Louie Anderson

By Steve Marcus · August 17, 2009 · 1:18 p.m.

Comedian Louie Anderson during an interview in the Rio hotel-casino Friday, Feb. 1, 2002.

Relatively new to stand-up, Jon Lovitz will try hand on Strip: Comedy:; Friday, September 11, 2009; By Jerry Fink; Compared with Louie Anderson, comedian Jon Lovitz is a lightweight. Lovitz will be filling in for the hefty Anderson at the Excalibur while Anderson takes a couple of weeks off beginning Sept. 15.

Louie Anderson sues over fall in Excalibur food court: Monday, August 17, 2009; By Steve Green; "Larger Than Life" funnyman Louie Anderson claims in a lawsuit that he was injured when he slipped and fell while visiting a food court restaurant at the Excalibur hotel-casino, where he performs.

Anderson maintains his sense of humor in face of surgery: Thursday, June 1, 2006; By Jerry Fink; In mid-June, he's the one who will be in stitches.

Louie 'thunders' in: Friday, March 10, 2006; By Jerry Fink; The Australian hunks are the ones with the six-pack abs.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Anderson brings gimmick-free show to Orleans: Friday, July 26, 2002; Joe Delaney; Louie Anderson, the Gentle Giant of Comedy, has moved his live onstage chat room comedy format to the warm, friendly, state-of-the-art Orleans Showroom, appearing there through Sunday ... Anderson is conversational, topical, and gentle ... He never raises his voice, resorts to scatology or becomes visceral as so many comedians do today.

Still afloat: Comic Louie Anderson's career a lesson in resilience: Friday, March 15, 2002; By Jerry Fink; The 49-year-old comedian recently finished writing his third book exploring the depths of the relationship he had with his dysfunctional family.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Anderson showcases his comedic versatility: Friday, January 18, 2002; Joe Delaney; Louie Anderson, comedy's gentle giant, starts a fortnight's stand tonight in the Rio's Samba Theatre ... Anderson's comedic style belies his Comedy Store origins ... He tells very funny, true-life anecdotes, the human comedy; hitting home, one-on-one, with the entire audience ... It's not the usual set-up/punch-line format; Anderson is the consummate storyteller.

Louie, Loui-eee, Louie, Loui-iii: Friday, September 26, 1997; Shane Gammon; The comedian, at the time unemployed and in need of cash, applied for a job at a mini-mart. They called back. So did another interested outfit: "The Tonight Show."

Louie: a funny way to spend 90 minutes: Friday, December 20, 1996; Joe Delaney; This was followed by 20 minutes or so of observations on the airport, gaming, Caesars Forum Shops and the talking statues, hotel rooms and beds, before doing "Where are you from?," a true impromptu with audience members. Very few comedians can do this and be consistently funny, working without a net, doing so without offending anyone.

Occupation: Stand-up comedian
Years performing: 1978 to present
Venue: Excalibur Hotel and Casino
Official Web page: http://www.louieanderson.com/
Birthday:March 24, 1953, Minneapolis, Minn.
Early life: Was the 10th child in a family of 11 children, creating situations he talks about in his comedy.
Early career: Anderson made his stage debut on a dare in a tiny Minneapolis comedy club on Columbus Day, 1978, and the immediate positive audience response convinced him that comedy was his calling. After taking first-place in a 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition, he was on his way. He moved to Los Angeles. But in 1985, he was broke and back in Minneapolis.
Breakthrough: Borrowing money, he produced his own one-hour comedy special, which was a success. He returned to Los Angeles, where he worked in Mitzi's Shore's Comedy stores in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas through the 1980s. His TV debut was on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1984.
Mid-career: Award-winning TV specials, a Saturday morning cartoon show and two best-selling book propelled him through the 1990s. He was also the host of Family Feud game show from 1999-2002.
Current status: Performs Sundays through Thursdays at Excalibur in Las Vegas.
Tickets: Vegas.com.