Born March 24, 1953 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson’s four-decade career included creating the cartoon series Life with Louie, hosting Family Feud and authoring four books, including Hey Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too. Anderson was much beloved for playing Christine Baskets in the FX series Baskets. He portrayed a mother to twin brothers both played by Zach Galifianakis. The part would give him an additional three Emmy nominations. “I really was Christine when I played the part,” he told Los Angeles Magazine. I wasn’t Louie Anderson playing Christine Baskets. I didn’t let people call me Louie on the set. I needed that. I’d go, “Don’t call me Louie. You can call me Mama Baskets if you want or Christine but not Louie. He’s not here right now.” Anderson’s portrayal of Christine touched many. “We are so deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Louie Anderson. For four wonderful seasons, Louie graced us and fans of Baskets with a bravura performance as Christine Baskets, for which he deservedly was recognized by his peers with the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series,” wrote FX in a statement released on Jan. 21. “It was a risky role for him and he embraced it with a fearlessness and joy that demonstrated his brilliance as an artist. He truly cared about his craft and was a true professional in every sense. Our hearts go out to his loved ones and his Baskets family: Zach Galifianakis, Jonathan Krisel and Martha Kelly and all the cast and crew. He will be missed by us all but never forgotten and always bring a smile to our faces.” Early on, Anderson got one of his first big breaks when he won a comedy contest hosted by comedy legend Henny Youngman. In 1984, he first appeared on national television on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson. “RIP Louie Anderson! You were as gracious and kind as you were funny,” Tweeted Viola Davis. And Henry Winkler wrote, “Your generosity of spirit will cover the world from above… We are so lucky you were on earth for a moment, spreading your humor all over like bars of living gold… Good Bye.” As we mourn Mama Baskets, take a look back at 15 of Louie Anderson’s best quotes. —“Everyone always comes to one point in their life as an artist where you can either let your heart guide you or your ego.” —“I would trade everything I have to have had a happier childhood.” —“You have to be funny about it and honest about it. You can’t leave yourself out of that mix. You have to be honest enough to say, I’m that messed-up one in the family.” —“I was 10th of 11 kids in an alcoholic, abusive, poor family. We all want things that we can’t have. And I found comedy.” —“We all think we’re going to get out of debt.” —“I have a very warm spot in my heart for Vegas.” —“I can’t stay long; I’m in between meals.” —“All great comedians make me laugh, but people make me laugh more.” —“I was kind of a Rickles comic to begin with. I was caustic, and I was abusive and mean to the audience.” —“Well, isn’t every successful person in every family the bankbook?” —“I think I have always tried to connect my comedy to my art.” —“I was 10th of 11 kids in an alcoholic, abusive, poor family. We all want things that we can’t have. And I found comedy.” —“I’m a 7 o’clock act. My people want to go to a show, a dinner and then go home and go to bed.” —“Minnesotans really think they run the whole world, I love that.” —“I have about 1,000 hours of myself on tape in a vault in Los Angeles. But I also have a photographic memory about my jokes, because they’re really about me; they’re my stories.” Next, Why We Grieve Celebrities—and Why That’s Good for Our Health
