Things You Don't Know About Louis CK

Louis CK is one of the funniest comedians around today. He also currently has his own TV show on FX called "Louie", which he was nominated this year for an acting Emmy. Besides his humor, there's a lot more to know about the comedian.

About the C.K.: For starters, you might be wondering why does he go by the initials C.K.? The answer to that is because his full name is actually Louis Szekely. He pronounces his surname as "see-kay" or "C.K." Szekely is a Hungarian name.

Some background facts: He was born in the U.S. but spent his early childhood living in Mexico. Eventually, his family moved to Massachusetts and his parents divorced. He started using drugs in jr. high and was a poor student in school. Although, he says he actually loves learning and regrets not going to college. Before working in stand-up comedy, he worked as a mechanic.

Little known fact: English is actually his second language.

On his FX character Louie: He said about his Louie character during an interview with the LA Times, "I think that the guy in the show that I am is pessimistic, but the stuff that happens to him is optimistic. The show is happening to me, I'm not driving it, which I like. I'm the same, the same, the same, which is generally pessimistic, and life in the show keeps throwing at me all these different examples where I'm wrong."

Little known fact: He drives an Infiniti G35.

Louie and filmmaking: Because of his show Louie, most probably associate the comedian more with TV than film, but he has worked as a filmmaker several times. He wrote the Chris Rock vehicle "Pootie Tang", and co-wrote with Chris Rock both of the movies "Down to Earth" and "I Think I Love My Wife".

Little known fact: He loves Bill Clinton, Woody Allen, and Joan Rivers.

Louie on fame and money: In an interview with Esquire, the comedian said that he "likes the attention he gets from fans like garbage trucks blowing their horns at him"; he makes "more in 5 nights of doing stand-up than a whole season of Louie on FX"; and "cars and cameras are the only things he lets himself be materialistic about."

Fact Sources:

Los Angeles Times, "Louis C.K. on 'Louie', lenses, and knowing when you're lucky." URL: (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/)

Esquire, "Q&A: Louis C.K. by Scott Raab". (Jun/Jul 2011)