According to People, Louie Anderson had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most “common” type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was “resting comfortably” and was being treated at a Las Vegas hospital. Anderson had previously dealt with heart issues and was open about his recent weight loss journey. On January 21, 2022, his publicist Glenn Schwartz announced on Deadline that Louie Anderson had died. Fellow comedian and friend Pauly Shore shared on Twitter that he had visited Anderson at the Las Vegas hospital to say goodbye (via Page Six).
It’s a heartbreaking end to a comedic icon who very clearly adored his career. Per the New York Post, Anderson previously stated that he loved “the anatomy of a joke” and compared it to archeology. The Hollywood Reporter writes that as one out of 11 children in a poor household, he used both food and comedy to cope. Anderson said that he felt “very good” onstage and found it “healing.” He is survived by his sisters, Lisa and Shanna Anderson.
