‘Baskets’ star Louie Anderson undergoing cancer treatment in Las Vegas
Louie Anderson: What you need to know (NCD)
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LAS VEGAS — Actor and comedian Louie Anderson is being treated for cancer in a Las Vegas-area hospital, a representative for the “Baskets” star confirmed Tuesday.
Anderson, 68, was diagnosed with a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and “is resting comfortably,” his longtime publicist Glenn Schwartz said Tuesday in a prepared statement obtained by The Associated Press.
The type of cancer Anderson is battling, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the world and is considered potentially curable, TMZ reported.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson won a Best Supporting Actor Emmy in 2016 for his role as Christine Baskets, mom to twin sons played by Zach Galifianakis, in the FX comedy “Baskets.”
The former “Family Feud” host also created a mid-1990s cartoon series, “Life With Louie,” in which he voiced a cartoon version of himself as a kid and earned two Daytime Emmy Awards for the role.
Fans may also remember his small but memorable roles in “Scrubs,” “Touched By an Angel” and both “Coming to America” and its sequel, “Coming 2 America.”
The stand-up comedian lives in Las Vegas and toured regularly prior to his diagnosis.
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson attends the "Starwalk" at the FX portion of the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association press tour on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson, left, and John Mulaney, winner of the award for outstanding writing for a variety special for "John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City", at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Alex Berliner/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images) (Alex Berliner/Alex Berliner/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson EXCLUSIVE - Louie Anderson arrives at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images) (Dan Steinberg/Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson, a cast member in the FX series "Baskets," poses at a private cocktail party to celebrate the FX network's Emmy nominations, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson attends the Governors Ball for the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson EXCLUSIVE - Louie Anderson, left, and Lori Greiner pose backstage during night two of the Television Academy's 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP) (John Salangsang/John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Comedian Louie Anderson watches the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Target Center on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves won 124-112. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien) (Hannah Foslien/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson arrives at the 2016 FX Winter TCA at the Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP) (Rich Fury/Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Actor Louie Anderson attends FX Networks' annual all-star party at SVA Theatre on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson, left, and Henry Winkler attend the 2018 Performer Peer Group Celebration at NeueHouse Hollywood on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Kameron Michaels, from left, Louie Anderson and Eureka O'Hara attend the 2018 Performer Peer Group Celebration at NeueHouse Hollywood on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson attends the Television Academy Performers Nominee Reception at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Louie Anderson arrives at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images) (Danny Moloshok/Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson EXCLUSIVE - Louie Anderson appears in the audience at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images) (Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson A guest congratulates Louie Anderson as he walks on stage to accepts the award for best supporting actor in a comedy series for "Baskets" at the 22nd annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Actor/co-creator/executive producer Zach Galifianakis, from left, co-creator/executive producer Louis C.K., co-creator/executive producer/director Jonathan Krisel, actors Martha Kelly and Louie Anderson participate in the "Baskets" panel at the FX Networks Winter TCA on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY - Louie Anderson, left, and Judith Light arrive at the 2018 Performers Nominee Reception presented by the Television Academy at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday Sept. 15, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images) (Phil McCarten/Phil McCarten/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson Actor Louie Anderson attends FX Networks upfront premiere of "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" at the AMC Empire 25 on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Louie Anderson A July 1987 photo of comedian Louie Anderson in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) (DOUGLAS C. PIZAC/AP)