“That’s when the big bucks start rolling in…”
Fans remember this phrase as one of his most famous lines that continues to be recited today from the legendary movie, Coming to America. Comedian and actor, Louie Anderson, who played the fun-loving, eager lettuce guy at McDowell’s in the hit movie, has passed away. He was 68.
The comedian’s death was confirmed by Anderson’s publicist, the cause of death was listed as complications from cancer. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Anderson was being treated in a Las Vegas hospital for Diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
“Born in St Paul Minnesota, the three-time Emmy Award winner was one of the country’s most recognized and adored comics,” his rep added. “His career spanned more than 40 years. He was a bestselling author, star of his own standup specials and sitcoms.”
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In 2016, he won a best-supporting actor Emmy for his portrayal of Christine Baskets, mother to twins played by Zach Galifianakis, in the FX series “Baskets.” Anderson, who received three consecutive Emmy nods for the role, credited his mom with elements of the character.
He was a familiar face elsewhere on TV, including as host of a revival of the game show “Family Feud” from 1999 to 2002, and on comedy specials and in frequent late-night talk show appearances.
According to the Associated Press, Anderson overcame what he described a tough childhood in Minnesota, the 10th of 11 children in a poor household with a loving mother but an “abusive alcoholic father.” “We had to decide whether we would shut off the gas or the lights, because we could only pay one of them,” Anderson told Conan in 2019. “We always shut off the lights because my mom had a thousand candles.”
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He also made guest appearances in several TV series, including “Scrubs” and “Touched by an Angel,” and reprised his role in “Coming 2 America”, the sequel to the Eddie Murphy classic.
Anderson had a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Risk Factors
While in the United States, whites are more likely than African Americans and Asian Americans to develop NHL, there are risk factors that still affect African Americans heavily.
Family History
Having a first-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) with NHL increases your risk of developing NHL.
Exposure to certain chemicals and drugs
Some studies have suggested that chemicals such as benzene and certain herbicides and insecticides (weed- and insect-killing substances) may be linked to an increased risk of NHL. Research to clarify these possible links is still in progress.
Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat other cancers may increase the risk of developing NHL many years later. For example, patients who have been treated for Hodgkin lymphoma have an increased risk of later developing NHL. But it’s not totally clear if this is related to the disease itself or if it is an effect of the treatment.
Symptoms
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) can cause many different signs and symptoms, depending on the type of lymphoma and where it is in the body. Sometimes it might not cause any symptoms until it grows quite large.
Having one or more symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have lymphoma. In fact, many of the symptoms listed here are more likely to be caused by other conditions, such as an infection. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Some common signs and symptoms include:
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- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Chills
