# Louie Anderson

Louis Perry Anderson (March 24, 1953 – January 21, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author and game show host. He created the cartoon series Life with Louie and the television sitcom The Louie Show, and wrote four books, including Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too, which was published in 2018. Anderson was the third host of the game show Family Feud from 1999 to 2002 — the first host in its third and current run.
For his performance on the FX comedy television series Baskets, Anderson received three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominations and won once in 2016.
Anderson performed a stand-up show called Louie: Larger Than Life in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2003 through 2012. The show originated at the Union Plaza hotel downtown, before moving to Excalibur, South Point, and Palace Station hotels.

## Early life

Anderson was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the son of Ora Zella (née Prouty; 1912–1990), a Mayflower descendant, and Louis William Anderson (1901–1980). His father was a trumpeter for singer Hoagy Carmichael. Anderson was the second youngest of 11 children in his family. In a 2016 interview on WTF with Marc Maron, Anderson revealed that his mother actually gave birth to 16 children, but five of them—the first baby and then two sets of twins—died at birth. Anderson described his father as an abusive alcoholic.
Anderson attended Johnson Senior High in Saint Paul.

## Career

Anderson made his television debut on January 13, 1984, on Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special on HBO.

### 1980s

Louie made his first movie appearance alongside Dabney Coleman in the movie Cloak and Dagger as taxi driver #2 ( released July 13, 1984) a notably small role with one line. On November 20, 1984, Anderson made his network debut as a comedian on The Tonight Show. In late 1985, Anderson was cast as Lou Appleton alongside Bronson Pinchot on the pilot episode of Perfect Strangers for ABC (which was known in this early stage as The Greenhorn). When the show was picked up, Anderson was replaced by Mark Linn-Baker in the role of Appleton (whose first name was then changed from Lou to Larry) as the producers did not think the chemistry between Anderson and Pinchot was quite right. The show ran for eight seasons on ABC. Anderson had a small role in the singing-telegram scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, as well as appearing in a comedy special on Showtime.
Anderson also played a role in John Landis' film Coming to America, which starred Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, a role which he reprised in the 2021 sequel. Murphy requested Anderson be hired for Coming To America after producers wanted a white actor in the otherwise African-American cast; Murphy described his friend Anderson as "the funniest white guy around". Anderson also starred in the 1988 camp comedy The Wrong Guys, based on a story by John Hughes.
In 1989, Anderson guest-starred on the first episode of The Muppets television segment of The Jim Henson Hour.

### 1990s

In 1995, Anderson created and produced a Saturday-morning animated series for Fox called Life with Louie. The series was based on Anderson's childhood with 10 siblings, a sweet-hearted mother and a loud, war-crazed father. It also detailed how he was picked on for his weight, and how he used comedy to deal with the teasing. The show was a 3-year hit on Fox, and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program.
Anderson created and starred in The Louie Show for CBS. The show had Anderson playing a psychotherapist in Duluth, Minnesota. The show ran six episodes and was canceled.
Anderson was also the host of Comedy Showcase in the late 1990s.
Anderson landed the role of host of the new version of Family Feud in 1999. Anderson asked former Family Feud host Richard Dawson to appear on the premiere show to give him his blessing, but Dawson declined. Anderson organized a 9/11-themed tournament week of Family Feud between the FDNY and the NYPD, putting up $75,000 toward both organizations for recovery from the September 11, 2001, attacks. Anderson was let go from the show in 2002 and was replaced by Richard Karn.

### 2000s

In 2000, Anderson appeared as a panelist on an episode of To Tell the Truth hosted by John O'Hurley, and in 2001, Anderson appeared on an episode of Weakest Link, winning $31,000. He made appearances on network television in Scrubs, Grace Under Fire, Touched by an Angel (Then Sings My Soul, November 28, 1999), and Chicago Hope. He guest starred on the Adult Swim cameo-filled show Tom Goes to the Mayor.
Anderson played in the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Anderson was also in Joey TV series.

### 2010s

Anderson filmed a standup special entitled Louie Anderson: Big Baby Boomer. In it, Anderson poked fun at his bad habits, pesky family members, and aging body.
In 2013, Anderson appeared in the ABC reality television series Splash. After practicing several dives into a swimming pool then nearly drowning, he needed help getting out from co-star football player Ndamukong Suh. Anderson signed on as the promotional spokesperson for his home state's Land O'Lakes Sweet Cream butter brand. Anderson appeared in radio jingles, web ads, and television commercials promoting the product.
From 2016 to 2019, Anderson played the part of Christine Baskets on the FX comedy series Baskets. Anderson won the 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.
On July 23, 2017, Anderson competed on an episode of Celebrity Family Feud (hosted today by Steve Harvey); his opponent was singer/actress Christina Milian. This made him one of only a small number of individuals to have both hosted and been a contestant on the same game show, and also marked his first appearance on any form of Family Feud since his departure as host in 2002. Anderson was a regular panelist on the TV game show Funny You Should Ask from September 2017 until the show went on hiatus in 2020.

## Stand-up style

Dennis Miller called him "one of the lightest on his feet comedians I know ... There's very few guys I'm going to leave my dressing room early (to watch). ... (Louie has) a Fred Astaire, with a broken leg, approach. Very quick thinking, and he wouldn't hammer points home, but he would do a 'weave-back' that was almost Pulp Fiction-like."

## Personal life

In 1984, Anderson married Diane Jean Vono; however, they divorced after four months. In 1985, Anderson married his high school sweetheart, Norma J. Walker. The marriage lasted only four weeks.

### Blackmailing incident

In 1997, Anderson was blackmailed by Richard John Gordon, who threatened to tell tabloids that Anderson sexually propositioned him in a casino in 1993. Between 1997 and 1998, Anderson paid Gordon $100,000 in hush money, fearing that the story would threaten his starring roles in two family-oriented series, but when Gordon's demands increased to $250,000 in 2000, Anderson's lawyer informed federal authorities. Gordon, who was 31 at the time, was arrested after leading FBI agents on a high-speed chase along Santa Monica Boulevard. Gordon was fined and sentenced to 21 months in prison.

### Health

In 2003, Anderson underwent two successful heart procedures.

## Death

On January 18, 2022, it was announced that Anderson had been hospitalized in Las Vegas for large B-cell lymphoma; he had first been diagnosed with cancer a decade earlier, but kept the information private. Anderson died of complications from the cancer three days later, on January 21, 2022, at the age of 68.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1984 | Cloak & Dagger | Taxi Driver #2 |
| 1986 | Quicksilver | Tiny |
| 1986 | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Flower Deliveryman |
| 1986 | Ratboy | Omer Morrison |
| 1988 | The Wrong Guys | Louie |
| 1988 | Coming to America | Maurice |
| 1992 | Bebe's Kids | Security Guard #1 (voice) |
| 1996 | Mr. Wrong | Himself |
| 2002 | Do It for Uncle Manny | Tow Truck Driver |
| 2005 | Back by Midnight | Game Show Host |
| 2007 | Cook Off! | Mayor Doug Halverson |
| 2017 | Sandy Wexler | Himself |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Maurice (final film role) |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | 9th Annual Young Comedians Special | Himself | Hosted by Rodney Dangerfield and featuring Anderson, Sam Kinison, Bob Saget, Rita Rudner, Yakov Smirnoff |
| 1986–88 | The New Hollywood Squares | Himself | 13 episodes |
| 1986 | Remington Steele | Bingham 'Bing' Perret | Episode: "Steele Spawning" |
| 1987 | Trying Times | Stu | Episode: "Bedtime Story" |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | Himself / Space Guy | Episode #1: "Outer Space/The Heartless Giant" |
| 1994 | Grace Under Fire | Dr. Andy Lewinson | Episode: "Tears of Joy" |
| 1995–98 | Life with Louie | Andy Anderson / Little Louie (voice) | 26 episodes Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (1996–97) Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program |
| 1995 | Love & War | James the Cat (voice) | Episode: "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and a Cat" |
| 1996 | The Louie Show | Louie Lundgren | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Louie Lickman | Episode: "Growing Pains" |
| 1997 | Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast | Himself | Rodney Dangerfield introduced Louie to a national audience and Louie participated in this roast to honor and thank him |
| 1999 | Touched by an Angel | Uncle Dudley | Episode: "Then Sings My Soul" |
| 1998–2002 | Hollywood Squares | Himself | 12 episodes |
| 1999–2002 | Family Feud | Himself / Host | |
| 2000 | To Tell the Truth | Himself / Panelist | |
| 2000 | Ally McBeal | Therapist | Episode: "Without a Net" |
| 2001 | Nash Bridges | Richard Reynolds | Episode: "Blood Bots" |
| 2001 | Scrubs | Himself | Episode: "My Two Dads" |
| 2001 | V.I.P. | Homeless Person | Episode: "Kayus Ex Machina" |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Louie | Episode: "The Big Credit Check Episode" |
| 2005 | Joey | Himself | Episode: "Joey and the Poker" |
| 2006 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Burt (voice) | Episode: "Fear and Loathing in Endsville" |
| 2006 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Mining Team of Louie Andersons (voice) | Episode: "White Collarless" |
| 2015–17 | Pickle and Peanut | Gory Agnes (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2016–19 | Baskets | Christine Baskets | 39 episodes Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2017–18) Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2016 | Drunk History | Winston Churchill | Episode: "The Roosevelts" |
| 2017 | Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special | Himself | Television special |
| 2017 | Penn & Teller: Fool Us | Himself | Season 4, Episode 3 - "Teller Flips a Bird" |
| 2017–20 | Funny You Should Ask | Himself | 215 episodes |
| 2019 | Long Island Medium | Episode: "A Spirit Returns" |
| 2019 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? | Player | Episode: 104 |
| 2020 | Young Sheldon | Ralph | Episode: "An Academic Crime and a More Romantic Taco Bell" |
| 2020 | Search Party | Bob Lunch | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | No Activity | (voice) | Episode: "40 Days & 40 Nights" |
| 2021 | Twenties | Maurice | 2 episodes |
| 2021-22 | Tig n' Seek | Chester (voice) | 8 episodes (final/posthumous role) |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Family Feud | Himself | |

## Books

Anderson authored the following:
* Dear Dad: Letters from an Adult Child, a collection of letters to his late father (1989) ISBN 9780140148459
* Goodbye Jumbo... Hello Cruel World, a self-help book for those who struggle with self-esteem issues (1994) ISBN 9780517135679
* The F Word: How to Survive Your Family, 49 family survival tips (2002) ISBN 9780446530170
* Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too (2018) ISBN 9781501189180