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St. Paul actor-comedian Louie Anderson dies at 68

In later years, his life as one of 11 children in a family headed by a troubled father and devoted mother became a source of reflection and inspiration for Anderson.

LAS VEGAS — Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor Louie Anderson, who grew up in St. Paul and would often return to perform at clubs throughout the Twin Cities, died Friday at the age of 68.

Anderson died at a hospital in Las Vegas of complications from cancer, said Glenn Schwartz, his longtime publicist. Anderson had a a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Schwartz said previously.

The portly, round-faced Anderson used his girth and a checkered childhood in St. Paul as fodder for his early stand-up routines.

In later years, his life as one of 11 children in a family headed by a troubled father and devoted mother became a source of reflection and inspiration for Anderson, both in his screen work and in his best-selling books.

Local comedian C Willi Myles helped him when he was just getting started, and he says Anderson was the same genuine person seen on television.

"He would always come back to Minnesota, always. And work the little clubs," said Myles. "He didn't have to go do Mystic Lake or the State Theater, he would come and do the comedy clubs so he could just sit and be around people. He was relaxed, you know, and you just loved that about him."

And it wasn't just the local clubs, Anderson was a recurring guest at KARE 11 as well, most recently in 2017 when sat down with KARE 11's Jana Shortal and Rena Sarigianopoulos on Breaking the News. 

WATCH BELOW: Louie Anderson stopped by KARE 11 in 2017 and sat down with Jana Shortal and Rena Sarigianopoulos on Breaking the News.

In 2016, he won a best supporting actor Emmy for his portrayal of Christine Baskets, mother to twins played by Zach Galifianakis, in the FX series “Baskets.” Anderson, who received three consecutive Emmy nods for the role, credited his mom with elements of the character.

He was 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 in frequent late-night talk show appearances.

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. 

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. Anderson also toured regularly with his stand-up act.

Anderson's early jobs included counseling troubled children. He changed course after winning a 1981 Midwest comedy competition, where he was spotted by veteran comic Henny Youngman, who was the contest's host, according to Schwartz.

Credit: AP
Byron Bilasquez puts up a Rest in Peace message on the marquee of The Comedy Store for the late comedian/actor Louie Anderson, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in West Hollywood, Calif. Anderson, whose four-decade career included his unlikely, Emmy-winning performance as mom to twin adult sons in the TV series "Baskets," died of complications from cancer today at age 68. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Anderson worked as a writer for Youngman and then gained onstage experience while crisscrossing the United States. His big break came in 1984 when Johnny Carson, known for showcasing rising comedians on “The Tonight Show,” brought him on to perform. 

His books included “Dear Dad – Letters From An Adult Child, ” a collection of letters from Anderson to his late father; “Good-bye Jumbo… Hello Cruel World,” a self-help book, and “The F Word, How To Survive Your Family.”

His book, “Hey Mom,” published in 2018, was a tribute to the wisdom imparted by his mother and a how-to tips on facing life's challenges.

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