I had the privilege of spending about three hours with Louie Anderson at the Guest House, an adult homeless shelter in Milwaukee WI. We were waiting for the Mayor of Milwaukee, John Norquist, to show up for a press conference. My story has to do with two events I witnessed involving Louie on that day.
Background -Milwaukee was the recipient of HBO’s Comic Relief annual program to raise funds for healthcare for the homeless. I was in my first healthcare job as the director of the Milwaukee Healthcare for the Homeless Program. We received funding from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant, private contributions. Then in 1986, the Comic Relief telethon utilized a very large number of professional comedians to come together to raise funds for homeless healthcare programs. About twenty-two cities were originally selected to receive funding, Milwaukee was lucky enough to be chosen.
I called Bob Zmuda, the founder of Comic Relief, he is in the center for the picture. He was known for being a friend and the manager of the late great Andy Kaufman. I asked Bob if whenever a Comic Relief comedian was in Milwaukee, could we do a press conference to promote homeless awareness and the Comic Relief Telethon. Several months latter, Bob called to say that Louie Anderson would be in Milwaukee and he would do a press conference with us.
On the day of the press conference, I arrived at Guest House and there was already a large crew of media and newspaper reporters to cover the event. Louie Anderson and Bob Zmuda arrived but the mayor was running late. I had a chance to talk with Louie and Bob. Louie told me that in his life prior to being a comedian, he was a social worker. He understood the population that we worked with and missed this type of work.
Louie Story #1 — We ended up waiting for at least two hours for the mayor to arrive. The reporters and Bob were getting very nervous about other commitments. I could not find Louie anywhere. I found him sitting in a waiting area speaking with a young homeless woman that had a learning disability. She was crying and Louie was speaking to her very gently. Assuring her, that she would get help at Guest House. He then sat beside her hugging her, just listening. I have seen many professional therapists in my work. Louie’s patience and love stood our was both sweet and significant. He did not do this for the cameras. The reporters were only across the hall and Louie could have generated some great publicity. He did it because, he knew how and he cared about a young disabled woman from Milwaukee.
Louie Story #2 — After waiting for the mayor, we went ahead with the press conference without him. As Louie and Bob were walking out of Guest House, the Mayor’s limo pulled up in front of Louie. Mayor Norquist got out of the car. He was his tall, skinny and rumpled. He had a hat and raincoat on that were both very wrinkled. He was his usual disheveled self. Immediately Louie turns to me, in front of Mayor Norquist and says. “you did not tell me that Ed Norton was your mayor”. Zmuda breaks up laughing. I of course have to play it straight, Norquist is my mayor. Louie was referring to an Art Carney caricature from the Honeymooners. The comment was dead-on accurate and instantaneous. The mayor was mad as hell. Louie and Bob got in their limo and left. I was standing with a very angry mayor, but the experience was worth it.
Witnessing a person as they really were, without an ounce of pretense. Louie did not care, what the mayor of Milwaukee thought of him. What he cared about was how to make the young disabled woman in the shelter feel safe.
Rest in peace Louie.