Willard to guest star on 'Modern Family'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Comic actor Fred Willard will make a guest appearance on the Christmas episode of the U.S. situation comedy "Modern Family," ABC announced.

Willard is best known for his work in the movies "Best in Show," "Waiting for Guffman" and "For Your Consideration." He also had a recurring role on TV's "Everybody Loves Raymond."

He is to play the father of Phil Dunphy, the character played by series regular Ty Burrell.

"Christmas is in full swing at the Dunphy house until the kids get in some trouble, and Phil and Claire threaten to take away Christmas until one of them fesses up," the network said in a release touting the Dec. 15 episode. "Meanwhile, Jay struggles with wanting to stick to his holiday traditions while Gloria and Manny want to incorporate some of their Colombian practices, and Mitchell and Cameron take Lily to the mall for her first picture with Santa -- but end up with a disgruntled mall Santa on their hands."

The show stars Ed O'Neill as Jay, Julie Bowen as Claire, Sofia Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron and Rico Rodriguez as Manny.