Coming To America and Baskets star Louie Anderson dies aged 68: Emmy award-winning comedian passes away at a hospital in Las Vegas after battle with blood cancer

• The actor and stand up died Friday morning in Las Vegas after battling cancer 
• He’d been receiving treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma 
• Louie has a prolific comedy career and won three Emmy Awards
• He appeared in Baskets and Coming to America 
• Last year Louie revealed he had shed 40 pounds with the help of intermittent fasting 

Louie Anderson has died at age of 68 after battling blood cancer. 

The comedian passed away in Las Vegas on Friday morning, his publicist confirmed.

Anderson had entered hospital earlier this week for treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, a form of cancer.

There is no indication yet as to when Anderson was diagnosed with his health struggles. 

Louie Anderson has died at 68, after it was revealed he was battling cancer (Pic, 2018)

His longtime publicist Glenn Schwartz first confirmed the news to Deadline.  

A statement obtained by PA from his representative said: ‘Iconic comedian Louie Anderson passed away peacefully on Friday morning January 21 in Las Vegas at age 68.  

‘He is survived by his two sisters, Lisa and Shanna Anderson.’

The news comes after his friend, comedy actor Pauly Shore, said yesterday that he was saying his goodbyes to Anderson. 

Shore, 53, took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon, revealing he just left the hospital in Las Vegas, where Anderson had been surrounded by his family. 

Last year Louie expressed surprise after learning Eddie Murphy was ‘forced’ to cast him in the 1988 hit comedy Coming to America because studio execs wanted to include a ‘white person’

Anderson  played Maurice, a worker at the McDowell’s fast food restaurant, in the 1988 blockbuster comedy

Gone: Louie Perry Anderson will be remembered fondly by fans for his stand-up work and film roles in movies such as Coming To America 

‘Attention comedians and @TheComedyStore alumni’s I say this with a heavy heart just left the hospital in Las Vegas where Louie Anderson his sisters and close friend were kind enough to let me say my goodbyes he’s still with us but keep him in your prayers,’ Shore said. 

Last year Louie revealed he had shed 40 pounds with the help of intermittent fasting.

‘I started the pandemic at about 370 or 380 pounds depending on what I was leaning on,’ he said on Conan.

‘And now I’m 340. I’m trying to get 275 so I can get into some of my mom’s actual clothes,’ he said, referring to his role on Baskets where he played Zach Galifianakis’s mother Christine Baskets.  

‘I’m on the intermittent fast. One minute I’m eating, the next minute I’m not. Then I’m eating again. I figure, that way, I’m only eating for 30 minutes out of 60, which is half. I’m trying to get down to 40/20 so I’m not eating for 40 and eating for 20.’

‘No, it’s a wonderful thing, the intermittent fasting,’ he added.

The actor also said he would have to ‘retire’ his ‘fat jokes’.

‘My first joke, I walked up on stage and I said, “I can’t stay long, I’m in between meals.”‘

The winner of three Emmy awards, Louie had a prolific career which included roles in Baskets and the hit film Coming to America. 

He returned for its sequel, Coming 2 America, last year. 

Last year Louie expressed surprise after learning Eddie Murphy was ‘forced’ to cast him in the 1988 hit comedy Coming to America because studio execs wanted to include a ‘white person’.

Murphy made the claim during an appearance on NBC’s Today, stating: ‘The whole cast was black, and the studio was like ‘We have to have someone white in this movie or we’re not going to make it’… So that’s how Louie wound up in the film.’

Anderson – who played fast food worker Maurice in the blockbuster comedy – spent the past 33 years unaware that he was a token inclusion, and took to Twitter to share his shock.

‘Wait, what?’ he wrote in a Twitter post shared above a clip of Murphy making the claim.

Anderson was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, making his nationally-televised comedy debut on The Tonight Show in 1984. 

He won his first Emmy for playing Christine Baskets in the FX comedy series Baskets, which ran from 2016 to 2019

Last year Louie revealed he had shed 40 pounds with the help of intermittent fasting

He had small roles in movies like Cloak & Dagger and was cast alongside Bronson Pinchot in The Greenhorn, before he was replaced by Mark Linn-Baker in what would become Perfect Strangers, which ran for eight seasons.

He also starred in small roles in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Coming to America and more while continuing to perform stand-up comedy.

He created and starred in The Louie Show in 1996 and continued to work in movies and TV throughout the 2000s. 

Anderson won his first Emmy for playing Christine Baskets in the FX comedy series Baskets, which ran from 2016 to 2019. 

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.

He also authored several books, including The F Word: How to Survive Your Family, Goodbye Jumbo… Hello Cruel World, and Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too. 

Roles: He had small roles in movies like Cloak & Dagger and was cast alongside Bronson Pinchot in The Greenhorn, before he was replaced by Mark Linn-Baker in what would become Perfect Strangers, which ran for eight seasons; pictured on Young Sheldon

Numerous tributes from various figures in the entertainment industry were made to Anderson following his passing.

Jim Gaffigan wrote: ‘Oh, Louie. I feel so lucky that I knew you Louie Anderson. So funny. So gentle. You were always encouraging. A midwestern big brother from another big midwestern family in this crazy business.’

He added: ‘You conquered stand up, writing (Dear Dad is brilliant) and most recently we fell in love with your acting in Baskets. Rest In Peace. Friend.’

Henry Winkler shared a message to his Twitter account where he noted that the comedian was loved by many during his lifetime. 

‘Louie Anderson : Your generosity of spirit will cover the world from above .. we are so lucky you were on earth for a moment , spreading your humor all over like bars of living gold .. Good Bye,’ he wrote. 

Whitney Cummings expressed that the late comedian had been very supportive towards her over the length of her career.

‘Oh, Louie. I feel so lucky that I knew you Louie Anderson. So funny. So gentle. You were always encouraging. A midwestern big brother from another big midwestern family in this crazy business. You conquered stand up, writing (Dear Dad is brilliant) and most recently we fell in love with your acting in Baskets. Rest In Peace. Friend.’ 

Missing him: Jim Gaffigan wrote a lengthy message where he noted that Anderson was a major influence on him as a comedian

Making their grief known: Numerous tributes from various figures in the entertainment industry were made to Anderson following his passing

Stephen Falk recalled that the actor had been an instrumental figure at the beginning of his time in the entertainment industry.

‘My first Hollywood job was gettting Louie Anderson cigarettes and donuts every day on his CBS sitcom. Most of the time I spent watching him play pinball in his dressing room while he told me to quit and pursue my career. He was super nice to even lil diumb dumbs like me. RIP.’ 

Jeff Ross also made a reference to the passing of singer Meat Loaf, as he wrote: ‘When Meatloaf died Louie Anderson was like, “What’s the point of living?” I loved them both.’

Bill Burr stressed how talented the comedian was and how dedicated he was to his craft as a comic.

‘I always loved how effortless @LouieAnderson made stand up look. He could get an applause break with a slight change of expression or a sideway glance. A true master. Thank you for all the laughs and for being so nice. You were one of the greats! Rest In Peace.’

Viola Davis pointed out that the comedian was a highly genuine individual over the course of his life, as she wrote: ‘RIP Louie Anderson! You were as gracious and kind as you were funny. Rest well!! Keep ’em laughing in Heaven.’

Rob Schneider described him as ‘a brilliant stand up and wonderful craftsman of silliness. Louie Anderson came to see me perform at the Tropicana in Vegas and I was thrilled and honored. He could not have been kinder and more generous.’ 

Wesley Snipes shared a set of images featuring the actor and wrote that ‘another great one goes home.’

Gilbert Gottfried shared a shot of himself taking a selfie with both Anderson and their late friend, Bob Saget, and wrote that they were ‘both good friends that will be missed.’ 

Pauly Shore revealed that he was able to see the comedian before he passed, writing: ‘I say this with a heavy heart just left the hospital in Las Vegas where Louie Anderson his sisters and close friend were kind enough to let me say my goodbyes.’ 

Comedy clubs in Los Angeles also paid tribute to the late comedian, including the Comedy Store which had: ‘RIP LOUIE ANDERSON’ on its marquee.

The Laugh Factory put a picture of Louie on the awning over its entrance, adding the message: ‘REST IN PEACE MAKE GOD LAUGH.’

Serious praise: Viola Davis pointed out that the comedian was a highly genuine individual over the course of his life

Dedicated fan: Wesley Snipes shared a set of images featuring the actor and wrote that ‘another great one goes home’

Fond memories: Rob Schneider described the late comedian as ‘a brilliant stand up and wonderful craftsman of silliness’

Dearly departed: Gilbert Gottfried shared a shot of himself taking a selfie with both Anderson and their late friend, Bob Saget, and wrote that they were ‘both good friends that will be missed’

Saying his goodbyes: Pauly Shore revealed that he was able to see the comedian before he passed

Mourning: Comedy clubs in Los Angeles also paid tribute to the late comedian, including the Comedy Store which had: ‘RIP LOUIE ANDERSON’ on its marquee

Touching tribute: The Laugh Factory put a picture of Louie on the awning over its entrance, adding the message: ‘REST IN PEACE MAKE GOD LAUGH’

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