LOUIE ANDERSON is an American stand-up comedian, actor and television host born on this date (d: 2022); Anderson created the cartoon series Life With Louie, wrote three books, and was the initial host of the third revival of the game show Family Feud, from 1999 to 2002. A 1985 marriage to his high-school sweetheart lasted four weeks.

In the late 1990s, Anderson was extorted by a man named Richard John Gordon. Gordon demanded money from Anderson, threatening to reveal to tabloids that Anderson reportedly propositioned him in a casino in 1993. Anderson initially paid Gordon $100,000 in hush money, fearing the story would threaten his starring roles in two family-oriented series, but when Gordon’s demands increased to $250,000 in 2000, he informed law-enforcement authorities. Gordon, who was 31 at the time, was arrested

Beginning in January 2016, Anderson played “Christine Baskets,” on the FX new comedy series Baskets for three seasons. Zach Galifianakis played both roles of Christine’s sons, and non-identical twins, Chip and Dale. Anderson was a main cast member, playing the put upon mother of her grown sons. Chip becomes a local rodeo clown, after failing to get a degree at a prestigious clown school in Paris. The Baskets lived in Bakersfield, California.