Louie Anderson, a comedian, and three-time Emmy Award winner, has died from complications with cancer. He was 68.
Deadline confirmed with his publicist Glenn Schwartz that Anderson was hospitalized in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this week for treatment with large B cell lymphoma.
A veteran comic, Anderson was most recently seen in the FX black comedy Baskets for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Anderson played Christine Baskets, the mother of star Zach Galifanakis’ twin brothers Chip and Dale Baskets.
In a statement, FX said, “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.’
‘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.”
Anderson was born on March 24, 1953 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. According to Deadline, Anderson was originally a counselor to troubled children before starting a career in comedy after winning the first-place trophy at the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition.
He debuted on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1984, kicking off decades of stand-up specials and becoming a mainstay on the comedy circuit. He made appearances in various comedies during the era including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ratboy, and Coming to America.
In 1995 Fox premiered Life with Louie, an animated comedy based on Anderson’s life growing up in Saint Paul. Anderson won two Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his performance on the show.
In 1999, Anderson become the host of a new version of Family Feud, which he hosted from 1999 to 2002. Anderson returned to the show in 2017 in Celebrity Family Feud.
Firmly established in the world of comedy, Anderson would make guest appearances on some of the biggest comedies airing in America throughout the eras. He made one-off appearances in shows like Ally McBeal, Scrubs, Joey, Young Sheldon, and Search Party.
On top of regular guest appearances, Anderson’s late-career highlight as Christine Baskets on the FX comedy would serve as a final, critically-acclaimed performance to a storied career that continued right up until his death.
Anderson is survived by his two sisters, Shanna and Lisa.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
(Photo by Greg Doherty/FilmMagic)
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Deadline confirmed with his publicist Glenn Schwartz that Anderson was hospitalized in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this week for treatment with large B cell lymphoma.
A veteran comic, Anderson was most recently seen in the FX black comedy Baskets for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Anderson played Christine Baskets, the mother of star Zach Galifanakis’ twin brothers Chip and Dale Baskets.
In a statement, FX said, “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.’
‘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.”
Anderson was born on March 24, 1953 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. According to Deadline, Anderson was originally a counselor to troubled children before starting a career in comedy after winning the first-place trophy at the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition.
He debuted on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1984, kicking off decades of stand-up specials and becoming a mainstay on the comedy circuit. He made appearances in various comedies during the era including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ratboy, and Coming to America.
In 1995 Fox premiered Life with Louie, an animated comedy based on Anderson’s life growing up in Saint Paul. Anderson won two Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his performance on the show.
In 1999, Anderson become the host of a new version of Family Feud, which he hosted from 1999 to 2002. Anderson returned to the show in 2017 in Celebrity Family Feud.
Firmly established in the world of comedy, Anderson would make guest appearances on some of the biggest comedies airing in America throughout the eras. He made one-off appearances in shows like Ally McBeal, Scrubs, Joey, Young Sheldon, and Search Party.
On top of regular guest appearances, Anderson’s late-career highlight as Christine Baskets on the FX comedy would serve as a final, critically-acclaimed performance to a storied career that continued right up until his death.
Anderson is survived by his two sisters, Shanna and Lisa.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
(Photo by Greg Doherty/FilmMagic)
Continue reading...