St. Paul native Louie Anderson, Emmy-winning comedian, dies at 68

Jan. 21—St. Paul native Louie Anderson, whose four-decade career as a comedian and actor included his unlikely, Emmy-winning performance as mom to twin adult sons in the TV series "Baskets," died Friday. 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 previously. His survivors include sisters Lisa and Shanna Anderson.

"He loved Minnesota," said Caleb McEwen, artistic director of the Minneapolis improv troupe the Brave New Workshop. Anderson was an alum of Brave New Workshop. "If you watched his act, it was all built around his family and his time here. Minnesota was something he absolutely treasured and that came through in his material. It's a reason people felt such a connection to him."

Born March 24, 1953, Anderson was the 10th of 11 children for Ora and William Anderson and grew up in the Roosevelt housing project on St. Paul's East Side. His father played trumpet with musical great Hoagy Carmichael and, Anderson has said, was an alcoholic.

After his father's death, Anderson learned of how difficult his childhood had been and forgave him, he told People magazine in 2018.

His early jobs included counseling troubled children. He changed course after winning a 1981 Midwest comedy competition, where he was spotted by the event's host, veteran comic Henny Youngman. Anderson moved to Los Angeles in 1982, but he wasn't an overnight success.

"Many times in the first few years out here, I didn't think I was going to make it," he told the Pioneer Press in 1989. "When everyone else was getting HBO and Showtime contracts and network and movie deals, I wasn't getting any of those things. Luckily, I had a good booking agent who put me on the road. I went out and kept my career going through my stand-up comedy, and it eventually led me to other projects."

His big break came in 1984 when Johnny Carson, known for showcasing promising comedians on "The Tonight Show," brought him on to perform. Carson enjoyed his routine so much, he invited Anderson to sit down for an on-air chat, a rarity for a young comic.

Anderson never forgot that moment and, after he established himself, he acted as a mentor for others, including local comic Jason Schommer. The pair met a dozen years ago when Schommer heard Anderson was doing an appearance at a nearby grocery store. He introduced himself, they hit it off and Schommer ended up attending a weekend comedy workshop Anderson was running at the time.

"We really connected and became friends," Schommer said. "A month later, he called the day he was performing at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. He asked what I was doing and I said, 'I'm coming to your show.' And then he asked if I would open for him. After that, I opened for him every time he came to town."

Schommer went on to spend nearly two years living in Las Vegas and acting as Anderson's opener.

"He was incredibly kind," Schommer said. "And he had this really rare quality where he was always drawn to the most damaged people in the room. He'd make a point of talking to them, connecting with them, giving them a hug and telling them they mattered. It was fascinating to watch. Those connections gave him a sense of community."

During the '80s and '90s, Anderson was a familiar face on TV, including as host of a revival of the game show "Family Feud" and on comedy specials and in frequent late-night talk show appearances.

Anderson voiced an animated version of himself as a kid in "Life With Louie." He created the Humanitas Prize-winning 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.

He made guest appearances in several TV series, including "Scrubs" and "Touched by an Angel," and was on the big screen in 1988′s "Coming to America" and in last year's sequel to the Eddie Murphy comedy.

In a magazine interview, Anderson recounted getting the role after he spotted Murphy, who he knew from working in comedy clubs, at a Los Angeles restaurant. Anderson said hello, then made a costly decision that paid off.

"Take Eddie Murphy's check and put it on my credit card, but don't tell him until after I leave,″ Anderson recalled telling a waiter. He ended up with a $600 charge, but Murphy called to thank him and offered to write a part for him in "Coming to America," Anderson said.

In later years, his family was a deeper source of reflection and inspiration for Anderson, both in his screen work and in his best-selling books.

His books included "Dear Dad — Letters From An Adult Child," "Goodbye Jumbo ... Hello Cruel World," "The F Word, How To Survive Your Family" and "Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too." Speaking to the Pioneer Press in 2018 about "Hey Mom" he said, "I think this book is one of the best things I've done. It has enough comedy, enough reality, heartfelt stuff and honesty. I poured my heart out ... I love writing. It's my forte."

He had a life-long battle with weight — he once told the Pioneer Press that food was "my drug of choice" — but said in 1987 that he'd put a stop to using his size as stage material.

"I've always been big," he said. "But I don't do fat jokes anymore."

After losing his job hosting "Family Feud" in 2002, Anderson moved to Las Vegas and performed regularly in local casinos.

"He loved Minnesota, but he hated the cold," Schommer said. "He loved the heat and sun. I'd go to his house and tell him it's like a sauna in here."

While Anderson continued to appear on TV shows and in films, he enjoyed a major comeback in 2016 thanks to his portrayal of Christine Baskets, mother to twins played by Zach Galifianakis, in FX's "Baskets." Anderson, who received three consecutive Emmy nods and one win for the role, played it with restraint and with specific touches he credits to his mom, who died in 1990.

Schommer said the role was initially written as a one-time appearance, but Galifianakis and the producers were so impressed, they added Anderson to the cast. "He was grateful," Schommer said. "He couldn't believe it was happening and he was convinced his mom on the other side had some role in it."

Anderson spoke to the Pioneer Press in 2018 about his mother's influence over his "Baskets" character.

"My mom is the reason I am who I am," Anderson said. "She stood between a hostile father and us. She would not let her little chicks fall into the sewer drain. In trying to keep us from getting hurt, she showed her unconditional love. No matter how things were, she had that smile on her face, that stability. The character of Christine is an homage to her. I play the part with the idea of how much women do every day and how much women take responsibility for their children. I play Christine for real, not in a cartoony way, the good qualities of my mother and the quirky, crazy things."

Many of Anderson's friends paid tribute to him Friday on social media.

" 'Baskets' was such a phenomenal 'second act' for Louie Anderson. I wish he'd gotten a third," Michael McKean said on Twitter. George Wallace wrote: "You'll be missed, Louie. What an awesome friend. One in a million." Gilbert Gottfried posted a photo of himself, Anderson and Bob Saget, who died Jan. 9, with the caption: "Both good friends that will be missed."

"You were as gracious and kind as you were funny. Rest well!! Keep 'em laughing in Heaven," Viola Davis said on Twitter.

Schommer got the news of Anderson's cancer on Monday and was able to fly to Las Vegas Wednesday to say goodbye.

"I'm really thankful I was able to get that moment and say all those things I wanted to say," Schommer said. "He was an amazing friend to me. He was like my family. He was a great guy, absolutely just a great guy."

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Associated Press reporters Lynn Elber and Katie Vasquez contributed to this story.