#Emmys2020: Fred Willard, Lynn Shelton Join List Of Artists Nominated Posthumously

Actor Fred Willard and director Lynn Shelton have joined the list of celebrities who received posthumous Emmy Award nominations. Both notable personalities are nominated at the 72nd Primetime Emmys.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Willard was nominated for his role in the blockbuster series “Modern Family.” The late actor received a nod in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category for his portrayal of Frank Dunphy in the episode “Legacy.”

It was Willard’s fifth nomination at the Emmys and second for “Modern Family.” Meanwhile, he was nominated three times for his impeccable acting skills in “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Willard will be going against the likes of Adam Driver (“Saturday Night Live”), Luke Kirby (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Dev Patel (“Modern Love”), Eddie Murphy (“Saturday Night Live”), and Brad Pitt (“Saturday Night Live”).

On the other hand, Shelton was nominated for directing an episode of Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere.” She is nominated in the Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special category.

The acclaimed director has been attached to some of the biggest TV projects like “The Mindy Project,” “Shameless,” “The Good Place,” “Glow,” “Dickinson,” and “The Morning Show.”

Shelton passed away at the age of 54 in May, while Willard died in the same month and was 80.

In Emmy’s history, there have been many big names who have received nominations after their deaths. Celebrities like Anthony Bourdain, Carrie Fisher, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, John Ritter, Richard Burton, Ossie Davis, Diana Hyland, and Marion Lorne got nominated in various categories at the star-studded ceremony posthumously.

However, only six actors have been able to win a trophy posthumously. Alice Pearce won the award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1966 for the hit TV series “Bewitched” while Lorne also won in the same category for the same show in 1968.

Meanwhile, Hyland won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special in 1977 for “The Boy In The Plastic Bubble.” Hyland died because of breast cancer earlier that year. Bergman was awarded the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie in 1982. She also died due to breast cancer.

Meanwhile, Hepburn and Raul Julia are the other actors to receive Emmy Awards posthumously.