeVine), Jay and Manny are pretty much dead set against it. Frank (guest star Fred Willard) is in town and feeling a bit lonely recently, so Phil and Jay take him out to help get his groove back. And, Mitch and Cam commission Pepper (guest star Nathan Lane) to plan their dream wedding, but Pepper might be dreaming a little too big.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

ClosetCon ’13
Season 5, Episode 8 – Aired November 20 2013

With some urging from Claire, Jay begrudgingly agrees to return to ClosetCon this year, and things get interesting when Jay is reunited with some old colleagues. Cam takes Mitch and Lily to the Tucker family farm for the first time and is excited to fold them into country life, that is until Grams pays an unexpected visit. And back at home, Phil, Gloria and the kids get into some mischief involving Jay’s very delicate Apollo 13 spacecraft model.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

The Big Guns
Season 6, Episode 12 – Aired January 14 2015

Claire is furious about neighbors Ronnie and Amber’s eye-sore of a boat on their front lawn and it soon becomes an all-out war when Phil calls in the “big guns” as back up – his dad Frank and all his retired friends to give them a taste of their own medicine. Elsewhere, Jay is trying to potty train Joe but Gloria does not think he’s ready yet, and Cam secretly takes Lily to clown school behind Mitchell’s back.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Ringmaster Keifth
Season 8, Episode 10 – Aired January 4 2017

Trying to recover from his Thanksgiving debacle, Cam decides to treat the family to a New Year’s Day feast. After realizing that Cam’s recent attempt is also a complete fail and in order to salvage their meal, Mitch uses a “concierge gift card” that he received as a Christmas gift. Cam soon discovers that the concierge who is on his way to save the day is none other than his ex-boyfriend, Keifth, a former circus ringmaster who left him without saying goodbye. Meanwhile, Phil’s dad, Frank arrives with his new girlfriend, who happens to be Phil’s childhood babysitter, which sets him on a confusing tailspin. Finally, Gloria and Jay have to decide who should take care of little Joe if something should ever happen to them.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Finding Fizbo
Season 8, Episode 15 – Aired March 1 2017

Cam is enraged when he receives an online video showing someone has been desecrating his beloved Fizbo costume, which sets him on a quest to restore Fizbo’s good name. Meanwhile, Phil is in for quite the surprise when he finally meets his new soon-to-be step-brother at Frank’s bachelor party. Finally, Manny’s newest play hits a little too close to home for Gloria, Claire and Haley when he enlists them to do a read through before he submits it to a young playwright festival.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Frank’s Wedding
Season 8, Episode 19 – Aired April 5 2017

Frank Dunphy’s Roaring 20s-themed wedding day is finally here, and to get into the spirit, Phil gets the Dunphy clan to show up in costume. Once Claire and the kids realize they are the only ones dressed-up, they feel it’s time for a “funny” intervention with Phil. Meanwhile, Jay has mastered the art of saying no, but soon realizes that if you say no too many times, people stop asking; and Cam is in for a big surprise when he finally stops hiding behind Mitchell and stands up to his sister Pam.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Dear Beloved Family
Season 9, Episode 12 – Aired January 10 2018

Gloria has to rush Phil to the hospital for an emergency surgery after he experiences some intense stomach pains and rallies the entire family to be by his side.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Stand By Your Man
Season 10, Episode 18 – Aired March 20 2019

Dylan and Luke are really impressed with Bill’s tales of heroism and survival as a firefighter, which make Phil feel emasculated. To impress the guys, he invites them over for a little male-bonding moment that goes terribly wrong.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Can’t Elope
Season 10, Episode 20 – Aired April 10 2019

Haley and Dylan’s plan to quietly elope before the babies are born doesn’t go as smoothly as they had hoped. Meanwhile, Jay continues to try and get his new business off the ground by courting an Instagram celebrity.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy

Legacy
Season 11, Episode 11 – Aired January 15 2020

Phil pays a visit to his dad to make sure he is ok after hearing some concerning news about him. Meanwhile, Jay gives Claire and Mitch a bunch of their old childhood memorabilia that triggers them to reevaluate a long-held story about their first family vacation.

Appeared as Frank Dunphy