Louie Anderson Biography

Born Louie Perry Anderson on March 24, 1953 in Minneapolis, MN, the future comic was one of 11 children. With that much competition, he quickly realized the benefits of standing out with a sense of humor. Growing up with an alcoholic father, Anderson found work full-time as a school counselor to troubled children, until one night, on a dare, his comedy career began. At a comedy club in Minneapolis, Anderson bragged to his friends that he was just as funny as any of the comics on stage. They dared him to go up on stage and prove it – so he did. Within six months, he was doing comedy full time.

Louie Anderson early comedy routines focused on the outrageous situations inherent with growing-up inside of a big family, as well as the normally not-so-funny experiences from counseling kids. Touring the college circuit and clubs in Chicago and Kansas City, Anderson crafted his persona as the happy, loveable loser; the harmless kid you can’t help but feel sorry for, yet like at the same time. This act helped him to win first place at the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition, where the host was legendary comedian, Henry Youngman (the violin-playing “King of the One-Liner”). Youngman immediately saw the young comic’s potential and took him on as a writer and protégé.

Like virtually every successful comedian of his day, Anderson landed his big break with an appearance on “The Tonight Show” (NBC, 1962- ) with Johnny Carson in 1984. 
Carson was so impressed with Anderson that he called him out for a ‘second bow,’ a gesture rarely bestowed on comics and one that signified the late-night legend’s seal of approval. Anderson quickly found himself as a headliner at Sunset Boulevard’s the Comedy Store and performed small, but memorable roles in feature films such as the flower-delivery guy in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986), the always-eating bicycle courier in “Quicksilver” (1986), and with fellow comedians Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in “Coming To America” (1988).