Comedian and three-time Emmy winner Louie Anderson has died at the age 68 following a recent hospitalization this week for treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, a form of cancer. His longtime publicist Glenn Schwartz shared the news on the morning of January 21, and the news was first reported by Deadline.
On Tuesday this week, Schwartz shared with the Associated Press that the Minnesota-born comedian was “resting comfortably” in a Las Vegas hospital. As of this writing, it’s not clear how far along Anderson’s cancer was preceding this hospitalization.
Anderson was a versatile performer who enjoyed a long career dating back to the early ’80s with several chapters up to 2021. Most recently, Anderson had an inter-generational resurgence with his 2020 role on millennials-satirizing Search Party as the thoroughly Midwestern lawyer named Bob Lunch, who over the course of that season proves an unforgettable and hilarious addition to the ensemble. From 2016 to 2019, his nuanced role as Christine Baskets on the FX dramedy Baskets can only be described as reliably stealing the show.
In the decades prior, Anderson hosted the third revival of the game show Family Feud, created the animated sitcom Life with Louie based on his childhood in the ’90s, and wrote four books. A Las Vegas comedy staple, Anderson’s stand-up show Louie: Larger Than Life ran from 2003 to 2012.
Hollywood quickly took to social media to share their mourning reactions–some of the more poignant highlights are below.
Baskets was such a phenomenal “second act” for Louie Anderson. I wish he’d gotten a third. RIP
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) 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
Image credit: Getty Images/Slaven Vlasic/Contributor
