Louie Anderson, Emmy-winning 'Baskets' comedian, dies at 68 after cancer diagnosis
He was not on the list.
Louie Anderson, known for his award-winning role in "Baskets," has died after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 68.
Anderson died at a hospital in Las Vegas of complications from cancer, said Glenn Schwartz, his longtime publicist. Anderson had a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Schwartz said in a previous Tuesday statement.
The St. Paul, Minnesota native won a 2016 Emmy for best supporting actor for his unlikely role in the comedy "Baskets" as Christine Baskets, mom to twin sons played by Zach Galifianakis. Anderson received three consecutive Emmy nods for his performance.
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Anderson's comedic debut started on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson where the comedian did his first TV standup routine in 1984.
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 didn't think the chemistry between Anderson and Pinchot was quite right. The show ran for eight seasons on ABC.
He's been a familiar face elsewhere on TV, including as host of a revival of the game show "Family Feud" from 1999 to 2002, and on comedy specials and made frequent late-night talk show appearances.
In his role on "Baskets" Anderson told USA TODAY in 2017 he'd been "training to play" the gender-switching role after incorporating the memory of his mother, Ora Zella Anderson, into his standup acts.
"My goal is that when you watch me, you might say, ‘That’s Louie Anderson,’ but within a few minutes I completely disappear and Christine completely emerges,” he said of his award-winning role.
Actor and comedian Pauly Shore tweeted about Anderson's declining health Thursday on Twitter after visiting him in the hospital.
"I say this with a heavy heart just left the hospital in Las Vegas where Louie Anderson his sisters and close friend were kind enough to let me say my goodbyes," he wrote.
Anderson voiced an animated version of himself as a kid in "Life With Louie." He created the cartoon series, which first aired in prime time in late 1994 before moving to Saturday morning for its 1995-98 run. Anderson won two Daytime Emmy Awards for the role.
The comedian made many series cameos throughout his career including "Scrubs" and "Touched by an Angel," and he appeared on the big screen in 1988's "Coming to America" and in last year's sequel to the Eddie Murphy comedy.
n 1986, Anderson had a small role in the singing-telegram scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
In 1987, Anderson appeared in a comedy special on Showtime.
In 1988, Anderson 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, and starred in the camp comedy The Wrong Guys.
In 1989, Anderson guest-starred on the first episode of the Muppet Television segment of The Jim Henson Hour.
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.
In 1996, 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 cancelled.
In 1999, Anderson landed the role of host of the new version of Family Feud. Anderson asked former 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.
In 2000, Anderson appeared as a panelist on an episode of To Tell the Truth hosted by John O'Hurley.
In 2001, Anderson appeared on an episode of Weakest Link, winning $31,000. He has 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.
In 2012, 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.
In October 2014, 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.
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 Bébé'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
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1986–1988 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"
1995–1998 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"
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"
2015–2017 Pickle and Peanut Gory Agnes (voice) 2 episodes
2016–2019 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
2017–2020 Funny You Should Ask Himself 105 episodes
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"
2020 Twenties Maurice 2 episodes
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