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Louie Anderson,
Stand-Up Legend and ‘Baskets’ Actor,
Dead at 68

Beloved comic also voiced Life With Louie and hosted Family Feud




Louie Anderson
Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images



Louie Anderson, beloved stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host died Friday
at the age of 68.

The comedian’s death was confirmed by Anderson’s publicist, noting the cause of death
as complications from cancer; earlier this week, it was revealed that Anderson was being
treated in a Las Vegas hospital for Diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

“Born in St Paul Minnesota, the three­-time Emmy Award winner was one of the country’s
most recognized and adored comics,” his rep added. “His career spanned more than 40 years.
He was a bestselling author, star of his own standup specials and sitcoms.”

Anderson notably overcame what he described a tough childhood in Minnesota, the 10th of 11
children in a poor household with a loving mother but an “abusive alcoholic father.”
“We had to decide whether we would shut off the gas or the lights, because we could only
pay one of them,” Anderson told Conan in 2019. “We always shut off the lights because my
mom had a thousand candles.”

A giant in the comedy world, Anderson began his career as a writer for stand-up legend
Henny Youngman before breaking out on his own in 1984 with a show-stopping appearance
on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show:





Throughout the Eighties, the affable Anderson made brief but memorable appearances in
films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (as a flower deliveryman) and Coming to America, with
Anderson reprising the role of lettuce-washing McDowells employee Maurice in Coming 2
America earlier this year.

The following decade, Anderson’s childhood served as the inspiration for the animated series
Life With Louie, as well as the short-lived sitcom The Louie Show. Anderson was also recruited
to serve as host of Family Feud from 1999 to 2002 and was a stalwart on Hollywood Squares
during the same period.

While never out of the spotlight, Anderson enjoyed a career renaissance in 2016 with his
acclaimed role in the Baskets, playing Christine Baskets, the mother of Zach Galifianakis’
twin characters. Anderson received an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a
Comedy Series for the role.






Anderson based his portrayal of Christine Baskets after his own mother, a frequent inspiration
and subject in his comedy. “It’s a great part,” Anderson told CBS Sunday Morning of the role in
2018. “Christine Baskets is everywoman. There’s a whole bunch of Christine Baskets in the world,
and nobody’s representing them, and I am.”

“Mom! We did it!” Anderson said in his Emmy acceptance speech. “I haven’t always been a very
good man, but I play one hell of a woman. This is for my mother, Ora Zella Anderson, who I
stole every nuance, shameful look, cruel look, loving look [and] passive-aggressive line from.”

“We are so deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Louie Anderson. For four wonderful
seasons, Louie graced us and fans of Baskets with a bravura performance as Christine Baskets,
for which he deservedly was recognized by his peers with the Emmy Award for Outstanding
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series,” FX, which aired Baskets, said in a statement.

“It was a risky role for him and he embraced it with a fearlessness and joy that demonstrated
his brilliance as an artist. He truly cared about his craft and was a true professional in every
sense. Our hearts go out to his loved ones and his Baskets family – Zach Galifianakis,
Jonathan Krisel and Martha Kelly and all the cast and crew. He will be missed by us all but
never forgotten and always bring a smile to our faces.”

Soon after, Anderson would appear in shows like Search Party (as a bumbling lawyer) and
Young Sheldon. Anderson was also the author of several books that dealt with his childhood
and self-esteem issues, including Dear Dad – Letters From an Adult Child and Hey Mom,
featuring letters Anderson wrote to his late parents, and the self-help book The F Word:
How to Survive Your Family.

Many in the comedy world who worked or were friends with Anderson paid tribute to the
beloved comic following news of his death.

“Baskets was such a phenomenal ‘second act’ for Louie Anderson. I wish he’d gotten a third.
RIP,” Michael McKean tweeted. Comedy Central tweeted, “Louie Anderson was a warm and
hilarious presence in comedy. He’ll be missed.”

“Louie was a friend and supporter of mine since the 90s,” director Paul Feig tweeted.
“He was always such a lovely man, always caring for those he worked with, always generous.
And always so very funny. Thank you, Louie, for everything.”












Louie Anderson
Louis Perry Anderson
March 24, 1953 – January 21, 2022
(aged 68)