Louis Perry Anderson was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Ora Zella (Prouty) and Louis William Anderson, a trumpet player. He was one of eleven children of Swedish, Norwegian, and English descent. Sharing his childhood experiences, Louie crafted comedy routines that resonated with audiences, reducing them to helpless fits of laughter. He started his career as a counselor to troubled children before winning the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition. Henny Youngman, the competition's host, recognized Louie's talent and hired him as a writer, providing valuable experience that led to his national television debut on "The Tonight Show" in 1984.
Louie's career spanned over 30 years, with numerous stand-up specials, sitcoms, and films. He was a best-selling author, guest-starred in various TV shows, and hosted the game show "Family Feud." He also had memorable roles in films like "Coming to America" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." In 2013, he appeared on the ABC reality series "Splash," where he overcame his fears and inspired others. His stand-up special "Big Baby Boomer" premiered on CMT in 2013.
Louie created the Saturday morning animated series "Life with Louie," which won three Humanitas Prizes and two Emmy Awards. He also wrote several best-selling books, including "Dear Dad - Letters From An Adult Child" and "Good-bye Jumbo...Hello Cruel World." His latest book, "The F Word, How To Survive Your Family," focused on family and relationships.
In 2016, Louie co-starred in the FX series "Baskets" alongside Zach Galifianakis and Martha Kelly. He played Christine Baskets, a character inspired by his mother and five sisters. When not working on projects, Louie continued to tour and perform stand-up comedy, delivering his unique brand of humor and warmth to his fans.
Louie Anderson passed away on January 21, 2022, in Las Vegas, due to complications from large B-cell lymphoma.
