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Louis C.K. Biography

Birth Name:Louis Szekely

Birth Place:Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Profession Writer, Actor, Producer, Director, Editor, Soundtrack, Music department

Fast Facts

  • Raised $50,000 for the Fistula Foundation by winning a celebrity edition of "Jeopardy!" in 2016
  • Received the 2015 Moth Ball Award for his work in storytelling
  • Got his start as a comedy writer on the original broadcast of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien․"
  • Quote: "I just always loved comedy and I really wanted to be good at it․ And it was heartbreaking, 'cause I started and I wasn't good at it․ I was only 17 years old, so I had a lot to learn about life in general․ But I just kept on trying․ I was young enough and stupid enough and I had no other choice․ I had nothing else I was good at․"
  • Quote: "I thought about quitting․․․But after you do standup for, like, five years, you're kind of screwed, because you have no other skills․ You can't get other jobs․ It's like being in prison; you're not suitable for any other career․ So I couldn't quit, even if I wanted to․"
  • Known for his self-depricating humor showcased in his stand-up routines
  • Graduated in the same high school class as actor Matt LeBlanc
  • Grew up in Mexico until the age of seven, making Spanish his first language
  • Is a dual citizen of the U․S․ and Mexico
  • Used his own personal camera to shoot the scenes for the comedy "Louie․"

Awards

  • 1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special: nominated
  • 2011Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Dorian Award-TV Comedy Performance of the Year: nominated
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Picture Editing for a Special (Single or Multi-Camera): nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2011TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2012INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2012INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2012Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2012Screenplay Competition-Best Television Comedy: nominated
  • 2012TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 2012WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2013DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Directing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2013NYFCO Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Panelist in a Non-Fiction Program: nominated
  • 2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Picture Editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: winner
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor: nominated
  • 2013TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 2013WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: winner
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2014American Comedy Award-Best Comedy Supporting Actor - Film: winner
  • 2014American Comedy Award-Comedy Special of the Year: winner
  • 2014COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2014INOCA TV-Best Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014INOCA TV-Best Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014Screenplay Competition-Best Television Comedy: nominated
  • 2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2014TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2015INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Male Performance in a Fiction Program: nominated
  • 2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2015WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: winner
  • 2015WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Comedy: winner
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2016DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Series - Long Form: nominated
  • 2016INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: nominated
  • 2016Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2016Individual Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
  • 2017Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Series - Longform: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: nominated
  • 2017WGA Award (TV)-New Series: nominated
  • 2018EDA Special Mention Award-Hall of Shame: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble of the Decade: nominated