History of Louie Anderson in Timeline

Louis Perry Anderson (1953–2022) was a multi-talented American entertainer. Known for his stand-up comedy, he also found success as an actor, author, and game show host. He is remembered for creating the animated series "Life with Louie" and the sitcom "The Louie Show," as well as hosting "Family Feud." Anderson also penned four books, including the heartfelt "Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too."

1901: Birth of Louis William Anderson, Louie Anderson's Father

Louis William Anderson, Louie Anderson's father, was born in 1901.

1912: Birth of Ora Zella Prouty, Louie Anderson's Mother

Ora Zella Prouty, who would become Louie Anderson's mother, was born in 1912.

March 24, 1953: Birth of Louie Anderson

Louie Perry Anderson was born on March 24, 1953.

1980: Death of Louie Anderson's Father

Louie Anderson's father, Louis William Anderson, died in 1980.

January 13, 1984: Louie Anderson's Television Debut on "Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special"

Louie Anderson made his first television appearance on January 13, 1984, on HBO's "Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special."

July 13, 1984: Release of "Cloak and Dagger" Featuring Louie Anderson

The film "Cloak and Dagger," in which Louie Anderson had a small role, was released on July 13, 1984.

November 20, 1984: Louie Anderson's Network Debut on "The Tonight Show"

Louie Anderson made his network television debut as a comedian on "The Tonight Show" on November 20, 1984.

1984: Louie Anderson's First Marriage and Divorce

Louie Anderson married Diane Jean Vono in 1984; however, their marriage ended in divorce after four months.

1985: Louie Anderson's Second Marriage and Divorce

Louie Anderson married his high school sweetheart, Norma J. Walker, in 1985, but the marriage lasted only four weeks.

1985: Louie Anderson Cast in the Pilot Episode of "Perfect Strangers"

Louie Anderson was initially cast as Lou Appleton in the pilot episode of "Perfect Strangers" in 1985, but the role was later recast.

1988: Louie Anderson Stars in "The Wrong Guys"

Louie Anderson starred in the comedy film "The Wrong Guys" in 1988.

1989: Louie Anderson Guest Stars on "The Jim Henson Hour"

Louie Anderson made a guest appearance on the first episode of "The Muppets" television segment of "The Jim Henson Hour" in 1989.

1990: Death of Louie Anderson's Mother

Louie Anderson's mother, Ora Zella Anderson, passed away in 1990.

1993: Blackmail Incident Involving Louie Anderson

An incident occurred in 1993 that would later lead to Louie Anderson being blackmailed.

1995: Premiere of "Life with Louie"

Louie Anderson's animated series "Life with Louie," inspired by his childhood, premiered on Fox in 1995.

1997: Louie Anderson Blackmailed

Louie Anderson faced blackmail attempts starting in 1997.

1998: Blackmail Attempts Against Louie Anderson Continue

The blackmail attempts against Louie Anderson persisted into 1998.

November 28, 1999: Louie Anderson Guest Stars on "Touched by an Angel"

Louie Anderson appeared in the "Then Sings My Soul" episode of "Touched by an Angel," which aired on November 28, 1999.

1999: Louie Anderson Begins Hosting Family Feud

Louie Anderson started his role as the host of the new version of Family Feud in 1999.

2000: Louie Anderson Appears on "To Tell the Truth"

Louie Anderson participated as a panelist on an episode of the game show "To Tell the Truth" in 2000.

2000: Resolution of Louie Anderson Blackmail Case

The blackmail case involving Louie Anderson culminated in 2000 when the individual responsible was apprehended.

September 11, 2001: Louie Anderson Organizes 9/11 Fundraiser on "Family Feud"

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Louie Anderson, as host of "Family Feud," organized a special tournament week featuring the FDNY and NYPD to raise funds for recovery efforts.

2001: Louie Anderson Wins on "Weakest Link"

Louie Anderson appeared as a contestant on the game show "Weakest Link" and won $31,000 in 2001.

2002: Louie Anderson's Tenure as Family Feud Host Ends

Louie Anderson's time as the host of Family Feud came to an end in 2002.

2003: Louie Anderson Kicks Off "Louie: Larger Than Life" in Las Vegas

Louie Anderson debuted his stand-up show, "Louie: Larger Than Life," in Las Vegas in 2003.

2003: Louie Anderson Undergoes Heart Procedures

Louie Anderson successfully underwent two heart procedures in 2003.

2006: Louie Anderson Participates in World Series of Poker

Louie Anderson competed in the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2012: Conclusion of "Louie: Larger Than Life" in Las Vegas

Louie Anderson concluded his Las Vegas residency show, "Louie: Larger Than Life," in 2012.

2013: Louie Anderson Appears on "Splash" and Becomes Land O'Lakes Spokesperson

Louie Anderson participated in the ABC reality series "Splash" and also signed on as the spokesperson for Land O'Lakes Sweet Cream butter in 2013.

2016: Louie Anderson Discusses Family History on "WTF with Marc Maron"

In 2016, during an interview on the podcast "WTF with Marc Maron," Louie Anderson opened up about his family history, including the loss of five siblings at birth and his father's struggles with alcoholism and abusive behavior.