Louie Anderson (born March 24, 1953) is an American stand-up comedian. Louie has also created the cartoon series Life with Louie, has authored three books and was the third host of the game show Family Feud from 1999-2002.
Is the tenth child out of eleven children.
Formerly worked as a counselor at a home for abused children.
In 1981, met comedy legend Henny Youngman, and began writing one-liners for him.
Lived in Las Vegas during most of his career, but now lives in Los Angeles
30 September 2003 - Recovering in an LA hospital for treatment of an undisclosed heart problem.
Shortly after the attacks on New York City of 9-11-01, Louie came up with the idea that they do a special NYC police vs. firemen week for the show, the prize money going to the NYPD and FDNY Widow's Fund. Louie put his own personal money to start a pot at the beginning of the week -- $75,000.
When ABC's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire hit the air, Louie thought it would be a good idea to raise the Family Feud jackpot from $10,000 to $20,000. He got his way, and Family Feud's ratings went up as a result. The jackpot had been $10,000 for many years.
Enjoys butter.
Had said that he did not even like his sitcom, "Louie Show, The" (1996) due to all the changes CBS made to it.
Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, vol. 137, pages 2-3. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
Shot the pilot episode of the popular 80s/90s sitcom "Perfect Strangers". Louie played the role of Larry, alongside Bronson Pinchot, who played Balki. Believing Bronson and Louie did not have the right chemistry, Louie's part was recast for the series, and played by Mark Linn Baker.
In 2000, Anderson was blackmailed by a man threatening to reveal to tabloids that Anderson allegedly approached him in a California casino requesting sexual acts in 1993. Fearing the story would threaten his starring roles in two family-oriented series, Louie initially paid a large amount of extortion money, but when the blackmailer's demands increased, Louie went to the police. The man was arrested and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
