St. Paul native, Emmy winner Louie Anderson dead at 68

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Louie Anderson, an actor and comedian who starred in ‘Baskets’ and as ‘Family Feud’ host, has died at age 68.

As 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS previously reported this week, the St. Paul native was being treated for cancer in a Las Vegas hospital, according to his longtime publicist Glenn Schwartz.

Schwartz said Anderson, who had been diagnosed with a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, died Friday in Las Vegas.

He won a 2016 Emmy for best-supporting actor for his unlikely role in the comedy "Baskets" as Christine Baskets, mom to twin sons played by Zach Galifianakis. Anderson received three consecutive Emmy nods for his performance.

He’s been 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.

I don’t think Minnesota had a better friend and native son. Louie Anderson has passed. He was being treated in Las Vegas for cancer. #kstp #louieanderson #comedy #comedian @kstp @minnesotastatefair pic.twitter.com/lxz9gUSZxe

— Paul Folger (@PaulFolger) January 21, 2022

Anderson voiced an animated version of himself as a kid in "Life With Louie." He created the cartoon series, which first aired in primetime in late 1994 before moving to Saturday morning for its 1995-98 run. Anderson won two Daytime Emmy Awards for the role.

Anderson has appeared in series including "Scrubs" and "Touched by an Angel" and on the big screen in 1988’s "Coming to America" and in last year’s sequel to the Eddie Murphy comedy.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.