Fred Willard, Michael McKean, Ed Begley Jr. Join HBO's Christopher Guest Comedy (Exclusive)

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Ed Begley Jr., Fred Willard and Michael McKean

Christopher Guest has enlisted a roster of familiar faces for his upcoming HBO documentary-style comedy series Family Tree.

Fred Willard, Michael McKean and Ed Begley Jr. have boarded the series in recurring roles, while Don Lake has booked a guest gig, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

The project centers on 30-year-old Tom Chadwick (Bridesmaids' Chris O'Dowd) who, after losing his job and his girlfriend, begins exploring his family heritage after inheriting a mysterious box from a great aunt he never met. Unsure of his identity, he uncovers a world of unusual stories and characters -- as well as a growing sense of who he and his real family are.

Begley, Willard and McKean are regular staples in Guest's mockumentary features, all having appeared in For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show and This Is Spinal Tap; Lake appeared in all but Spinal Tap.

Begley is repped by Innovative and Industry; Willard and Lake are with AEF; McKean is with APA and Harriet Sternberg.

HBO picked up Family Tree straight to series in August, ordering eight episodes of the single-camera half-hour effort, which will air simultaneously on the BBC2 in the U.K. The series is produced by NBC Universal International TV's Lucky Giant Productions' Guest, Piddock and Karen Murphy.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit