Louie Anderson, comedian and former ‘Family Feud’ host, dies after cancer battle
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Actor and comedian Louie Anderson, known for hosting “Family Feud” and winning an Emmy for his performance in “Baskets,” died Friday, Jan. 21, after complications from cancer, according to The Associated Press. He was 68.
Anderson was hospitalized earlier this week “for treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma,” Deadline reported.
He appeared in the 1988 Eddie Murphy-led film “Coming to America.” Murphy hand-picked Anderson for the role for the iconic comedy when executives said there needed to be a white actor in the movie, Murphy said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“So it was, ‘Who’s the funniest white guy around?’ And Louie, we knew, we was cool with him,” Murphy said. “So that’s how Louie got in the movie.”
Anderson later hosted “Family Feud” from 1999 to 2002. He also created and produced the animated Fox series “Life with Louie.”
In 2016, Anderson won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. His award came for playing Christine Baskets, the matriarch of the family in the FX series “Baskets,” which starred Zach Galifianakis.
“I’m not as nice in the character as my mom was as a person. It really is an extension of my mom,” Anderson said of the role. “It felt like it was divine intervention when I got the call to be on the show.”
On Thursday, fellow comedian Pauly Shore said on Twitter he had said his goodbyes to Anderson at a Las Vegas hospital.
Reaction poured in to Twitter on Friday for Anderson, who was named one of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all-time by Comedy Central.
“Louie is one of the first comedians I ever saw in person. He is not only hilarious, but a sweet man and a cheerleader for comedians and comedy,” fellow comedian Doug Benson said.
Some people said the death was especially hard to process coming just hours after the announced passing of singer and actor Meat Loaf.
Louie Anderson’s role as Christine on @BasketsFX will go down as one of tv comedies greatest gifts. ️ https://t.co/pSWi5OLLM7
— Michael Abbott Jr. (@mykabit) January 21, 2022
Louie Anderson : Your generosity of spirit will cover the world from above .. we are so lucky you were on earth for a moment , spreading your humor all over like bars of living gold .. Good Bye
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) January 21, 2022
louie anderson and meat loaf in one day. tough day for us overweight people who learned how to be entertaining for attention
— Kath Barbadoro (@kathbarbadoro) January 21, 2022
When Meatloaf died Louie Anderson was like, “What’s the point of living?” I loved them both.
— Jeff Ross (@realjeffreyross) January 21, 2022
Louie Anderson was a very dear friend and one of the people who very early in my career believed in me and would put me and a couple of other comics he loved up in a hotel in Vegas and pay us to open for him when we needed money. What a huge loss. Rest in peace my friend. https://t.co/G0J32twR0A
— Travon Free (@Travon) January 21, 2022
Spent many hours on a road trip not long ago listening to his stand up and stories and I think everyone in the car cracked a rib - what a master -Rest In Peace #LouieAnderson https://t.co/xs9mXgCU3y
— Haley Joel Osment (@HaleyJoelOsment) January 21, 2022
Louie is one of the first comedians I ever saw in person. He is not only hilarious, but a sweet man and a cheerleader for comedians and comedy. His work in BASKETS alone gives him legendary status. And the look on his face in this pic! Hang in there, Louie! @LouieAnderson https://t.co/zbQv6phCAE
— Doug Benson is at Super Nova H-wood 2nite & sat! (@DougBenson) January 21, 2022
One of the best cartoons in the 90's. RIP Louie Anderson. pic.twitter.com/ISUzBPiIt7
— Ted Gruber (@tedgruber) January 21, 2022
RIP @LouieAnderson and thank you for joy you brought my family. We know every word to this scene from #comingtoamerica (best movie ever) and still laugh every time we see it. pic.twitter.com/jPJLbNLz6g
— Tracy Smith (@thattracysmith) January 21, 2022
Damn, brilliant comedian Louie Anderson just died from cancer.
Thank you for the laughter. #RIPLouie pic.twitter.com/EjtOAblKYN— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) January 21, 2022
