Topline
Longtime comedian, actor and game show host Louie Anderson died Friday just days after he was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a rare blood cancer.
Key Facts
Anderson died in Las Vegas from complications from cancer, his longtime publicist Glenn Schwartz told the Associated Press.
Earlier this week, Anderson’s camp announced he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a rare blood cancer, and was admitted to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment.
Anderson’s management did not immediately return a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
Anderson’s role in the television show “Baskets” – a mother to adult twin sons played by Zach Galifinakis – won him an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series in 2016, and nominations in the same category over the two following years. Anderson was the first host of the third revival of hit show Family Feud, which he hosted between 1999 and 2002. He reappeared on Celebrity Family Feud as a contestant in 2017, making him one of only a handful of stars to both host and compete on the show. He also acted in Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America,” in 1988, and reprised his role in the 2021 sequel. Anderson guest starred in episodes of shows like Scrubs and Ally McBeal, and had his own animated series Life with Louie that ran for three seasons and won him two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program. Anderson wrote four books and regularly toured doing stand up comedy, often joking about growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, with 10 siblings.
Further Reading
Louie Anderson, Emmy-winning comedian, dies at 68 (Associated Press)
