Caught in the Act: Actor Fred Willard Arrested at Adult Theater

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, NBC News

Actor Fred Willard

July 19, 2012 Updated Jul 19, 2012 at 9:04 AM PDT

Actor Fred Willard, 72, was arrested on suspicion of engaging in a lewd act at an adult theater, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

Uniformed officers arrested Willard Wednesday night at the Tiki Theater on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, police told the newspaper. The actor was booked and released on his own recognizance, police Sgt. Chuck Slater told the paper.

According to TMZ.com, the theater was showing three movies, "Follow Me 2," a XXX parody of "The Client List," and "Step Dad No. 2."

Willard received three Emmy nominations for his role as Ray's brother's father-in-law on "Everybody Loves Raymond" and one for his role on "Modern Family." He is also known for his roles in Christopher Guest films, including "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind."

Willard currently hosts a comedy improv and talk show on ABC, "Trust Us With Your Life."

Comedian Paul Reubens, creator of Pee-wee Herman, was famously arrested in 1991 in an adult theater. CBS stopped airing Reubens' show after the arrest and ensuing controversy, but public sympathy fell heavily with the comic, who received a standing ovation for poking fun at the arrest at that year's MTV Video Music Awards.

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