Louis C.K.

{{Short description|American comedian, actor and filmmaker (born 1967)}} {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Louis C.K. | image = Louis C.K. on Your Moms House Podcast 2022.png | alt = | caption = C.K. in 2022 | birth_name = Louis Alfred Székely | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|9|12}} | birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. | medium = {{flatlist| * [[Stand-up comedy|Stand-up]] * [[television]] * [[film]] }} | active = 1984–present | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Observational comedy]] * [[black comedy]] * [[blue comedy]] * [[insult comedy]] * [[cringe comedy]] * [[surreal humor]] * [[satire]] * [[deadpan]] }} | subject = {{flatlist| * [[Everyday life]] * [[Interpersonal relationship|human interaction]] * [[human behavior]] * [[Human behavior|social awkwardness]] * [[Sexual intercourse|sex]] * [[marriage]] * [[family]] * [[Sex differences in humans|gender differences]] * [[racism]] * [[self-deprecation]] * [[World news|current events]] * [[pop culture]] }} | spouse = {{marriage|Alix Bailey|1995|2008|reason=divorced}} | children = 2 | signature = | website = {{URL|louisck.com}} }}

'''Louis Alfred Székely''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|uː|i|_|ˌ|s|eɪ|ˈ|k|eɪ}};<ref>Lais, C.J. Jr. (August 18, 2006). "Louis C.K.: Home is where the angst is". ''The Times Union'' (Albany, New York). p. D1.</ref> born September 12, 1967), known professionally as '''Louis C.K.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|uː|i|_|ˌ|s|iː|ˈ|k|eɪ}}),{{efn|C.K.'s stage name is an approximate English pronunciation of his [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] surname, [[Székely (surname)|Székely]] {{IPA|hu|ˈseːkɛj|}},<ref>LaRue, William (June 11, 2006). "HBO's New Comedy: Swear Words and All: 'Lucky Louie' Feels Like a Good Bet for Its Producer from CNY". ''The Post-Standard'' (Syracuse, New York). p. H1.</ref> as he explained on ''[[The Tavis Smiley Show]]'' on September 25, 2009.}} is an American stand-up comedian, actor and filmmaker.<ref name="TavisSmiley">{{Cite AV media |url=http://www.pbs.org/video/tavis-smiley-louis-ck-friday-925/ |title=Louis C.K.: Friday, 9/25 |time=07:41 |publisher=[[PBS]] |date=September 25, 2009 |access-date=November 9, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060828/http://www.pbs.org/video/tavis-smiley-louis-ck-friday-925/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="HReporter-NYCCoverStory-2015">{{cite news|last1=C.K.|first1=Louie|last2=Rose|first2=Lacey|title=Louis C.K.'s Crabby, Epic Love Letter to NYC: "Everyone's Dealing with the Same S— … Elbow to Elbow"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-cks-crabby-epic-love-786746|access-date=April 9, 2015|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=April 8, 2015|archive-date=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409122625/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-cks-crabby-epic-love-786746|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. has won six [[Primetime Emmy Award|Emmy Award]]s, and three [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album|Grammy Awards]], three [[Critics' Choice Awards]], three [[Peabody Awards]] and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] as well as nominations for two [[Golden Globe Awards]].<ref name="Emmys-CK-Bio">{{cite web|title=Louis C.K.|url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/louis-ck|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-date=April 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421100325/http://www.emmys.com/bios/louis-ck|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IMDb-awards">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0127373/awards |title=Louis C.K. – Awards |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927113611/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0127373/awards? |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PeabodyAward-2012">{{cite web|title=Louie (FX)|url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/louie|publisher=[[The Peabody Awards]]|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912004308/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/louie|url-status=live}}</ref> He was listed as one of [[Time 100|''Time'' Magazine's 100 Most Influential People]] in 2012 and ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked him fourth on its 2017 list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|last= Rivers|first= Joan|url= https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112103,00.html|title= TIME 100: The List - Louis CK|magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date= April 18, 2012|access-date= June 25, 2025|archive-date= June 25, 2025|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250625232143/https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112103,00.html|url-status= live|author-link=Joan Rivers}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Love|first=Matthew|title=50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/50-best-stand-up-comics-of-all-time-w464199|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=February 24, 2017|date=February 14, 2017|archive-date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211003827/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/50-best-stand-up-comics-of-all-time-w464199|url-status=dead}}</ref>

C.K. began his career in the 1990s writing for comedians including [[David Letterman]], [[Conan O'Brien]], [[Dana Carvey]], [[Chris Rock]], and ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/10/c-k-and-snl-louies-19-year-backstory-with-the-nbc-sketch-show.html|title=C.K. and 'SNL': Louie's 19-Year Backstory with the NBC Sketch Show|website=Vulture|date=October 22, 2012|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821081823/https://www.vulture.com/2012/10/c-k-and-snl-louies-19-year-backstory-with-the-nbc-sketch-show.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also directing surreal short films and directed two features—''[[Tomorrow Night (film)|Tomorrow Night]]'' (1998) and ''[[Pootie Tang]]'' (2001). In 2001, C.K. released his debut comedy album, ''[[Live in Houston (Louis C.K. album)|Live in Houston]]'', directly through his website and became among the first performers to offer direct-to-fan sales of tickets to his stand-up shows and [[Digital rights management|DRM]]-free video concert downloads via his website.<ref name="Slate-Hulu-CharlieRose-2014"/> He became prolific releasing nine comedy albums, often directing and editing his specials as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-ck-reveals-how-write-703433|title=Louis C.K. Reveals How to Write, Direct, Edit and Star in Every Episode of a Hit Show (and Not Go Crazy)|website=The Hollywood Report|date=May 13, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209181703/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-ck-reveals-how-write-703433|url-status=live}}</ref> These specials include ''[[Shameless (Louis C.K. special)|Shameless]]'' (2007), ''[[Chewed Up]]'' (2008), ''[[Hilarious (film)|Hilarious]]'' (2010), and ''[[Oh My God (2013 film)|Oh My God]]'' (2013).

He gained prominence and widespread acclaim for his [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] semi-autobiographical comedy-drama series ''[[Louie (American TV series)|Louie]]'' (2010–2015), which he created, directed and starred in. The series received [[List of awards and nominations received by Louie|numerous accolades]] with C.K. winning two [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series]]. In 2016, he created and starred in his self-funded web series ''[[Horace and Pete]]'', and co-created the shows ''[[Baskets (TV series)|Baskets]]'' and ''[[Better Things (TV series)|Better Things]]'' for [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]. In film, he acted in ''[[American Hustle]]'' (2013), ''[[Blue Jasmine]]'' (2013), ''[[Trumbo (2015 film)|Trumbo]]'' (2015), and ''[[The Secret Life of Pets]]'' (2016).

In 2017, he admitted to several incidents of sexual misconduct following the release of an article in ''[[The New York Times]]''. This resulted in widespread criticism and caused his 2017 film ''[[I Love You, Daddy]]'' to be pulled from distribution prior to its release. In 2018, he returned to stand-up comedy, and in 2019, he announced an international tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/louis-ck-protests-comedy-cellar-1202016568/|title=Protestors Turn Out for Louis C.K.'s First Publicized Comedy Cellar Set|website=IndieWire|date=October 30, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918171616/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/louis-ck-protests-comedy-cellar-1202016568/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/celebrity/2019/10/27/louis-c-k-announces-new-14-city-tour-email-fans/|title=Louis C.K. announces new 14-city tour in email to fans|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410105204/https://ew.com/celebrity/2019/10/27/louis-c-k-announces-new-14-city-tour-email-fans/|url-status=live}}</ref> He has also released the specials ''[[Sincerely Louis C.K.]]'' (2020) and ''[[Sorry (2021 film)|Sorry]]'' (2021) on his website, receiving a [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album]] for the former. C.K. also co-wrote and directed the film ''[[Fourth of July (film)|Fourth of July]]'' (2022).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/arts/television/louis-ck-special.html|title=Louis C.K. Drops a Comeback Special|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 4, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414073852/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/arts/television/louis-ck-special.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/04/louis-ck-surprise-comedy-special-sincerely-1202222849/|title=Louis C.K. Drops Surprise Comedy Special on His Website|website=IndieWire|date=April 4, 2020|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417054340/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/04/louis-ck-surprise-comedy-special-sincerely-1202222849/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life == Louis Alfred Székely<ref name=motherobit/> was born in Washington, D.C.,<ref name=biography.com>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/performer/louis-ck|title=Louis C.K.: Comedian (1967–)|publisher=[[Biography.com]] ([[FYI (TV network)|FYI]] / [[A&E Networks]])|access-date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114353/https://www.biography.com/people/louis-ck-21014255|url-status=live}}</ref> on September 12, 1967,<ref name=biography.com/><ref name="Atlantic-FilthMoral-2012">{{cite web|last=Parker|first=James|title=The Filthy Moralist: How the comedian Louis C.K. became America's unlikely conscience|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/the-filthy-moralist/308940/|work=[[The Atlantic]]|publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group|access-date=August 19, 2012|date=April 2, 2012|quote=All of which suggests that Louis – born Louis Székely on September 12, 1967 – has struck a nerve.|archive-date=August 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819085430/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/the-filthy-moralist/308940/|url-status=live}}</ref> the son of [[software engineer]] Mary Louise (née Davis) and economist Luis Székely.<ref name=biography.com/><ref name="Owosso-JuneWedding-1961">{{cite news|title=June Wedding Was Held In Traverse City|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zSQyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2897%2C7676500|access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=[[Argus-Press|The Owosso, (Mich.) Argus-Press]]|date=June 26, 1961|quote=Mary Louise Davis...became the bride of Louis Szekely...|archive-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410120812/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zSQyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2897,7676500|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Copley-Knutzen-2007">{{cite news|last=Knutzen|first=Eirik|title=TV Close-Up: Louis C.K.|url=http://members.pikmail.com/home.php?feature=24&aid=7909&gid=5|access-date=April 18, 2013|agency=[[Copley News Service]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929150934/http://members.pikmail.com/home.php?feature=24&aid=7909&gid=5|archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> He has three sisters.<ref name="RStone-Feature-2011">{{cite news|last=Weiner|first=Jonah|title=How Louis C.K. Became the Darkest, Funniest Comedian in America|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/how-louis-c-k-became-the-darkest-funniest-comedian-in-america-20111212|access-date=March 31, 2014|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|date=December 22, 2011|archive-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302023953/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/how-louis-c-k-became-the-darkest-funniest-comedian-in-america-20111212|url-status=live}}</ref> His father is of Mexican and Hungarian-Jewish descent.<ref name=biography.com/> C.K.'s Jewish paternal grandfather, Géza Székely Schweiger, had immigrated from Hungary to Mexico; he and his Mexican wife, Rosario Sánchez Morales, raised their children in the Catholic faith.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coming to Jerusalem: Louis C.K. and his Jewish Root |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/coming-to-jerusalem-louis-c-k-and-his-jewish-root/2016/07/24/ |access-date=May 15, 2020 |work=[[Jewish Press]]|location=Jerusalem, Israel |date=July 24, 2016|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201211235558/https://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/coming-to-jerusalem-louis-c-k-and-his-jewish-root/2016/07/24/|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K.'s mother, an American, was a Catholic with Irish ancestry.<ref name=biography.com/>

When C.K. was an infant, his family moved to his father's home country of Mexico,<ref name=biography.com/> where his father had earned a degree from the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]] prior to graduating from Harvard.<ref name="Owosso-JuneWedding-1961"/> C.K.'s first language was [[Spanish language|Spanish]]; it was not until after they moved back to the U.S. when he was 7 that he began to learn English. He has said that he has since forgotten much of his Spanish.<ref name="Comes Clean">{{cite magazine|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|title=Louis C.K. Comes Clean|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/louis-c-k-comes-clean-20130425|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=November 3, 2017|date=April 25, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201212001135/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/louis-c-k-comes-clean-73965/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Accidental White Person">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/louis-c-k-im-an-accidental-white-person-20130411 |title=Louis C.K.: I'm an Accidental White Person |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 11, 2013 |access-date=August 3, 2015|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201212001405/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/louis-c-k-im-an-accidental-white-person-243605/|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K.'s family left Mexico and moved back to the United States, settling in the [[Boston]] area, initially for a year in [[Framingham, Massachusetts]].<ref name="Comes Clean"/>

Upon moving from Mexico to suburban Boston, C.K. wanted to become a writer and comedian, citing [[George Carlin]], [[Bill Cosby]] and [[Richard Pryor]] as some of his influences.<ref name="NYPost-HotSeat-2007">{{cite news|last=Vogel |first=Laura |title=Hot Seat: Louis C.K. |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/item_0i3ylcj0GXPO0SqsmNybUM;jsessionid=4FAF908BF5985A7D8D7DBB9802A22A40 |access-date=May 23, 2014 |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |date=May 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425233808/http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/item_0i3ylcj0GXPO0SqsmNybUM%3Bjsessionid%3D4FAF908BF5985A7D8D7DBB9802A22A40 |archive-date=April 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> When he was 10, his parents divorced. C.K. said that his father was around but he did not see him much and when he remarried, C.K.'s father [[Conversion to Judaism|converted]] to [[Orthodox Judaism]], the faith of his new wife<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=313950799 |title=Louis C.K. On His 'Louie' Hiatus: 'I Wanted The Show To Feel New Again' |publisher=NPR |date=May 19, 2014 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-date=November 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222543/https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=313950799 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Hiatus-2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/05/19/313950799/louis-c-k-on-his-louie-hiatus-i-wanted-the-show-to-feel-new-again|title=Louis C.K. On His 'Louie' Hiatus: 'I Wanted The Show To Feel New Again'|last=Gross|first=Terry|date=May 19, 2014|work=[[Fresh Air]]|publisher=[[NPR]]|type=Audio interview|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-date=May 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524003214/http://www.npr.org/2014/05/19/313950799/louis-c-k-on-his-louie-hiatus-i-wanted-the-show-to-feel-new-again|url-status=live}}</ref> and the birth heritage of his paternal grandfather, which his father had begun to explore while studying at [[Harvard University|Harvard]]. C.K. and his three sisters were raised by their single mother in [[Newton, Massachusetts]].<ref name="NYObserver-SaveSitcom-2005">{{cite news|last=Hagan|first=Joe|title=Can HBO Save the Sitcom? Louis CK Says Yes|url=http://observer.com/2005/04/can-hbo-save-the-sitcom-louis-ck-says-yes/|access-date=August 5, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Observer]]|year=2005|archive-date=April 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430060214/http://observer.com/2005/04/can-hbo-save-the-sitcom-louis-ck-says-yes/|url-status=live}}</ref> The fact that his mother had only "bad" TV shows to view upon returning home from work inspired him to work on television.<ref name="NYObserver-SaveSitcom-2005"/> C.K.'s mother raised their children as Catholic and they attended after-school Catholic class until they completed communion.<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Hiatus-2014"/> C.K. has said that his father's whole family still lives in Mexico. C.K.'s paternal uncle Dr. Francisco Székely is an academic and an international consultant on environmental affairs who served as Mexico's Deputy Minister of Environment (2000–2003).<ref name="Uncle-pdf">{{cite web|title=Biography: Dr. Francisco Székely|url=http://www.ecologic.eu/download/dinner_dialogue/2004/cv_Szekely.pdf|work=Ecologic Institute|access-date=January 16, 2014|year=2004|archive-date=January 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116235027/http://www.ecologic.eu/download/dinner_dialogue/2004/cv_szekely.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

C.K. attended [[Newton North High School]] and graduated in 1985. He graduated with future ''[[Friends]]'' star [[Matt LeBlanc]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Radksen|first=Jill|title=Louis C.K. and Matt LeBlanc, way back when|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/09/19/emmy-nominees-louis-and-matt-leblanc-knew-them-when/K8mD1IpH0Fr5HtyZZvGe6L/story.html|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=December 28, 2016|date=September 20, 2015|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721102938/https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/09/19/emmy-nominees-louis-and-matt-leblanc-knew-them-when/K8mD1IpH0Fr5HtyZZvGe6L/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduation, C.K. worked as an auto mechanic and at a public access TV cable station in Boston.<ref name="Copley-Knutzen-2007"/> According to C.K., working in public access TV gave him the tools and technical knowledge to make his short films and later his television shows. "Learning is my favorite thing", he said.<ref name="Slate-Hulu-CharlieRose-2014"/> He also worked for a time as a cook and in a video store.<ref name="RStone-Feature-2011"/>

==Career== ===1984–1997: Career beginnings=== In 1984 at 17, C.K. directed the comedic short film ''Trash Day''. The [[New York University Tisch School of the Arts]] showed an interest in him as a filmmaker, but he instead decided to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fitz-Gerald|first=Sean|title=How Louis C.K. Became a King of Comedy|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/04/louis-ck-king-of-comedy.html|publisher=[[Vulture (blog)|Vulture.com]]|access-date=June 3, 2016|date=May 28, 2015|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618222840/http://www.vulture.com/2015/04/louis-ck-king-of-comedy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K.'s first attempt at stand-up was in 1985 at an [[open mic]] night at a [[comedy club]] in [[Boston]], Massachusetts, during the apex of the comedy boom. He was given five minutes of time, but had only two minutes of material.<ref name="LouisCK-bio-archive-2008">{{cite web|last=CK|first=Louis|title=Louis C.K.'s Bio|url=http://www.louisck.net/bio.html|work=Louis C.K.|access-date=May 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413233950/http://www.louisck.net/bio.html|archive-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> He was so discouraged by the experience that he did not perform again for two years.<ref name="About.com-Bio">{{cite web|last=Bromley|first=Patrick|title=Louis CK – Biography|url=http://comedians.about.com/od/comediansal/p/louisck.htm|publisher=[[About.com]]|access-date=October 12, 2010|archive-date=December 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210030701/http://comedians.about.com/od/comediansal/p/louisck.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> As Boston's comedy scene grew, C.K. gradually achieved success, performing alongside acts such as [[Denis Leary]] and [[Lenny Clarke]], and eventually he moved up to paid gigs, opening for [[Jerry Seinfeld]] and hosting comedy clubs<ref name="Copley-Knutzen-2007"/> until he moved to Manhattan in 1989.<ref name="LouisCK-bio-archive-2008"/> He performed his act on many televised programs, including ''Evening at the Improv'' and ''[[Star Search]]''. C.K.'s short film ''[[Ice Cream (1993 film)|Ice Cream]]'' (1993), was submitted to the [[Aspen Shortsfest]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adelman|first=Kim|title=Aspen Shortsfest Turns 20: Watch 5 of the Best Films They've Ever Shown|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/04/aspen-shortsfest-turns-20-watch-5-of-the-best-films-theyve-ever-shown-48142/|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=April 13, 2012|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060333/http://www.indiewire.com/2012/04/aspen-shortsfest-turns-20-watch-5-of-the-best-films-theyve-ever-shown-48142/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1993, he unsuccessfully auditioned for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'',<ref name="HReporter-NYCCoverStory-2015"/> although he did later work with [[Robert Smigel]], writing on the ''[[TV Funhouse]]'' shorts for the program.<ref>{{cite web|first=Joanna|last=Robison|title=Why Louis C.K. Is Glad He Didn't Get Hired at S.N.L.|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/04/louis-ck-snl-audition|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|location=New York City|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215193241/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/04/louis-ck-snl-audition|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K.'s earliest writing job was for [[Conan O'Brien]] on the late-night talk show ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' from 1993 to 1994,<ref>{{cite web|last=Yakas|first=Ben|title='90s Flashback: Louis C.K., Robert Smigel & Adam Sandler Do Silly Dog Voices On Conan|url=http://gothamist.com/2015/02/28/90s_flashback_louis_ck_robert_smige.php|website=[[Gothamist]]|access-date=February 27, 2017|date=February 28, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427034621/http://gothamist.com/2015/02/28/90s_flashback_louis_ck_robert_smige.php|archive-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref> before briefly writing for ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knoblauch|first=Max|title=8 comedians who worked for David Letterman before they were big|url=http://mashable.com/2015/05/19/comedians-jumpstart-david-letterman/#IIZ0HFSKCPqA|website=[[Mashable]]|access-date=May 27, 2016|date=May 20, 2015|quote=After writing for Conan's Late Night between 1993 and 1994, C.K. briefly wrote for Letterman's Late Show in 1995|archive-date=June 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601083230/http://mashable.com/2015/05/19/comedians-jumpstart-david-letterman/#IIZ0HFSKCPqA|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. has stated that Conan O'Brien kept C.K. in comedy by hiring him, as he planned to quit comedy the following day if he had not been hired for ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=[[List of Conan episodes (2013)#September|The Fast and the Bi-Curious]] |series=Conan |first=Conan |last=O'Brien |others=Louis C.K. |network=TBS |date=September 19, 2013 |number=466 |quote=I [Louis C.K.] just wanted to say before you show it [a clip], we were talking about how I started on the show, I just want to thank you for giving me the shot, because I was really desperate. I was literally hungry all the time, I had no trajectory that showed me I would—I was about to—the day before you guys [''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''] hired me, I was going to quit like, comedy and everything, so thanks.|author-link=Conan O'Brien}}</ref>

Throughout the spring of 1996, C.K. served as the head writer for ''[[The Dana Carvey Show]]''; its writers also included [[Steve Carell]], [[Stephen Colbert]], [[Robert Smigel]], and [[Charlie Kaufman]]. It was canceled after seven episodes.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Crouch|first=Ian|title=The Unfortunate Genius of "The Dana Carvey Show|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-unfortunate-genius-of-the-dana-carvey-show|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=November 6, 2016|date=October 23, 2017|archive-date=April 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410095001/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-unfortunate-genius-of-the-dana-carvey-show|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, [[HBO]] released his first half-hour comedy special.<ref name="LouisCK-bio-archive-2008"/> C.K. appeared several times on the animated show ''[[Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist]]''.

From 1997 to 1999, he wrote for ''[[The Chris Rock Show]]''.<ref name="A.V.-Club-Pootie-Tang"/> His work on the show was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for writing three times, winning "Best Writing in a Variety or Comedy Series" in 1999. He was also nominated for an Emmy for his work writing for ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''.<ref name = "Emmys-CKbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/louis-ck |title=Television Academy Bios: Louis C.K. |work=[[Emmys]] |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |year=2011 |access-date=August 24, 2011 |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730073735/http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/louis-ck |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has been quoted as describing his approach to writing as a "deconstruction" that is both painful and frightening.<ref name="RStone-Feature-2011"/>

===1998–2004: Focus on filmmaking=== In 1998, C.K. wrote and directed the independent black-and-white film [[Tomorrow Night (film)|''Tomorrow Night'']], which premiered at [[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]], marking his feature film directorial debut after making several shorter films,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Haglund|first=David|title=Louis C.K. Finally Releasing His First Movie|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/01/07/louis_ck_movie_tomorrow_night_available_on_louie_s_website_soon_video.html|journal=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|access-date=May 3, 2016|date=January 7, 2014|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913114830/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/01/07/louis_ck_movie_tomorrow_night_available_on_louie_s_website_soon_video.html|url-status=live}}</ref> including six short films for the sketch comedy show ''[[Howie Mandel's Sunny Skies]]'' (1995) on the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] cable network.<ref name="Splitslider-Short-Films">{{cite web|last=Evans|first=Bradford|title=The Short Films of Louis C.K|url=http://splitsider.com/2012/03/the-short-films-of-louis-c-k/|website=Spitslider|access-date=March 20, 2016|date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701213250/http://splitsider.com/2012/03/the-short-films-of-louis-c-k/|archive-date=July 1, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> C.K. self-released ''Tomorrow Night'' in 2014.<ref name="NYorker-Anxiety-2014">{{cite web|last=Marantz|first=Andrew|title=Louis C.K.'s Motivating Anxiety|url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2014/02/louis-cks-motivating-anxiety.html|work=[[New Yorker Magazine|New Yorker]]|access-date=May 24, 2014|date=February 7, 2014|archive-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232306/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2014/02/louis-cks-motivating-anxiety.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He hosted the [[PBS]] show ''ShortCuts'' in 1999, which featured independent short films, including some made by C.K. himself.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch Louis C.K. host 'ShortCuts' from 1999 and his film 'Ice Cream'|url=http://www.laughspin.com/watch-louis-c-k-host-shortcuts-from-2001-and-his-film-ice-cream/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060937/http://www.laughspin.com/watch-louis-c-k-host-shortcuts-from-2001-and-his-film-ice-cream/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 7, 2017|website=Laughspin|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> Also that year, C.K. devised and starred in ''The Filthy Stupid Talent Show'', a mock talent show television special.<ref name="Variety-2000">{{cite web|last=Chagollan|first=Steve|title=Louis C.K.|url=https://variety.com/2000/legit/news/louis-c-k-1117783761/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=July 15, 2000|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912011533/http://variety.com/2000/legit/news/louis-c-k-1117783761/|url-status=live}}</ref> He had an early acting role in the independent comedy ''Tuna'', alongside [[Nick Offerman]], in 2000 and performed on the stand-up showcase series ''[[Comedy Central Presents]]'' the following year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Louis C.K., Nick Offerman Co-Starred In 'Tuna The Movie' 13 Years Ago (VIDEO)|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/louis-ck-nick-offerman-tuna-the-movie-13-years-ago_n_3102685.html|website=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=April 17, 2013|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=January 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129190254/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/louis-ck-nick-offerman-tuna-the-movie-13-years-ago_n_3102685.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Louis C.K.|url=http://www.cc.com/comedians/louis-ck|publisher=[[Comedy Central]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030107/http://www.cc.com/comedians/louis-ck|url-status=dead}}</ref>

C.K. wrote and directed the feature film ''[[Pootie Tang]]'' (2001), which was adapted from a sketch that was featured on ''The Chris Rock Show'' and featured [[Chris Rock]] in a supporting role. The film received largely negative reviews from critics, but has become a [[cult classic]];<ref name="AVClub-PootieTang-2009">{{cite web |last=Tobias|first=Scott|title=The New Cult Canon: Pootie Tang|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/pootie-tang,30745/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725232534/http://www.avclub.com/articles/pootie-tang,30745/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2009|work=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=March 21, 2011 |date=July 23, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Esquire-Q&A-2011">{{cite web |last=Raab |first=Scott |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at-his-best/q-and-a/louis-ck-interview-0611 |title=Louis C.K.: The ESQ+A |date=May 23, 2011 |work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |publisher=Hearst Men's Network |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=July 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730182758/http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at-his-best/q-and-a/louis-ck-interview-0611 |url-status=live }}</ref> in a half-star review, [[Roger Ebert]] declared it a "train wreck" and felt the film was "not in a releasable condition".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Pootie Tang|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pootie-tang-2001|website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=June 29, 2001|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112059/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pootie-tang-2001|url-status=live|author-link=Roger Ebert|via=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> Though C.K. is credited as the director, he was fired at the end of filming with the film being re-edited by the studio.<ref name="TheWrap-Pootie-Mistake-2012">{{cite web|last=Molloy|first=Tim|title=Louis C.K. Talks 'Pootie Tang' – 'a Very Huge Mistake'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/louis-ck-talks-pootie-tang-very-huge-mistake-34464|work=[[The Wrap]]|access-date=April 11, 2013|date=January 16, 2012|archive-date=March 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319033230/http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/louis-ck-talks-pootie-tang-very-huge-mistake-34464|url-status=dead}}</ref> C.K. has since co-written two screenplays with Rock: ''[[Down to Earth (2001 film)|Down to Earth]]'' (2001) and ''[[I Think I Love My Wife]]'' (2007).<ref name="A.V.-Club-Pootie-Tang">{{cite web|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|title=Pootie Tang: A Look Back With Director Louis C.K.|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/pootie-tang-a-look-back-with-director-louis-ck-13856|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=March 20, 2016|date=February 25, 2004|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325155003/http://www.avclub.com/article/pootie-tang-a-look-back-with-director-louis-ck-13856|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Lisa|title=It's hard to like "I Think I Love My Wife"|url=http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_5438296|website=[[The Denver Post]]|access-date=March 20, 2016|date=March 16, 2007|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303125612/http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_5438296|url-status=live}}</ref> His first comedy album, ''[[Live in Houston (Louis C.K. album)|Live in Houston]]'', was released in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lyons|first=Margaret|title=A Primer on the Dane Cook–Louis C.K. Joke-Stealing Beef|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/08/louis-ck-dane-cook-louie.html|publisher=Vulture.com|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=August 4, 2011|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112341/http://www.vulture.com/2011/08/louis-ck-dane-cook-louie.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, he voiced Brendon Small's estranged father, Andrew Small, in the animated sitcom ''[[Home Movies (TV series)|Home Movies]]''.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Erik|title=''Home Movies'': "Dad"/"Therapy"|url=https://www.avclub.com/home-movies-dad-therapy-1798176251|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=July 18, 2016|date=March 26, 2013|archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614014218/https://www.avclub.com/home-movies-dad-therapy-1798176251|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. was among the writing staff of the sketch comedy show ''[[Cedric the Entertainer Presents]]'' (2002–03).<ref name="A.V.-Club-Pootie-Tang"/>

===2005–2009: ''Lucky Louie'' and stand-up breakthrough=== [[File:Louis CK Kuwait crop.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Louis C.K. performing in [[Kuwait]], December 2008]] In August 2005, C.K. starred in a half-hour HBO special as part of the stand-up series ''[[One Night Stand (American TV series)|One Night Stand]]''. Inspired by the work ethic of fellow comedian [[George Carlin]], who had committed to dropping all of his existing material and starting over every year,<ref name="HuffPo-2011">{{cite web|title=Louis C.K. "I'm Doing Exactly What He Taught Me To Do"|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/louis-ck-honors-george-carlin-video_n_950134.html/|work=Huffington Post|access-date=December 6, 2015|date=September 6, 2011|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208212948/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/louis-ck-honors-george-carlin-video_n_950134.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in June 2006, C.K. starred in and wrote ''[[Lucky Louie]]'', a sitcom he created. The series premiered on [[HBO]] and was videotaped in front of a studio audience; it was HBO's first series in that format. ''Lucky Louie'' is described as a bluntly realistic portrayal of family life. HBO canceled the series after its first season.<ref name="Vulture-Asshole-2010">{{cite web|last=Marsh|first=Steve|title=Louis C.K. on the Importance of Acting Like an Asshole|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/06/louis_ck_interview.html|publisher=Vulture.com|access-date=May 24, 2014|date=June 29, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213552/http://www.vulture.com/2010/06/louis_ck_interview.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

C.K. was a part of [[Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour]] with other comedians in [[Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour (2007)|2007]]. In 2007, he hosted a three-hour phone-in show on the service at the request of Opie & Anthony, during which he advised callers on their relationship troubles.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brawley|first=Eddie|title=Louis C.K.'s 'Dianetics': Inside His Weird and Wild Three-Hour Radio Show|url=http://splitsider.com/2014/09/louis-cks-dianetics-inside-his-weird-and-wild-three-hour-radio-show/|website=[[Splitsider]]|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-date=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312073300/http://splitsider.com/2014/09/louis-cks-dianetics-inside-his-weird-and-wild-three-hour-radio-show/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During an interview with [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Donald Rumsfeld]] on the show, C.K. repeatedly asked Rumsfeld whether he is in fact a [[Reptilian humanoid|reptilian]] space alien who "eats Mexican babies".<ref name="HuffPo-RumsfeldLizard-2011">{{cite news|last=McGlynn|first=Katia|title=Louis C.K. Asks Donald Rumsfeld: Are You A 'Lizard From Outer Space'? (AUDIO)|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/25/louis-ck-donald-rumsfeld_n_828284.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=February 23, 2013|date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> Rumsfeld declined to comment and the video has since gone viral.<ref name="HuffPo-RumsfeldLizard-2011"/> He appeared in three films in 2008: ''[[Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins]]'', ''[[Diminished Capacity]]'', and ''[[Role Models]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=French|first=Phillip|title=Review: Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jun/01/comedy.romance|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=January 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129030252/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jun/01/comedy.romance|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fitz-Gerald|first=Sean|title=How Louis C.K. Became a King of Comedy|date=May 28, 2015|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/04/louis-ck-king-of-comedy.html|publisher=Vulture.com|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=February 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210231030/http://www.vulture.com/2015/04/louis-ck-king-of-comedy.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

C.K. launched his first hour-long special, ''[[Shameless (Louis C.K. special)|Shameless]]'', in 2007, which aired on HBO and was later released on DVD.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tung|first=Cameron|title=Revisiting 'Shameless', Louis CK's First Stand-up Special|url=http://splitsider.com/2012/11/revisiting-shameless-louis-cks-first-stand-up-special/|website=Splitsider|access-date=March 20, 2016|date=November 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424183907/http://splitsider.com/2012/11/revisiting-shameless-louis-cks-first-stand-up-special/|archive-date=April 24, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked C.K.'s stand-up special ''Shameless'' number three on their "Divine Comedy: 25 Best Stand-Up Specials and Movies of All Time" list<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/divine-comedy-25-best-stand-up-specials-and-movies-70696/|title=Divine Comedy: 25 Best Stand-up Specials and Movies|first1=Steve|last1=Ciabattoni|first2=David|last2=Fear|first3=Tim|last3=Grierson|first4=Matthew|last4=Love|first5=Noel|last5=Murray|first6=Scott|last6=Tobias|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 29, 2015|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=July 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022646/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/divine-comedy-25-best-stand-up-specials-and-movies-70696/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2008, he recorded a second hour-long special, ''[[Chewed Up]]'', which premiered on [[Showtime Network]] on October 4, 2008, and was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy or Variety Special]].<ref name="Emmys-CK-Bio"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Glen|title=Louis C.K. Chewed Up DVD review|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/louis-ck-chewed-up-dvd-review/|website=Den of Geek|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|access-date=March 20, 2016|date=November 12, 2009|archive-date=April 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407052059/http://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/8328/louis-ck-chewed-up-dvd-review|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. and his wife Alix Bailey divorced in 2008,<ref name="Us-5Things-2012">{{cite web|title=Louis C.K.: 5 Things You Don't Know|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/louis-ck-5-things-you-dont-know-2012219|work=[[Us Weekly]] Magazine|access-date=January 16, 2014|date=September 21, 2012|archive-date=January 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116180637/http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/louis-ck-5-things-you-dont-know-2012219|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GQ-FunnyCK-feature-2011">{{cite web|last=Lovell|first=Joel|title=That's Not Funny, That's C.K.|url=https://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201108/louis-ck-interview-gq-august-2011|work=[[GQ]]|access-date=May 24, 2014|date=August 2011|archive-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232550/http://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201108/louis-ck-interview-gq-august-2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> with C.K. and Bailey sharing [[joint custody]] of their children.<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Post-Divorce-2010">{{cite web|last=Gross|first=Terry|title=Comedian Louis C.K.: Finding Laughs Post-Divorce|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=128343426|work=[[Fresh Air]]|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=May 23, 2014|type=Transcript|date=July 7, 2010|archive-date=May 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521151519/http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=128343426|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2010 interview, C.K. talked about how, after his divorce, he thought, "well, there goes my act." He alluded to the way that his marriage had been central to his act and his life, and he said that it took him approximately a year to realize "I'm accumulating stories here that are worth telling."<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Post-Divorce-2010"/> One element in his preparation for stand-up was training at the same boxing gym as [[Lowell, Massachusetts]] fighter [[Micky Ward]], trying to "learn how to ... do the grunt work and the boring, constant training so that you'll be fit enough to take the beating."<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Post-Divorce-2010"/> A clip from an appearance by C.K. on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' in October 2008 titled "Everything's Amazing and Nobody is Happy" became a [[viral video|viral]] hit on [[YouTube]] in 2009, helping his standup career to propel forward.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjNgNDZzH5o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/BjNgNDZzH5o |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Louis C.K. Talks 'Everything's Amazing And Nobody Is Happy' Clip, His Comedy Tour & More |author=Time |date=Mar 18, 2009 |via=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 18, 2009, C.K. recorded a concert film titled ''[[Hilarious (film)|Hilarious]]''. Unlike his previous specials—which had all been produced for television networks—''Hilarious'' was produced independently, directed by C.K. himself, and sold to [[Epix (TV channel)|Epix]] and [[Comedy Central]] after it was complete. As a result, it was not released until late 2010. It was published on DVD and CD in 2011.<ref name="Pitchfork-Interview-2011">{{cite web|last=Deusner|first=Stephen M.|title=Interviews: Louis C.K.|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7926-louis-ck/|work=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]|publisher=Pitchfork Media Inc.|access-date=May 25, 2014|date=June 20, 2011|archive-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525233818/http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7926-louis-ck/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the first stand-up comedy film accepted into the [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref name="AVClub-interview-2010">{{cite web|first=Nathan |last=Rabin |url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/louis-ck,42621/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722204723/http://www.avclub.com/articles/louis-ck,42621/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |title=Louis C.K.|work=[[The A.V. Club]] |publisher=Onion, Inc.|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=June 29, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2010}}</ref> From 2009 to 2012, C.K. played Dave Sanderson, a police officer and ex-boyfriend of [[Leslie Knope]] (played by [[Amy Poehler]]) in the sitcom ''[[Parks and Recreation]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title='Parks and Recreation': Louis C.K. Returns (PHOTOS)|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/parks-and-recreation-louis-ck_n_1258380.html|website=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=January 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121105248/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/parks-and-recreation-louis-ck_n_1258380.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also co-starred in the romantic comedy fantasy film ''[[The Invention of Lying]]'', directed by and starring [[Ricky Gervais]], in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|first=James|last=Kettle|title=Meet Louis CK: the nicest guy in massively offensive comedy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/mar/19/louis-ck-hilarious-gervais|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London, England|date=March 18, 2011|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317065356/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/mar/19/louis-ck-hilarious-gervais|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2011–2016: ''Louie'', ''Horace and Pete'' and film roles === [[File:Louis CK explaining.jpg|thumb|Louis C.K. performing in Montreal, July 2011]] [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] picked up C.K.'s series ''[[Louie (American TV series)|Louie]]'' in August 2009, which C.K. stars in, writes, directs, and edits.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/arts/television/21arts-NEWCOMEDYSER_BRF.html|title=New Comedy Series for Louis C. K.|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=August 20, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 3, 2016|archive-date=July 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730150528/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/arts/television/21arts-NEWCOMEDYSER_BRF.html?_r=0|url-status=live|author-link=Dave Itzkoff}}</ref><ref name="hitfix_interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/interview-louie-creator-star-louis-ck-on-season-one-drunken-sarah-palin-tweets-and-more|title=Interview: 'Louie' creator/star Louis CK on season 1, drunken Sarah Palin tweets and more|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=January 24, 2011|work=[[HitFix]]|access-date=March 20, 2016|archive-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514212205/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/interview-louie-creator-star-louis-ck-on-season-one-drunken-sarah-palin-tweets-and-more|url-status=dead}}</ref> The show features stand-up routines blended with segments partially based on his offstage experiences which address his life as a divorced, aging father.<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Post-Divorce-2010"/><ref name="Variety-FX-lineup-2009">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/more-laffs-in-fx-lineup-1118007486/|title=More laffs in FX lineup|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=August 19, 2009|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-date=April 20, 2024|access-date=November 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420164355/https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/more-laffs-in-fx-lineup-1118007486/|url-status=live}}</ref> The show premiered on June 29, 2010.<ref name="EW-Louie-renewed-2012">{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/07/28/fx-renews-louie/|title=FX renews 'Louie'|last=Hibberd|first=James|date=July 28, 2012|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 28, 2012|archive-date=July 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729042447/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/07/28/fx-renews-louie/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In season three, episodes dealt respectively with a date with an unstable bookshop clerk (played by [[Parker Posey]]);<ref name="Vulture-ParkerPosey-2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/07/seitz-how-parker-posey-made-louie-an-even-greater-show.html|title=Seitz: Parker Posey Has Revealed the Even Greater Show Hiding Within Louie|last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|date=July 27, 2012|publisher=Vulture.com|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605035037/http://www.vulture.com/2012/07/seitz-how-parker-posey-made-louie-an-even-greater-show.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a doomed attempt to replace a retiring [[David Letterman]]; an aborted visit to C.K.'s father; and a dream-reality New Year's Eve episode in which C.K. ends up in China.<ref name="Vulture-RespectMystery-2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/12/seitz-revisits-louies-new-years-eve-episode.html|title=Seitz: On Louie, 'New Year's Eve,' and Respecting the Mystery|last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|date=December 31, 2012|publisher=Vulture.com|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-date=May 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512233823/http://www.vulture.com/2012/12/seitz-revisits-louies-new-years-eve-episode.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These episodes were ranked in critic Matt Zoller Seitz's favorite 25 comedy episodes of 2012.<ref name="Vulture-FaveComedy-2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/12/best-comedy-episodes-of-2012-matt-zoller-seitz.html|title=Matt Zoller Seitz's Favorite Comedy Episodes of 2012|last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|date=December 11, 2012|publisher=Vulture.com|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-date=May 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520091652/http://www.vulture.com/2012/12/best-comedy-episodes-of-2012-matt-zoller-seitz.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Seitz called the episode "New Year's Eve" "truly audacious".<ref name="Vulture-RespectMystery-2012"/><ref name="Vulture-FaveComedy-2012"/> C.K. has been nominated five times for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]] (2011–2015) for his work in ''Louie'', and won two Emmys in 2011{{snd}} for the ''Louie'' episode "Pregnant"<ref name="HuffPo-Emmys-2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/23/louis-ck-best-comedy-writing-emmys-2012_n_1907583.html|title=Louis C.K. Wins Best Comedy Writing at Emmys 2012 For 'Louie'|last=Etkin|first=Jaimie|date=September 23, 2012|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-date=April 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403190736/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/23/louis-ck-best-comedy-writing-emmys-2012_n_1907583.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and for his special ''[[Live at the Beacon Theater]]''.<ref name="NYT-Joke-2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/arts/for-louis-c-k-the-jokes-on-him.html|title=The Joke's on Louis C.K.|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=April 4, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701020357/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/arts/for-louis-c-k-the-jokes-on-him.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live|author-link=Dave Itzkoff}}</ref>

The show was renewed for a fourth season;<ref name="RollingStone-Happy-2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/why-cant-louis-be-happy-20140506|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508014350/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/why-cant-louis-be-happy-20140506|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2014|title=Why Can't Louis Be Happy? Despite all his incredible success, Louis C.K. is only getting darker|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|date=May 6, 2014|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|access-date=May 24, 2014}}</ref> with a 19-month hiatus after season 3<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Hiatus-2014"/> to accommodate C.K.'s roles in [[David O. Russell]]'s ''[[American Hustle]]'' and [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Blue Jasmine]]'' in 2013.<ref name="GQ-KingComedy-2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201405/louis-ck-cover-story-may-2014|title=The 15 Funniest People Alive: Louis C.K. Is America's Undisputed King of Comedy|last=Corsello|first=Andrew|date=May 2014|work=[[GQ]]|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-date=May 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523005303/http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201405/louis-ck-cover-story-may-2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Variety-ExplainsBreak-2014">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/louie-c-k-explains-the-break-before-louies-fourth-season-1201168077/|title=Louis C.K. Explains the Break Before 'Louie's' Fourth Season|last=Gaffney|first=Adrienne|date=April 30, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=May 26, 2014|archive-date=May 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505044919/http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/louie-c-k-explains-the-break-before-louies-fourth-season-1201168077/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 2014 [[Television Critics Association]] presentations, FX Networks' [[John Landgraf]] reported that ''[[Louie (American TV series)|Louie]]'' would return in spring 2015 for a shortened fifth season of seven episodes—compared to the 13 episodes of prior seasons.<ref name="Hitfix-Season5-2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/fxs-renews-louie-for-a-shortened-season-5|title=FX's renews 'Louie' for a shortened Season 5|last=Fienberg|first=Daniel|date=July 21, 2014|website=[[Hitfix]]|access-date=July 24, 2014|archive-date=July 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723222503/http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/fxs-renews-louie-for-a-shortened-season-5|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Louie (season 5)|fifth season]] premiered in April 2015 and an announcement said the series would take an "extended [[Hiatus (television)|hiatus]]" in August 2015;<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/louis-c-k-taking-extended-hiatus-from-louie-20150808|title=Louis C.K. Taking 'Extended Hiatus' From 'Louie'|last=Kreps|first=Daniels |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 8, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2016}}</ref> C.K. stated in January 2016 that he "just doesn't know" whether it would return or not.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/louie-fx-returning-season-6-louis-ck-1201681541/|title=Louis C.K. on the Future of 'Louie': 'I Just Don't Know'|last=Wagmeister|first=Elizabeth|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 16, 2016|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120205440/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/louie-fx-returning-season-6-louis-ck-1201681541/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017, in the wake of the misconduct allegations against C.K, FX cut ties with the embattled comic and filmmaker, ending their partnership.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5019929/louis-ck-louie-fx-sexual-misconduct-masturbation/|title=Why FX Cutting Ties With Louis C.K. Is a Big Deal|magazine=Time|access-date=April 5, 2020}}</ref> In 2018, however, FX CEO [[John Landgraf]] stated to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', "I love ''Louie'' and I love Louis C.K.'s work and I miss him, and I miss it," and that "the network is ready to welcome C.K. back and is eager for ''Louie'' season six".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/08/louie-fx-return-season-6-louis-ck-second-chance-harassment-1201992170/|title=FX Boss Misses Louis C.K. and Would Bring 'Louie' Back, but Season 6 Depends on Society Accepting 'Second Chances'|website=IndieWire|date=August 8, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2020}}</ref> In 2011, C.K. joined fellow comedians [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Chris Rock]], and [[Ricky Gervais]] for a discussion of comedy in ''[[Talking Funny (Television special)|Talking Funny]]'', a one-hour [[television special]] that aired on [[HBO]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/04/23/hbo-talking-funny-special-friday/|title=HBO's 'Talking Funny': Are you having a laugh?|first=Annie|last=Barrett|date=April 23, 2011|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609030451/https://ew.com/article/2011/04/23/hbo-talking-funny-special-friday/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Louis CK 2012 Shankbone.JPG|thumb|left|170px|C.K. at the 2012 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' gala]] On December 10, 2011, C.K. released his fourth full-length special, ''[[Live at the Beacon Theater]]''. Like ''Hilarious'', it was produced independently and directed by C.K. However, unlike his earlier work, it was distributed digitally on his website, foregoing both physical and broadcast media. C.K. released the special for $5.00 and without [[digital rights management|DRM]], hoping that these factors and the direct relationship between the artist and consumer would effectively deter illegal downloading.<ref name="NPR-FreshAir-Louie-Love-Loss-2011">{{cite web|last=Gross|first=Terry|title=Louis C.K. Reflects On 'Louie,' Loss, Love And Life|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/143581710/louis-c-k-reflects-on-louie-loss-love-and-life|work=[[Fresh Air]]|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=May 25, 2014|type=Audio interview|date=December 13, 2011|archive-date=May 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524170450/http://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/143581710/louis-c-k-reflects-on-louie-loss-love-and-life|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of the special, the release of a new album, recorded at [[Carnegie Hall]] the previous year, is mentioned. By December 21, 2011, the sales of the special from C.K.'s website had already earned him over $1 million.<ref name="LouisCK-PayPal-Statement-2011">{{cite web|last=C.K.|first=Louis|title=Another Statement from Louis C.K.|url=https://buy.louisck.net/news/another-statement-from-louis-c-k|work=Louis C.K.|access-date=May 23, 2014|type=blog|date=December 21, 2011|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714210001/https://buy.louisck.net/news/another-statement-from-louis-c-k|url-status=dead}}</ref> C.K. hosted ''Saturday Night Live'' on November 3, 2012, and was subsequently [[Primetime Emmy Award]]-nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]].<ref name="Emmys-CKbio"/><ref name="HuffPo-HostSNL-2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/21/louis-ck-to-host-snl_n_1995122.html|title=Louis C.K. To Host SNL With Musical Guest Fun November 3|date=October 21, 2012|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=October 29, 2012|first=Carol|last=Hartsell|archive-date=October 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027063128/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/21/louis-ck-to-host-snl_n_1995122.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The success of the special prompted other comedians, including [[Jim Gaffigan]], [[Joe Rogan]], and [[Aziz Ansari]], to release their own specials with a similar business model.<ref name="Forbes-RedditAMA-2012">{{cite news|last=Holiday|first=Ryan|author-link=Ryan Holiday|title=Inside the Reddit AMA: The Interview Revolution That Has Everyone Talking|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/05/01/inside-the-reddit-ama-the-interview-revolution-that-has-everyone-talking/|access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=[[Forbes]]|date=May 1, 2012|archive-date=May 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518090307/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/05/01/inside-the-reddit-ama-the-interview-revolution-that-has-everyone-talking/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 11, 2012, C.K. additionally made two audio-only downloads available for $5.00 each: ''[[Word: Live at Carnegie Hall|WORD&nbsp;– Live at Carnegie Hall]]'' (and the audio version of his first [[HBO]] stand-up special, ''Shameless''), as well as an audio-only version of ''[[Live at the Beacon Theater]]''.<ref name="LouisCK-PayPal-Statement-2011"/> C.K.'s fifth one-hour special, ''[[Oh My God (Louis C.K. special)|Oh My God]]'', was recorded at the [[Celebrity Theatre]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], and premiered on HBO April 13, 2013.<ref name="Esquire-AmPreacher-2013">{{cite web|last=Marche|first=Stephen|title=Louis C.K. Is Our New American Preacher|url=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/louis-ck-oh-my-god-review|work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|access-date=May 6, 2013|date=April 15, 2013|archive-date=April 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427231058/http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/louis-ck-oh-my-god-review|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also sold and distributed using the same model as C.K. used for ''Live at the Beacon Theater''.

In 2013, C.K. appeared in critically acclaimed films the first being [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Blue Jasmine]]'' where he played the romantic interest of [[Sally Hawkins]]' character.<ref name=":6">{{cite magazine|last=Miler|first=Julie|title=Blue Jasmine's Sally Hawkins on the Mystery of Woody Allen: 'No One Can Work Out Woody'|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/12/sally-hawkins-blue-jasmine-interview|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=December 11, 2013|archive-date=January 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105084718/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/12/sally-hawkins-blue-jasmine-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. originally auditioned for the role that went to [[Andrew Dice Clay]], and Allen offered Louie the role that ended up in the film. Of the experience, C.K. stated, "I had this three-day part and I figured I'm a tourist on this movie. All I want is a little Woody moment to take home with me. It was so fun, and we had lunch, and I thought having lunch with him was my rewarding moment. And then after lunch, we shot one more scene and I got a big laugh on the set, and I thought, that's my Woody moment".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/07/watch-new-clip-from-blue-jasmine-louis-c-k-talks-potential-movie-with-woody-allen-95580/|title=Watch: New Clip From 'Blue Jasmine,' Louis C.K. Talks Potential Movie With Woody Allen|website=[[IndieWire]]|date=July 24, 2013|access-date=May 18, 2020|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118210035/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/07/watch-new-clip-from-blue-jasmine-louis-c-k-talks-potential-movie-with-woody-allen-95580/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, C.K. starred in [[David O. Russell]]'s black comedy crime film ''[[American Hustle]]'', which was released in December 2013. C.K. played the role of [[FBI]] supervisor Stoddard Thorsen, the boss of [[Bradley Cooper]]'s character.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Denby|first=David|title=Grand Scam|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/12/16/grand-scam|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|date=December 16, 2013|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191413/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/12/16/grand-scam|url-status=live|author-link=David Denby}}</ref> The film was a financial and critical hit, earning 10 [[Academy Awards]] nominations including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]. C.K. earned a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2014/film/awards/lupita-nyongo-jared-leto-win-sag-supporting-actor-awards-1201063802/|title= 'American Hustle' Wins SAG Ensemble Cast Award|website= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date= January 19, 2014|access-date= May 18, 2020|archive-date= August 8, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200808190908/https://variety.com/2014/film/awards/lupita-nyongo-jared-leto-win-sag-supporting-actor-awards-1201063802/|url-status= live}}</ref>

[[File:Louis C.K. at the 72nd Annual Peabody Awards.jpg|thumb|160px|C.K. at the [[Peabody Awards]], 2013]] C.K.'s production company, Pig Newton, where he works with producer Blair Breard, signed a contract to develop and executive produce pilots for [[FX Networks]] in 2013.<ref name="HReporter-OverallDeal-2013">{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|title=Louis C.K. Inks Overall Deal at FX Productions|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-inks-deal-at-661502|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 3, 2013|archive-date=September 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903083119/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-inks-deal-at-661502|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2014, an announcement said C.K. would produce and co-write a [[Zach Galifianakis]]–created comedy pilot for FX Networks.<ref name="HReporter-GalifianakasPilot-2014">{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title=Zach Galifianakis to Star in FX Comedy From Louis C.K.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/zach-galifianakis-star-fx-comedy-670757|access-date=May 26, 2014|newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 14, 2014|archive-date=March 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314022704/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/zach-galifianakis-star-fx-comedy-670757|url-status=live}}</ref> The 10-episode single-camera comedy, titled ''[[Baskets (TV series)|Baskets]]'', premiered on January 21, 2016.<ref name="HReporter-Baskets-2014">{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title=FX's Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K. Clown Comedy 'Baskets' Ordered to Series|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fxs-zach-galifianakis-louis-ck-728639|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 27, 2014|archive-date=August 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827221652/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fxs-zach-galifianakis-louis-ck-728639|url-status=live}}</ref> It features Galifianakis as the main character, a struggling clown named Chip Baskets in a pilot episode written by Galifianakis, Louis C.K. and [[Jonathan Krisel]].<ref name="HitFix-Baskets-2014">{{cite news|last=Fienberg|first=Daniel|title=Zach Galifianakis makes FX a 'Baskets' case for 2016: Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel co-created the comedy with the 'Hangover' star|url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/zach-galifianakis-makes-fx-a-baskets-case-for-2016|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=[[HitFix]]|date=August 27, 2014|archive-date=August 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830000032/http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/zach-galifianakis-makes-fx-a-baskets-case-for-2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> C.K. released his sixth one-hour special ''[[Live at the Comedy Store]]'' to his website in January 2015, which, unlike his past few specials, was recorded at a club, [[The Comedy Store]] in [[West Hollywood]]. C.K. said he intended the material as an exercise in creating an act that hearkened back to his early days in comedy clubs.<ref name="Vulture-ComedyStore-2015">{{cite news|last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|title='Louis C.K. Live at the Comedy Store' Is Loose With Flashes of Brilliance|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/01/louis-ck-live-at-the-comedy-store-review.html|access-date=February 16, 2015|publisher=Vulture.com|date=January 30, 2015|archive-date=February 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221081032/http://www.vulture.com/2015/01/louis-ck-live-at-the-comedy-store-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The special premiered exclusively on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] on May 28, 2015.

He returned to host ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' on March 29, 2014, and May 16, 2015, and received [[Primetime Emmy Award|Emmy Award]] nominations for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]] for both episodes.<ref name="Emmys-CK-Bio"/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Busis|first=Hillary|title='Saturday Night Live' recap: Louis C.K. does his thing|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/30/saturday-night-live-recap-louis-ck|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=May 26, 2016|date=March 30, 2014|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311063148/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/30/saturday-night-live-recap-louis-ck|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Busis|first=Hillary|title=Louis C.K. hosts the Saturday Night Live finale this weekend: Talk about it here!|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/15/louis-ck-and-rihanna-snl-finale-discuss|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=May 26, 2016|date=May 16, 2015|archive-date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423064859/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/15/louis-ck-and-rihanna-snl-finale-discuss|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. also attended the ''[[Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special]]'', where he was chosen to introduce a montage of the pre-recorded sketches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/17/arts/television/the-snl-40th-anniversary-show-very-funny-except-when-it-wasnt.html|title=The 'S.N.L.' 40th-Anniversary Show: Very Funny, Except When It Wasn't|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 16, 2015|access-date=April 5, 2020|last=Stanley|first=Alessandra|archive-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922004055/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/17/arts/television/the-snl-40th-anniversary-show-very-funny-except-when-it-wasnt.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6472915/snl-40th-anniversary-show-complete-guest-list-arcade-fire-kanye-west-taylor-swift|title='SNL' 40th Anniversary Show: Complete Guest List With Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Jack White|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=April 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423201817/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6472915/snl-40th-anniversary-show-complete-guest-list-arcade-fire-kanye-west-taylor-swift|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2015, it was announced that C.K. would write, direct, and star in the film ''I'm a Cop'', to be produced by [[Scott Rudin]], [[Dave Becky]], and Blair Breard, with a budget of $8 million,<ref name="HReporter-ImACop-2015">{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Louis C.K. to Direct, Star in Indie Film 'I'm a Cop' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-ck-direct-star-indie-793211|access-date=June 6, 2015|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=May 4, 2015|archive-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517034537/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-ck-direct-star-indie-793211|url-status=live}}</ref> although he later canceled the project.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davs|first=Edward|title=Louis C.K. Says He's Scrapped His Next Movie & There Will Be No More 'Louie' On FX For Now|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/04/louis-c-k-says-hes-scrapped-his-next-movie-there-will-be-no-more-louie-on-fx-for-now-292596/|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=August 6, 2016|date=April 13, 2016|archive-date=August 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803073259/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/04/louis-c-k-says-hes-scrapped-his-next-movie-there-will-be-no-more-louie-on-fx-for-now-292596/|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. became the first comedian to sell out [[Madison Square Garden]] three times in a single tour in 2015.<ref name="HReporter-NYCCoverStory-2015"/> Audio from the tour was released by C.K. on his website as ''Louis C.K.: Live at Madison Square Garden'' through the [[pay what you want]] model.<ref>{{cite web|last=Russell|first=Scott|title=Pay What You Want for Louis C.K.'s New Live Album|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/08/pay-what-you-want-for-louis-cks-new-live-album.html|website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=July 9, 2016|date=August 11, 2015|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816142530/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/08/pay-what-you-want-for-louis-cks-new-live-album.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2015, C.K. co-starred in the biographical drama film ''[[Trumbo (2015 film)|Trumbo]]'' as a [[composite character]] based on five screenwriters who were [[Hollywood blacklist|blacklisted in Hollywood]] for their alleged ties to the [[Communist party]] during the 1940s.{{Efn|His character, Arlen Hird, is a composite of [[Alvah Bessie]], [[Lester Cole]], [[John Howard Lawson]], [[Albert Maltz]] and [[Samuel Ornitz]].<ref name="rapold">{{cite news|last=Rapold|first=Nicolas|title='Trumbo' Recalls the Hunters and the Hunted of Hollywood|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/movies/trumbo-recalls-the-hunters-and-the-hunted-of-hollywood.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 22, 2015|date=November 4, 2015|archive-date=June 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618055839/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/movies/trumbo-recalls-the-hunters-and-the-hunted-of-hollywood.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<ref name="BInsider-LouisC.K.Trumbo-2015">{{cite news|last=Guerrasio|first=Jason|title=Louis C.K. is completely unrecognizable in this poster for the new Bryan Cranston movie|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trumbo-louis-ck-stars-in-new-bryan-cranston-movie-2015-8?r=US&IR=T|access-date=August 12, 2015|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=August 11, 2015|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305095635/https://www.businessinsider.com/trumbo-louis-ck-stars-in-new-bryan-cranston-movie-2015-8?r=US&IR=T|url-status=live}}</ref> He executive-produced the pilot for the [[Amazon Video]] black comedy series ''[[One Mississippi (TV series)|One Mississippi]]'', starring Notaro, in November 2015. It was ordered for a full season by Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Megh|title=Tig Notaro and Louis C.K.'s Pilot 'One Mississippi' Is Now on Amazon|url=http://splitsider.com/2015/11/tig-notaro-and-louis-c-k-s-pilot-one-mississippi-is-now-on-amazon/|website=Splitsider|access-date=January 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427004102/http://splitsider.com/2015/11/tig-notaro-and-louis-c-k-s-pilot-one-mississippi-is-now-on-amazon/|archive-date=April 27, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2016 C.K. and actor/comedian [[Albert Brooks]] were rumoured to create, write, executive produce, and provide the voices for the two main characters in an animated series pilot for FX.<ref name=AlbertBrooksAnimatedSeries>{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Louis C.K., Albert Brooks Team for Animated FX Pilot|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-albert-brooks-team-851795|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 4, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106112114/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-albert-brooks-team-851795|url-status=live}}</ref> The following January, the series was announced to instead be premiering on [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] in 2018 and titled ''The Cops'', following two [[Los Angeles]] [[patrol]]men.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hibberd|first=James|title=Louis C.K. to star in animated cop comedy|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/01/14/louis-ck-animated-cop-comedy-tbs/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=January 14, 2017|date=January 14, 2017|archive-date=January 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114203352/http://ew.com/tv/2017/01/14/louis-ck-animated-cop-comedy-tbs/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 30, 2016, he released the first episode of the [[Comedy drama|tragicomic]] drama series ''[[Horace and Pete]]'' to his website, without any prior announcements. C.K. directed, wrote, and starred in the series as bar owner Horace, alongside [[Steve Buscemi]], who portrays co-owner Pete.<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Orazio|first=Dante|title=Louis C.K. surprises fans with new show Horace and Pete, co-starring Steve Buscemi|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/30/10875710/louis-ck-tv-show-horace-and-pete-released|website=[[The Verge]]|date=January 30, 2016|access-date=January 30, 2016|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416210600/http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/30/10875710/louis-ck-tv-show-horace-and-pete-released|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Horace and Pete'' pioneered the genre of 'sadcom'. [[James Poniewozik]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said the series "may best be described as a ''[[Cheers]]'' spec script by [[Eugene O'Neill]]: a snapshot of a family—and a country—suffering a hangover decades in the making."<ref>{{cite news|first=James|last=Poniewozik|title=Review: Louis C.K.'s 'Horace and Pete,' Mournful and Unshakable|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/arts/television/louis-ck-horace-and-pete-episode-1-review.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 16, 2016|date=January 30, 2016|author1-link=James Poniewozik|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116170750/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/arts/television/louis-ck-horace-and-pete-episode-1-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The self-financed series received a significantly positive reaction from critics, who largely focused on the performances of the veteran cast that includes C.K., Buscemi, [[Edie Falco]], [[Steven Wright]], [[Alan Alda]], and [[Jessica Lange]] and C.K.'s writing.<ref>{{cite web|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|title=Want to help Louis CK out of debt? Four great reasons to watch Horace and Pete|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/apr/13/louis-ck-is-in-millions-of-dollars-of-debt-horace-and-pete|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=June 16, 2016|date=April 13, 2016|archive-date=June 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621054021/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/apr/13/louis-ck-is-in-millions-of-dollars-of-debt-horace-and-pete|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Horace and Pete: Season 1 (2016)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/horace-and-pete/s01/|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116170752/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/horace-and-pete/s01|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. has expressed his interest in a second season.<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|title=Louis C.K. On Potential 'Horace And Pete' Season 2: "I Have Ideas On How To Continue The Series"|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/louis-c-k-horace-and-pete-season-2-1201773539/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=June 16, 2016|date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913121129/https://deadline.com/2016/06/louis-c-k-horace-and-pete-season-2-1201773539/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Timothy Simons Louis CK Al Franken Pamela Adlon.jpg|thumb|left|[[Timothy Simons]], [[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]], [[Al Franken]], Louis C.K., and [[Pamela Adlon]] at the [[Peabody Awards]] in 2017]] C.K. next voiced the lead, Max, a [[Jack Russell Terrier]], in the animated comedy film ''[[The Secret Life of Pets]]''. The film was co-directed by [[Chris Renaud]] of the ''[[Despicable Me]]'' series, and was released on July 8, 2016.<ref name="mikeflemingjr">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/chris-meledandris-illumination-sets-louis-c-k-eric-stonestreet-and-kevin-hart-for-3d-animated-pets-pic-at-universal-670775/|title=Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet & Kevin Hart To Voice Animated 'Pets' Movie|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 24, 2014|access-date=January 22, 2016|archive-date=October 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031114513/http://deadline.com/2014/01/chris-meledandris-illumination-sets-louis-c-k-eric-stonestreet-and-kevin-hart-for-3d-animated-pets-pic-at-universal-670775/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Patrick|title=Louis C.K. is unleashed in animated 'Secret Life of Pets'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/07/07/secret-life-of-pets-louis-ck-eric-stonestreet-kevin-hart/86483860/|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 8, 2016|date=July 7, 2016|archive-date=July 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707151302/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/07/07/secret-life-of-pets-louis-ck-eric-stonestreet-kevin-hart/86483860/|url-status=live}}</ref> It grossed over $875 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Secret Life of Pets'' (2016)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=illumination2015.htm|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=July 15, 2016|archive-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128162933/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=illumination2015.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|title='The Secret Life Of Pets 2' Will Be Unleashed A Month Earlier|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-runs-to-june-2019-release-1202149417/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=October 24, 2017|date=August 15, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001213707/http://deadline.com/2017/08/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-runs-to-june-2019-release-1202149417/|url-status=dead}}</ref> C.K. developed the series ''[[Better Things (TV series)|Better Things]]'' with its star [[Pamela Adlon]], who had appeared on ''Louie''. C.K. co-wrote, co-produced, and directed the pilot.<ref name="HReporter-NYCCoverStory-2015"/> The show is about a single working actress mother and her struggles to raise three daughters.<ref name="NYTimes-AdlonTVShow-2015">{{cite news|last=Chow|first=Andrew|title=FX Picks Up a Pilot From Louis CK and Pamela Adlon|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/fx-picks-up-a-pilot-from-louis-ck-and-pamela-adlon/|access-date=April 22, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=January 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127115639/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/fx-picks-up-a-pilot-from-louis-ck-and-pamela-adlon/|url-status=live}}</ref> It premiered in September 2016 on FX.<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Alesssandro|first=Anthony|title=Louis C.K.-Pamela Adlon FX Comedy Series 'Better Things' Sets Fall Premiere Date|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/louis-c-k-better-things-pamela-adlon-horace-and-pete-fx-1201773843/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=August 8, 2016|date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615083423/https://deadline.com/2016/06/louis-c-k-better-things-pamela-adlon-horace-and-pete-fx-1201773843/|url-status=live}}</ref> His stand-up special ''2017'' was filmed in Washington, D.C., and released on April 4, 2017, through the streaming service [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Schwindt|first=Oriana|title=Louis C.K. Inks Deal With Netflix for Two Stand-Up Specials|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/louis-ck-netflix-new-specials-stand-up-1201993716/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 22, 2017|date=February 22, 2017|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222211300/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/louis-ck-netflix-new-specials-stand-up-1201993716/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Barry Crimmins]]'s stand-up special, ''Whatever Threatens You'', directed and produced by C.K., was released through his website in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Logan|first=Brian|title=An American original: comic Barry Crimmins is as radical as ever|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/dec/16/barry-crimmins-us-politics-comedian-louis-ck|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=November 7, 2017|date=December 16, 2016}}</ref> On April 8, 2017, he hosted ''Saturday Night Live'' for a fourth time,<ref>{{cite web|last=Czajkowski|first=Elise|title=Saturday Night Live: Louis CK in top form with redeeming monologue|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/09/saturday-night-live-louis-ck-monologue-pepsi-ad|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=April 10, 2017|date=April 9, 2017}}</ref> where he received strong reviews for his opening monologue in which he tackled [[white privilege]], and bits about a racist chicken, and talking animals. A critic from ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote " no one's better at taking a joke to the edge and tiptoeing nimbly along it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/louis-ck-returns-for-a-refreshingly-odd-saturday-night-1798190967|title=Louis CK returns for a refreshingly odd Saturday Night Live|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=April 9, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618131244/https://www.avclub.com/louis-ck-returns-for-a-refreshingly-odd-saturday-night-1798190967|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. also honored fellow comedian [[Don Rickles]] who died that week, saying during the goodnights portion stating, "I just want to say, Don Rickles was the funniest man in the world and he was also a lovely, beautiful guy. I'll miss him for the rest of my life".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/arts/television/snl-louis-ck-and-alec-baldwin-trump.html|title=On 'S.N.L.,' Alec Baldwin Is Trump, Bill O'Reilly and Trump (Again)|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 9, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2020|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|archive-date=October 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211101/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/arts/television/snl-louis-ck-and-alec-baldwin-trump.html|url-status=live|author-link=Dave Itzkoff}}</ref>

C.K. directed the film ''[[I Love You, Daddy]]'' in secret, shooting entirely on black and white [[35mm movie film|35 mm film]] in June 2017.<ref name="ilyd">{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/louie-ck-announces-surprise-new-film-i-love-you-da-259480 |title=Louis CK Announces Surprise New Film, ''I Love You, Daddy'' |date=August 15, 2017 |last=Rife |first=Katie |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085202/http://www.avclub.com/article/louie-ck-announces-surprise-new-film-i-love-you-da-259480? |url-status=live }}</ref> The film follows a television producer and writer played by C.K. called Glen Topher whose teenage daughter, played by [[Chloë Grace Moretz]], is seduced by a much older film director ([[John Malkovich]]), causing Topher to become disconcerted. The film also features [[Charlie Day]], Adlon, [[Rose Byrne]], [[Edie Falco]] and [[Helen Hunt]].<ref name="BradshawReview">{{cite web|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|title=I Love You, Daddy review – Louis CK's brazen comedy is a screwball success|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/sep/09/i-love-you-daddy-review-louis-ck-toronto-film-festival-tiff|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=September 10, 2017|author-link=Peter Bradshaw}}</ref> It premiered at the [[2017 Toronto International Film Festival]] in September,<ref>{{cite web|last=Zeitchick|first=Steven|title=Stealth Louis C.K. movie to make world premiere at Toronto Film Festival|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-louis-ck-new-movie-toronto-20170815-story.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=August 15, 2017|date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> whereupon ''[[The Guardian]]'' film critic [[Peter Bradshaw]] gave the film a four-star review, calling it a "very funny and recklessly provocative homage to Woody Allen, channeling his masterpiece ''[[Manhattan (1979 film)|Manhattan]]''."<ref name="BradshawReview"/>

===2017: Sexual misconduct allegations and fallout === <!-- Louie (American TV series) links to this section --> In 2015, rumors about C.K.'s behavior toward women in his professional life began to appear on various websites, from high-profile sources such as [[Roseanne Barr]], [[Jen Kirkman]], and [[Tig Notaro]].<ref name='DBroseanne'>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/roseanne-barr-calls-out-louis-ck-ive-heard-so-many-stories|title=Roseanne Barr Calls Out Louis C.K.: 'I've Heard So Many Stories'|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|first=Jen|last=Yamato|access-date=January 4, 2019|date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102104251/https://www.thedailybeast.com/roseanne-barr-calls-out-louis-ck-ive-heard-so-many-stories|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Redden"/> Two years later, in a September 2017 ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' interview, comedian Notaro cut ties with C.K., a one-time collaborator and producer on her show ''[[One Mississippi (TV series)|One Mississippi]]'', saying that he should address the rumors of sexual impropriety, and alluding to an unspecified "incident" between herself and C.K.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |first=Yohana |last=Desta |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/tig-notaro-louis-ck-one-mississippi |title=Tig Notaro Distances Herself from Louis C.K., Says He Should 'Handle' Sexual Misconduct Rumors |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2017 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116065332/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/tig-notaro-louis-ck-one-mississippi |url-status=live }}</ref> As he had in the past, C.K. denied the allegations in a September 2017 ''[[New York Times]]'' interview, saying: "They're rumors, that's all that is{{nbsp}}... I don't think talking about that stuff in the press{{nbsp}}... is a good idea."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/movies/louis-ck-rumors-wont-answer.html|title=Asking Questions Louis C.K. Doesn't Want to Answer|last=Buckley|first=Cara|date=September 11, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 5, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112114104/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/movies/louis-ck-rumors-wont-answer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 9, 2017, [[The Orchard (company)|The Orchard]], distributor of C.K.'s then-upcoming film ''[[I Love You, Daddy]]'', canceled the New York premiere of the film due to "unexpected circumstances".<ref name="THR Premiere Canceled">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/louis-cks-movie-premiere-canceled-advance-ny-times-story-1056585|title=Louis C.K.'s Movie Premiere Canceled in Advance of N.Y. Times Story|last=Schaffstall|first=Katherine|date=November 9, 2017|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref>

Later that day, ''The New York Times'' published allegations of sexual misconduct from five women against C.K.<ref name="NYTimes Misconduct">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/television/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct.html|title=Louis C.K. Crossed a Line Into Sexual Misconduct, 5 Women Say|last1=Ryzik|first1=Melena|last2=Buckley|first2=Cara|date=November 9, 2017|website=The New York Times|access-date=November 9, 2017|last3=Kantor|first3=Jodi|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109195637/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/arts/television/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Framke |first=Caroline |title=The sexual harassment allegations against Louis C.K., explained |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/9/16629400/louis-ck-allegations-masturbation |website=Vox |access-date=5 May 2021 |date=10 November 2017 |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505215243/https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/9/16629400/louis-ck-allegations-masturbation |url-status=live }}</ref> The women who spoke out in the article included comedy duo Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov, who claimed that C.K. had invited them to his hotel room in 2002 during the [[US Comedy Arts Festival]] where he masturbated in front of them. They relayed the incident to [[iO Theater|ImprovOlympics]] founder [[Charna Halpern]]. Comedian [[Rebecca Corry]] stated that when they were on the set of a television pilot in 2005, C.K. offered to masturbate in front of her and she declined. Corry reported the incident and no action was taken.<ref name="NYTimes Misconduct"/> Comedian Abby Schachner alleged that C.K. masturbated while they were on the phone describing the conduct as "unprofessional and inappropriate".<ref name="NYTimes Misconduct"/> Both Corry and Schachner stated that C.K. privately apologized for his past behavior several years later.<ref name="NYTimes Misconduct"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/what-about-the-careers-of-louis-ck-victims.html|title=What Happened to the Women Louis C.K. Harassed?|work=The Cut|last=Aggeler|first=Madeleine|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=April 4, 2022|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128191408/https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/what-about-the-careers-of-louis-ck-victims.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In response to ''The New York Times'' reporting, C.K. released a statement apologizing and admitting guilt, writing, "These stories are true" and saying that while he initially thought "it was okay because I never showed a woman my dick without asking first", he went on to express remorse, stating, "the power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly."<ref name="Redden">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/nov/09/louis-ck-accused-by-five-women-of-sexual-misconduct-in-new-report|title=Louis CK accused by five women of sexual misconduct in new report|last=Redden|first=Molly|date=November 9, 2017|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330214346/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/nov/09/louis-ck-accused-by-five-women-of-sexual-misconduct-in-new-report|url-status=live}}</ref> He stated: "I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen."<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/11/10/louis-c-k-these-stories-are-true/|title=Louis C.K. responds to sexual misconduct allegations: 'These stories are true'|last=Elahe|first=Izadi|date=November 10, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110190230/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/11/10/louis-c-k-these-stories-are-true/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41950043|title=Louis CK admits sexual misconduct allegations are true|publisher=BBC|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2022|archive-date=March 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323202900/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41950043|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the scandal, C.K. suffered severe repercussions, stating in 2018 that the fallout had taken him through "hell and back" and cost him approximately $35 million in lost income.<ref name="seinfeld_indiewire"/> The release and distribution of his film ''I Love You, Daddy'' was cancelled,<ref name="ILYD Release">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/the-orchard-no-longer-moving-forward-with-release-of-louis-c-k-s-i-love-you-daddy-1202205610/|title=The Orchard No Longer Moving Forward With Release Of Louis C.K.'s 'I Love You, Daddy'|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=November 10, 2017|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013004618/https://deadline.com/2017/11/the-orchard-no-longer-moving-forward-with-release-of-louis-c-k-s-i-love-you-daddy-1202205610/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-louis-ck-fx-hbo-charlie-day-allegations-1510276569-htmlstory.html|title='I Love You, Daddy' stars drop out of film promotion after Louis C.K. allegations; FX, HBO weigh in|last=Yamato|first=Jen|date=November 9, 2017|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110054322/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-louis-ck-fx-hbo-charlie-day-allegations-1510276569-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[FX Networks]] and [[Netflix]] cut ties with C.K.<ref name="netflix">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/11/10/louis-ck-i-love-you-daddy-release-canceled-amid-sexual-misconduct-scandal/851769001/|title=Louis C.K. scandal: 'Pets 2,' FX cut ties with comedian over sexual misconduct|work=[[USA Today]]|first1=Maeve|last1=McDermott|first2=Jayme|last2=Deerwester|date=November 12, 2017|access-date=January 4, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112025643/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/11/10/louis-ck-i-love-you-daddy-release-canceled-amid-sexual-misconduct-scandal/851769001/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[HBO]] dropped C.K.'s appearance on an upcoming ''[[Night of Too Many Stars]]'' television special and removed his content from their on-demand services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-c-k-dropped-a-night-of-too-many-stars-special-sexual-harassment-scandal-1202205375/|title=Louis C.K. Dropped From HBO's 'A Night Of Too Many Stars' Special, On-Demand Offerings|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=November 9, 2017|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114554/http://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-c-k-dropped-a-night-of-too-many-stars-special-sexual-harassment-scandal-1202205375/|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K.'s manager Dave Becky, who was under fire for allegedly making threatening statements, dropped C.K. as a client.<ref>{{cite news |last=Desta |first=Yohana |title=Louis C.K.'s Former Manager Dave Becky Apologizes for "Perceived Cover-Up" |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/louis-ck-dave-becky-apology-cover-up |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113232607/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/louis-ck-dave-becky-apology-cover-up |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/louis-ck-dave-becky-apology-cover-up|title=Louis C.K.'s Former Manager Dave Becky Apologizes for "Perceived Cover-Up"|last=Desta|first=Yohana|work=HWD|access-date=December 27, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113232607/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/louis-ck-dave-becky-apology-cover-up|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-ck-former-manager-dave-becky-sexual-misconduct-scandal-what-i-did-was-wrong-1202207195/|title=Ex Louis C.K. Manager Dave Becky On Scandal: 'What I Did Was Wrong'|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=November 13, 2017|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=December 27, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171642/http://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-ck-former-manager-dave-becky-sexual-misconduct-scandal-what-i-did-was-wrong-1202207195/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Holloway |first=Daniel |title=Pamela Adlon Fires 3 Arts' Dave Becky Following Louis C.K. Harassment Claims |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/pamela-adlon-louis-ck-dave-becky-1202614115/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=14 November 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316073304/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/pamela-adlon-louis-ck-dave-becky-1202614115/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Megh |title=John Mulaney on Hosting SNL, Broadway Musicals, and Becoming a Meme |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/interview-john-mulaney-on-snl-broadway-dave-becky.html |work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=11 March 2019 |language=en-us |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415031850/https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/interview-john-mulaney-on-snl-broadway-dave-becky.html |url-status=live }}</ref> TBS suspended production of, and eventually scrapped, its animated series ''The Cops,'' co-created with [[Albert Brooks]].<ref name="The Cops Suspended">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-ck-tbs-suspends-production-animated-cop-comedy-series-albert-brooks-1202205246/|title=TBS Suspends Production On Louis C.K. Animated Comedy Series 'The Cops'|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|last2=Andreeva|first2=Nellie|date=November 10, 2017|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114233255/http://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-ck-tbs-suspends-production-animated-cop-comedy-series-albert-brooks-1202205246/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/tbs-scraps-louis-c-k-s-animated-series-cops-155883.html|title=TBS Scraps Louis C.K.'s Animated Series 'The Cops'|website=Cartoon Brew|last=Amidi|first=Amid|author-link=Amid Amidi|date=January 10, 2018|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110225650/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/tbs-scraps-louis-c-k-s-animated-series-cops-155883.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-animated-comedy-cops-scrapped-at-tbs-latest-harassment-fallout-1059564|title=Louis C.K. Animated Comedy 'The Cops' Scrapped at TBS in Latest Harassment Fallout|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109012002/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-animated-comedy-cops-scrapped-at-tbs-latest-harassment-fallout-1059564|url-status=live}}</ref> His voice was either replaced or removed from projects such as [[Illumination (company)|Illumination]]'s ''[[The Secret Life of Pets 2]]'' and [[Disney Channel]]'s ''[[Gravity Falls]]''.<ref name="SLoP Sequel">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/louis-ck-secret-life-of-pets-2-1202612432/|title=Louis C.K. Dropped From 'Secret Life of Pets 2' by Universal, Illumination|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=November 11, 2017|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112051713/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/louis-ck-secret-life-of-pets-2-1202612432/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-redubs-louis-cks-gravity-falls-character-sexual-misconduct-admission-1070056|title=Disney Redubs Louis C.K.'s 'Gravity Falls' Character After Sexual Misconduct Admission|last=Shanely|first=Patrick|date=December 21, 2017|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223000950/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-redubs-louis-cks-gravity-falls-character-sexual-misconduct-admission-1070056|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref>

=== 2018–2023: Return to stand-up comedy === On August 26, 2018, C.K. made an unannounced appearance at the [[Comedy Cellar]] in [[Manhattan]], New York. It was reported that he received an ovation from the audience and performed a typical set, making no reference to the sexual controversy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louis-c-k-returns-to-the-stage-after-admitting-to-sexual-misconduct/ |title=Louis C.K. returns to the stage for first time since admitting sexual misconduct |date=August 28, 2018 |website=CBS News |access-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828170912/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louis-c-k-returns-to-the-stage-after-admitting-to-sexual-misconduct/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bbcreturn"/> His return to stand-up comedy was criticized by comedians, including [[Aparna Nancherla]], [[Ian Karmel]], [[Allie Goertz]], and [[Judd Apatow]] as being premature,<ref name="bbcreturn">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-45330560|title=Fellow comedians hit out at Louis CK's stand-up return|first=Patrick|last=Evans|work=BBC News|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/arts/louis-ck-comeback-reaction.html|work=The New York Times|title=Louis C.K.'s Return to the Stage Incites a Range of Emotions|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018|archive-date=August 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830105404/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/arts/louis-ck-comeback-reaction.html|url-status=live}}</ref> whereas [[Dave Chappelle]], [[Chris Rock]], [[Bill Burr]], [[Michael Che]], [[Jim Gaffigan]], [[Janeane Garofalo]], [[Sarah Silverman]], [[Wanda Sykes]], [[Judy Gold]], [[Marlon Wayans]], [[Joe Rogan]], and [[Kurt Metzger]] supported C.K.'s right to continue standup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo4msuz5GgU&t=3s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/mo4msuz5GgU |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Comedians Defend Louis C.K. |publisher=YouTube |date=March 20, 2018 |access-date=December 27, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Joe |last=Price |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2018/08/marlon-wayans-comedian-defend-louis-ck-return |title=Marlon Wayans Is the Latest Comedian to Defend Louis C.K.'s Return |publisher=Complex |date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227050753/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2018/08/marlon-wayans-comedian-defend-louis-ck-return |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/snls-michael-che-defends-louis-ck-he-has-the-right-to-speak-and-make-a-living|title=SNL's Michael Che defends Louis C.K.: he has the "right to speak and make a living"|first=Matt|last=Wilstein|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=August 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820134143/https://www.thedailybeast.com/snls-michael-che-defends-louis-ck-he-has-the-right-to-speak-and-make-a-living|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gaffigan">{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/jim-gaffigan-uncensored-on-louis-cks-comeback-ruling-sundance-and-popping-amazons-comedy-cherry|title=Jim Gaffigan Uncensored: On Louis C.K.'s 'comeback', ruling Sundance and popping Amazon's comedy cherry|first=Marlow|last=Stern|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=March 1, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818121213/https://www.thedailybeast.com/jim-gaffigan-uncensored-on-louis-cks-comeback-ruling-sundance-and-popping-amazons-comedy-cherry|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/janeane-garofalo-defends-louis-c-k-sexual-misconduct-comedy-1203105862/|title=Janeane Garofalo defends Louis C.K.: 'He has paid heavily'|first=Rachel|last=Yang|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 11, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202222052/https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/janeane-garofalo-defends-louis-c-k-sexual-misconduct-comedy-1203105862/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sarah-silverman-defends-louis-ck-sexual-misconduct_us_5bce1592e4b0a8f17eef3af7|title=Sarah Silverman defends Louis C.K.: 'I believe he has remorse'|first=Marina|last=Fang|work=The Huffington Post|date=October 22, 2018|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=February 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216083628/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sarah-silverman-defends-louis-ck-sexual-misconduct_us_5bce1592e4b0a8f17eef3af7|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/female-comics-kevin-hart-louis-ck-comedy-age-trump-1201578|title=Female Comics Sound Off on Kevin Hart, Louis C.K. and Comedy in the Age of Trump|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=August 6, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919232612/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/female-comics-kevin-hart-louis-ck-comedy-age-trump-1201578|url-status=live}}</ref> Comedian [[Jerry Seinfeld]] also supported C.K.'s return to standup but opined that the public may have felt that C.K. had not owned up to his actions enough, saying in October 2018, "We know the routine: The person does something wrong. The person's humiliated. They're exiled. They suffer, we want them to suffer. We love the tumble, we love the crash and bang of the fall. And then we love the crawl-back. The grovel. Are you going to grovel? How long are you going to grovel?" Seinfeld added, "We, the court of public opinion, decided if he's going to come back, he'd better show a lot of pain. Because he denied (the public) that."<ref name="seinfeld_indiewire">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/jerry-seinfeld-louis-ck-comeback-interview-1202015667/|title=Jerry Seinfeld weighs in on Louis C.K.'s comedy comeback|first=Zack|last=Sharf|work=IndieWire|date=October 26, 2018|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225024601/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/jerry-seinfeld-louis-ck-comeback-interview-1202015667/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Edie Falco]] and [[Alan Alda]] who starred in C.K.'s ''[[Horace and Pete]]'' expressed their hope that he would receive a second chance.<ref>{{cite web |first=Nate |last=Jones |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/edie-falco-interview.html |title=Edie Falco Interview |publisher=Vulture.com |date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214033645/https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/edie-falco-interview.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Zack |last=Sharf |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/edie-falco-louis-ck-second-chance-sexual-misconduct-1201945400/ |title=Edie Falco Hopes Louis C.K. Gets A Second Chance |publisher=IndieWire |date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227045446/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/edie-falco-louis-ck-second-chance-sexual-misconduct-1201945400/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/alan-alda-woody-allen-movies-louis-ck.html|title= Alan Alda Talks Woody Allen Movies and Louis C.K.|website= Vulture|date= January 25, 2019|access-date= September 11, 2023|archive-date= March 28, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230328113935/https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/alan-alda-woody-allen-movies-louis-ck.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

On December 31, 2018, an audience member secretly recorded C.K. working out new material and posted it online, which drew media controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/louis-ck-leaked-standup-comedy-audio-parkland-nonbinary.html|title=Louis C.K. Mocks Parkland Kids, Nonbinary People in Leaked Stand-up Set|work=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|last=Wright|first=Megh|date=31 December 2018|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306051026/https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/louis-ck-leaked-standup-comedy-audio-parkland-nonbinary.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/31/entertainment/louis-ck-parkland-audio-trnd/index.html|title=Comedian Louis C.K. mocks Parkland shooting survivors in leaked audio|first=Doug|last=Criss|publisher=CNN|date=December 31, 2018|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231142857/https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/31/entertainment/louis-ck-parkland-audio-trnd/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Included in his set were jokes about school shootings, which drew a divided reaction from fellow comedians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://waaf.radio.com/blogs/anthony-capobianco/louis-ck-jokes-about-parkland-school-shooting-non-binary-people-leaked-set|title=Listen To The Leaked Louis C.K. Set That Has People In an Uproar|first=Anthony|last=Capobianco|publisher=WAAF|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=January 6, 2018|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106104523/https://waaf.radio.com/blogs/anthony-capobianco/louis-ck-jokes-about-parkland-school-shooting-non-binary-people-leaked-set|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Ricky Gervais]] defended C.K.'s jokes, saying "[C.K.'s] got nothing against those [Parkland] kids. It was him pretending to be angry for comedy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/1/4/21048179/ricky-gervais-offensive-comedy-transphobic-caitlyn-jenner-jokes-cancel-culture |title=Ricky Gervais is hosting the Golden Globes. Expect controversy. |publisher=Vox |date=January 4, 2020 |access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref> In October 2019, C.K. announced in an email to subscribers of his website an international tour of his new material.<ref>{{cite web |last=Furdyk |first=Brent |url=https://etcanada.com/news/530754/louis-c-k-reveals-plans-for-comeback-tour-2-years-after-metoo-scandal/ |title=Louis C.K. Reveals Plans For Comeback Tour 2 Years After #MeToo Scandal |publisher=ETCanada.com |date=October 27, 2019 |access-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225215427/https://etcanada.com/news/530754/louis-c-k-reveals-plans-for-comeback-tour-2-years-after-metoo-scandal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Gary |last=Trock |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/louis-ck-dropped-holocaust-joke-223123752.html |title=Louis CK Dropped a Holocaust Joke in Israel and the Crowd Went Wild |publisher=Yahoo.com |date=November 29, 2019 |access-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225042611/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/louis-ck-dropped-holocaust-joke-223123752.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|first=Maya|last=Salam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/arts/louis-ck-tour-rules.html|title=Louis C.K., Back on Tour, Looks to Accelerate His Comeback|work=The New York Times|date=August 29, 2018|access-date=December 25, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404080337/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/arts/louis-ck-tour-rules.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the leak of his new material in December 2018, his future shows would require audience members to lock cell phones and other devices in [[Yondr]] pouches, which has become the norm, with comedians [[Dave Chappelle]], [[John Mulaney]], and [[Aziz Ansari]] using them as well.<ref name="nytimes1"/> Canadian comedian [[Mark Breslin]], owner of Canadian comedy club chain [[Yuk Yuk's]], defended his decision to book C.K. again in [[Toronto]], citing sold out tickets for five shows<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/louis-ck-toronto-show-1.5304701 |title=Unapologetic Louis C.K. hits the stage in Toronto for first of 5 sold-out nights |first=Deana |last=Sumanac-Johnson |agency=CBC News |date=October 3, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813164317/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/louis-ck-toronto-show-1.5304701 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a lack of controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cjnews.com/culture/entertainment/breslin-why-i-brought-louis-c-k-back-from-the-dead|title=Breslin: Why I brought Louis C.K. back from the dead|first=Mark|last=Breslin|work=The Canadian Jewish News|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213341/https://www.cjnews.com/culture/entertainment/breslin-why-i-brought-louis-c-k-back-from-the-dead|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2020, C.K. performed an unannounced set, receiving a standing ovation for the eighth annual benefit show for late comedian [[Patrice O'Neal]], a yearly benefit of which comedian [[Bill Burr]] is the organizer.<ref>{{cite news|first=Barbie|last=Latza |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/louis-ck-receives-standing-ovation-at-surprise-gig-in-new-york-city |title=Louis C.K. Receives Standing Ovation at Surprise Gig in New York City |newspaper=The Daily Beast |publisher=thedailybeast.com |date=2020-01-29 |access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref> Beginning in March 2020, most of C.K.'s shows were canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-04-04/louis-ck-new-comedy-special|title=Louis C.K. has dropped a new comedy special. Here's what you need to know|date=April 4, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810060341/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-04-04/louis-ck-new-comedy-special|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 4, 2020, C.K. self-released a new stand-up special entitled ''[[Sincerely Louis CK]]'' through his website without advance notice.<ref name="Sincerely Louis CK">{{cite web|url=https://louisck.com/products/sincerely-louis-ck|title=Sincerely Louis CK|website=louisck.net|access-date=April 4, 2020|archive-date=April 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404175219/https://louisck.com/products/sincerely-louis-ck|url-status=dead}}</ref> The special drew a divided response from audiences, including fellow comedian [[Amy Schumer]], who said, "I laughed at a lot of it. But it's hard to not think of what he has done, what he has and hasn't learned, but I definitely laughed."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/arts/television/amy-schumer.html|title=Amy Schumer Misses Stand-Up. ('I Should Have Said My Dad, but That's Not the Truth.')|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 25, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|last=Zinoman|first=Jason|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612060400/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/arts/television/amy-schumer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Louis C.K. - Best realtor in New York on Your Mom's House episode 670, 2022.webm|thumb|right|C.K. on ''[[Your Mom's House]]'' in 2022|upright=0.75]] In July 2020, C.K. released an audio series of conversations between himself and then-girlfriend [[Blanche Gardin]] titled ''Long Distance Relationship''.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://theinterrobang.com/louis-ck-announces-and-releases-conversations-with-his-girlfriend/|title=Louis CK Announces and Releases Conversations With His Girlfriend|first=Interrobang|last=Staff|date=July 2, 2020|access-date=July 20, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715231909/https://theinterrobang.com/louis-ck-announces-and-releases-conversations-with-his-girlfriend/|url-status=live}}</ref> Proceeds would go toward the [[Fistula Foundation]] and French charity Fondation Abbé Pierre.<ref name="auto"/> On August 4, 2020, C.K. was invited by his longtime friend [[Dave Chappelle]] to join him in an installment of his standup series "An Intimate Socially Distanced Affair" at the Wirrig Pavilion in [[Yellow Springs, Ohio]], during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2020/08/louis-c-k-dave-chappelle-socially-distant-standup-show/|title=Louis C.K. Joins Dave Chappelle for Socially-Distant Standup Show|website=Consequence of Sound|date=August 8, 2020|access-date=August 8, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916215311/https://consequence.net/2020/08/louis-c-k-dave-chappelle-socially-distant-standup-show/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/louis-ck-makes-surprise-appearance-at-dave-chappelles-summer-camp-comedy-show-1306532|title=Louis C.K. Makes "Surprise Appearance" at Dave Chappelle's Summer Camp Comedy Show|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 7, 2020|access-date=August 8, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808230743/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/louis-ck-makes-surprise-appearance-at-dave-chappelles-summer-camp-comedy-show-1306532|url-status=live}}</ref> Photos emerged from the event of C.K. with Chappelle, [[Sarah Silverman]], [[Michelle Wolf]], [[Tiffany Haddish]] and [[Common (rapper)|Common]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/dave-chappelle-apparently-brought-louis-ck-to-his-socia-1844666876|title=Dave Chappelle apparently brought Louis CK to his socially distant comedy shows in Ohio|website=A.V. Club|date=August 9, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624000210/https://www.avclub.com/dave-chappelle-apparently-brought-louis-ck-to-his-socia-1844666876|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, C.K. appeared in a docu-series titled ''[[The Comedy Store#Docu-series|The Comedy Store]]'' about the Los Angeles comedy club of the same name, directed by [[Mike Binder]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/comedy-store-review-showtime-1234590089/|title='The Comedy Store' Review: Showtime's Doc Squanders a Great Premise on Too Few Punchlines|first=Leonardo Adrian|last=Garcia|date=October 2, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129143821/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/comedy-store-review-showtime-1234590089/|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2021, following the easing of restrictions in New York City due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York City|COVID-19 pandemic]], C.K. made an unannounced stop at the Village Underground.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/04/29/jab-jokes-and-legal-weed-the-new-rules-of-indoor-stand-up-comedy/|title=Jab jokes and legal weed: The new rules of indoor stand-up comedy|first1=Tim|last=Donnelly|first2=Ryan|last2=Devir|date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> He then announced upcoming tour-dates for summer 2021 in [[Atlanta]], [[Nashville]] and [[Minneapolis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/louis-c-k-returns-to-minneapolis-this-month/600076189/|title=Louis C.K. returns to Minneapolis this month|website=Star Tribune|date=July 8, 2021|access-date=July 11, 2021|archive-date=July 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711172504/https://www.startribune.com/louis-c-k-returns-to-minneapolis-this-month/600076189/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/louis-ck-doing-five-shows-at-atlanta-comedy-theater-june-3-5/SHQL42RWE5BH5AQKTCPDZEZA24/|title=Louis C.K. doing five shows at Atlanta Comedy Theater June 3–5|first=Rodney|last=Ho|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=May 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527160715/https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/louis-ck-doing-five-shows-at-atlanta-comedy-theater-june-3-5/SHQL42RWE5BH5AQKTCPDZEZA24/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2021/05/27/louis-c-k-returning-nashville-four-sold-out-shows-zanies/7469357002/|title=Louis C.K. returning to Nashville for four sold-out shows at Zanies|first=Dave|last=Paulson|website=The Tennessean}}</ref>

In August 2021, C.K. announced a tour of the United States in the year 2021 and international dates for the year 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/louis-ck-stand-up-comedy-tour-1235034739/|title=Louis C.K. Makes Return to Stand-Up With Nationwide Tour Starting Next Week|first=Jordan|last=Moreau|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810060339/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/louis-ck-stand-up-comedy-tour-1235034739/|url-status=live}}</ref> American dates include two nights at the [[Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/2021/07/14/disgraced-comedian-louis-c-k-playing-madisons-comedy-state-selling-out-shows-and-drawing-backlash/7961927002/|title=Disgraced comedian Louis C.K. is playing Madison's Comedy on State, selling out shows and drawing backlash|first=Piet|last=Levy|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802200906/https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/2021/07/14/disgraced-comedian-louis-c-k-playing-madisons-comedy-state-selling-out-shows-and-drawing-backlash/7961927002/|url-status=live}}</ref> The tour rescheduled dates canceled due to COVID-19, acknowledging the ongoing pandemic and safety concerns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/louis-ck-announces-comeback-tour-following-sexual-misconduct-claims/|title=Louis C.K. announces comeback tour following sexual misconduct claims|first=Abrar|last=Al-Heeti|publisher=CNET|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810060339/https://www.cnet.com/news/louis-ck-announces-comeback-tour-following-sexual-misconduct-claims/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/louis-ck-announces-24-city-202626565.html|title=Louis CK Announces 24-City Comeback Comedy Tour Starting This Month|website=ca.movies.yahoo.com|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810060340/https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/louis-ck-announces-24-city-202626565.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'' in November 2021, comedian [[Shane Gillis]] revealed that C.K. had filmed a new special at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/louis-c-k-/louis-ck-new-special/|title=Louis C.K.'s New Special Is Amazing, Say Louis C.K.'s Friends|first=Seth|last=Simons|date=November 19, 2021|website=pastemagazine.com|access-date=December 7, 2021|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207071751/https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/louis-c-k-/louis-ck-new-special/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 18 December 2021 C.K. announced the release of a new stand-up comedy special, titled ''[[Sorry (2021 film)|Sorry]]''. The special was released for sale through his website, similar to other releases he has done in the past. He also offered a bundling of previous specials for a larger fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/tv/louis-ck-sorry-standup-special/|title=Louis C.K. Is Selling His New Stand-Up Special 'SORRY' Online|date=December 18, 2021|access-date=December 19, 2021|archive-date=December 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219011713/https://uproxx.com/tv/louis-ck-sorry-standup-special/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2022, C.K. won the [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album]] for his special ''Sincerely, Louis C.K.''

In April and May 2022, C.K. appeared as a guest in a series of episodes of ''Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast'', a podcast hosted by comedians Shane Gillis and [[Matt McCusker]]. The series is a four-part, six-hour-long discussion on the stories of each U.S. president in order.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast: Ep 393 – The Presidents (feat. Louis C.K.) on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-393-the-presidents-feat-louis-c-k/id1177068388?i=1000558853298 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027192312/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-393-the-presidents-feat-louis-c-k/id1177068388?i=1000558853298 |url-status=live }}</ref> June 2022 saw the premiere of C.K.'s film ''[[Fourth of July (film)|Fourth of July]]'', which he produced, directed, and co-wrote with fellow comedian [[Joe List]]. The film is a comedy drama that stars List as a recovering alcoholic jazz musician who confronts his emotionally abusive family.<ref name="premieres indie drama">{{cite web |title=Louis C.K. Premieres Indie Drama 'Fourth of July' In New York |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/louis-c-k-premieres-indie-drama-fourth-of-july-in-new-york-1235174670/ |work=Hollywood Reporter |first=Kyra |last=Alessandrini |date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707215839/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/louis-c-k-premieres-indie-drama-fourth-of-july-in-new-york-1235174670/ |url-status=live }}</ref> To promote the film, rather than using traditional talk shows, C.K. appeared on a number of well-known [[podcasts]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Domenech |first=Ben |url=https://spectatorworld.com/book-and-art/louis-ck-comeback-fourth-july/ |title=Louis's comebaC.K. |publisher=The Spectator World |date=2022-08-05 |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826034001/https://spectatorworld.com/book-and-art/louis-ck-comeback-fourth-july/ |url-status=live }}</ref> such as ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3429398/louis-ck-gives-joe-rogan-the-best-explanation-of-comedy-and-twitter-youll-hear-all-year |title=Louis CK Gives Joe Rogan the Best Explanation of Comedy and Twitter You'll Hear All Year |publisher=Barstool Sports |date=2022-08-19 |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826033707/https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3429398/louis-ck-gives-joe-rogan-the-best-explanation-of-comedy-and-twitter-youll-hear-all-year |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Your Mom's House]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=670 - Louis C.K. - Your Mom's House with Christina P and Tom Segura |url=https://your-moms-house-with-christina-p-and-tom-segura.simplecast.com/episodes/670-louis-ck-your-moms-house-with-christina-p-and-tom-segura-bFy2ojGi |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=your-moms-house-with-christina-p-and-tom-segura.simplecast.com |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826033708/https://your-moms-house-with-christina-p-and-tom-segura.simplecast.com/episodes/670-louis-ck-your-moms-house-with-christina-p-and-tom-segura-bFy2ojGi |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Long Days with Yannis Pappas]]'', ''[[Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank]]'', ''[[Flagrant 2 (podcast)|Flagrant&nbsp;2]]'', and ''Are You Garbage?''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectatorworld.com/book-and-art/louis-ck-comeback-fourth-july/ |title=Louis's comebaC.K. |date=August 5, 2022 |access-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826034001/https://spectatorworld.com/book-and-art/louis-ck-comeback-fourth-july/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 28, 2023, C.K. performed at a sold-out performance at [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msg.com/calendar/madison-square-garden-january-2023-louis-c-k#about-the-event|title=Louis C.K.|publisher=[[Madison Square Garden]]|date=January 28, 2023|access-date=February 1, 2023|archive-date=February 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201160649/https://www.msg.com/calendar/madison-square-garden-january-2023-louis-c-k#about-the-event|url-status=live}}</ref> The event was live recorded and aired on his website as the special, ''Louis C.K.: Back to the Garden''. Following the Madison Square Garden show, C.K. took an extended break.<ref name="update">{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Chris |title=Louis C.K. Offers Tour Update After Two-Year Break From Stand-Up: "Happy to Be Lucky to Be Alive" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/louis-ck-tour-ridiculous-tickets-dates-life-update-1236163929/ |date=March 14, 2025 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

=== 2025–present: Tour, novel and return to Netflix === [[File:Louis C.K. performing in New Delhi, India (3-15-26).jpg|thumb|left|140px|CK performing in India in 2026.]] In March 2025, C.K. announced his ''Ridiculous'' tour with dates across the world.<ref name="update"/> C.K. announced his debut novel ''Ingram'' to be released November 11, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |title=Comedian Louis C.K. releasing 'not particularly funny' debut novel this fall |url=https://www.cbs42.com/entertainment/comedian-louis-c-k-releasing-not-particularly-funny-debut-novel-this-fall/ |website=cbs42.com |date=May 21, 2025 |publisher=CBS 42 |access-date=5 October 2025 |archive-date=November 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251124181823/https://www.cbs42.com/entertainment/comedian-louis-c-k-releasing-not-particularly-funny-debut-novel-this-fall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a September 2025 podcast interview on [[Theo Von]]'s ''This Past Weekend'', C.K. confessed ongoing remorse for his past sexual misconduct<ref>{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |title=Louis CK says it was a 'relief' when his sexual misconduct allegations emerged |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct-allegations-b2832684.html |date=September 24, 2025 |publisher=The Independent |access-date=5 October 2025 |archive-date=September 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924195047/https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/louis-ck-sexual-misconduct-allegations-b2832684.html |url-status=live }}</ref> saying "I really wish I could have a simple kind of watershed where I can say just 'Yes' to everything that happened, and I'm sorry. I really am. And I'm just trying to do better, and I don't think I can prove that to everybody, 'cause it's a private thing. It's a one-to-one man thing. It's not a famous guy act."<ref>{{cite web |last=Stenzel |first=Wesley |title=Louis C.K. says he 'felt free' after sexual misconduct allegations against him emerged |url=https://ew.com/louis-ck-felt-free-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations-against-him-emerged-11815976 |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref> C.K. also admitted to regularly attending [[Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous]] meetings.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Megan |title=Louis C.K. Makes Surprising Admission About Scandal That Derailed His Career |url=https://parade.com/news/popular-comedian-makes-surprising-admission-about-scandal-that-derailed-his-career |website=parade.com |date=September 24, 2025 |publisher=Parade |access-date=5 October 2025 |archive-date=September 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250928203221/https://parade.com/news/popular-comedian-makes-surprising-admission-about-scandal-that-derailed-his-career |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2025, C.K. performed at the [[Riyadh Comedy Festival]] alongside numerous comedians such as [[Aziz Ansari]], [[Bill Burr]], [[Dave Chappelle]], [[Pete Davidson]] and [[Kevin Hart]]. C.K. and the comedians faced criticism in part due to [[Saudi Arabia]]'s [[Human rights in Saudi Arabia|human rights record]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Co-Headline: Jimmy Carr + Louis C.K. |url=https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/riyadh/events/co-headline-jimmy-carr-and-louis-ck |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=visitsaudi.com |language=en |archive-date=September 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250926152623/https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/riyadh/events/co-headline-jimmy-carr-and-louis-ck |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pandya |first=Hershal |date=2025-09-26 |title='Two Weeks of Laughter in the Desert' |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/riyadh-comedy-festival-saudi-arabia-whos-going.html |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=September 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930133428/https://www.vulture.com/article/riyadh-comedy-festival-saudi-arabia-whos-going.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hays |first=Gabriel |title=David Cross says Dave Chappelle, Louis CK can't be taken seriously ever again after Saudi shows |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/comedian-rips-chappelle-bill-burr-gig-saudi-arabia-most-oppressive-regime-earth |date=September 30, 2025 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=5 October 2025 |archive-date=October 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000222/https://www.foxnews.com/media/comedian-rips-chappelle-bill-burr-gig-saudi-arabia-most-oppressive-regime-earth |url-status=live }}</ref> C.K. spoke about the subject on ''[[Real Time with Bill Maher]]'' saying, "People have been playing Saudi Arabia for years. Comedians have been going and playing Arab countries" while also adding that "[It] just feels like a good opportunity. And I just feel like comedy is a great way to get in and start talking".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/louis-ck-riyadh-comedy-festival-positive-thing-1236393097/|title= Louis C.K. Defends Performing at Riyadh Comedy Festival: “Feels Like a Good Opportunity”|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate= April 3, 2026}}</ref>

In April 2026, it was announced that C.K. would be headlining a show at [[The Hollywood Bowl]] as part of the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival. It was also announced that he would be returning to [[Netflix]] with his latest special ''Ridiculous'', his first collaboration with the streamer since 2017, almost a decade prior.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/louis-c-k-back-in-business-with-netflix-1236554630/|title= Louis C.K. Is Back in Business With Netflix|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate= April 3, 2026}}</ref>

==Influences== C.K. has named many comedians whom he admired or who influenced his work, including [[George Carlin]],<ref name="NYPost-HotSeat-2007"/> [[Woody Allen]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jul/28/louie-louis-ck-uk-tv|title=Why isn't Louie on UK TV?|first=Gwilym|last=Mumford|newspaper=The Guardian|date=July 28, 2012|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref> [[Larry David]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/the-curb-effect-how-larry-david-changed-comedy-forever-20110720/louis-ck-0184143|title=How Larry David Changed Comedy Forever|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 20, 2011|access-date=December 27, 2017|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112247/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/the-curb-effect-how-larry-david-changed-comedy-forever-20110720/louis-ck-0184143|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Joan Rivers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/143581710/louis-c-k-reflects-on-louie-loss-love-and-life|title=Louis C.K. reflects on 'Louie', love, loss and life|publisher=NPR|date=December 13, 2011|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=March 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320024649/https://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/143581710/louis-c-k-reflects-on-louie-loss-love-and-life|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Robin Williams]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Robin Williams' enduring influence on comedians|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/08/12/robin-williams-influence-on-comedians-louis-ck-jimmy-fallon/13950161/|first=Patrick|last=Ryan|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|access-date=June 25, 2017|date=August 12, 2014|archive-date=July 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730035429/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/08/12/robin-williams-influence-on-comedians-louis-ck-jimmy-fallon/13950161/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Steve Martin]],<ref name="Copley-Knutzen-2007"/> [[Richard Pryor]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Pryor created Chris Rock and LouisC.K.|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/12/19/richard_pryor_created_chris_rock_and_louis_c_k/first=David|last=Henry|work=[[Salon.com]]|access-date=June 25, 2017|date=December 19, 2014}}</ref> and [[Bill Cosby]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louis-cks-idol-worship-comic-talks-woody-allen-and-bill-cosby/ |title=Louis C.K.'s idol worship: Comic talks Woody Allen and Bill Cosby |publisher=CBS News |date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021528/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louis-cks-idol-worship-comic-talks-woody-allen-and-bill-cosby/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Influences">{{cite magazine|title=Black And Blue|first=Emily|last=Nussbaum|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/07/09/black-and-blue-3|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=June 25, 2017|date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=June 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621032422/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/07/09/black-and-blue-3|url-status=live}}</ref> As a filmmaker C.K. has been influenced by the [[French New Wave]], American [[New Hollywood]] and [[surrealist cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/how-louis-cks-directing-style-helps-him-translate-his-standup-to-the-screen-in-louie.html|title= How Louis CK's Directing Style Helps Him Translate His Standup to the Screen in 'Louie|website= Vulture|date= October 17, 2013|access-date= September 3, 2025}}</ref> C.K. has cited filmmakers who have influenced him as being Woody Allen,<ref name="NYT-Joke-2013"/> [[David Lynch]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last= Haglund|first= David|url= https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/louis-ck-comedy-philosophy?utm|title= Half-Truths, Non-Truths, and Louis C.K.|magazine= [[The New Yorker]]|date= January 28, 2015|access-date= September 3, 2025}}</ref> [[John Waters]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1056766952051032|title= Louis CK on John Waters|website= Facebook|access-date= September 3, 2025}}</ref> and [[Luis Buñuel]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/how-louis-cks-directing-style-helps-him-translate-his-standup-to-the-screen-in-louie.html|title= How Louis CK's Directing Style Helps Him Translate His Standup to the Screen in 'Louie|website= Vulture|date= October 17, 2013|access-date= September 3, 2025|archive-date= November 27, 2025|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20251127160557/https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/how-louis-cks-directing-style-helps-him-translate-his-standup-to-the-screen-in-louie.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

== Ticketing innovation == C.K. innovated [[direct-to-consumer]] distribution, in 2001, when he released his debut comedy album, ''[[Live in Houston (Louis C.K. album)|Live in Houston]]'', directly through his website. He became one of the first performers to use his website to offer direct-to-fan ticket sales for his shows, as well as [[Digital rights management|DRM]]-free video concert downloads.<ref name="Slate-Hulu-CharlieRose-2014"/> In this way, C.K. sold tickets for his stand-up tour, circumventing large [[Primary ticket outlet|ticket outlets]], bypassing their overhead and the venues they control.<ref name="NYT-Joke-2013"/> C.K. has said the ticket outlets create barriers to consumers, whereas direct distribution has effectively "closed the gap between how easy it was to steal it [versus] how easy it was to buy it".<ref name="Slate-Hulu-CharlieRose-2014">{{cite journal|last=Haglund|first=David|title=Watch Louis C.K. Chat for Half an Hour About Comedy, Parenting, and Failure|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/05/09/louis_c_k_charlie_rose_interview_louie_talks_parenting_comedy_and_more_video.html|journal=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|access-date=May 26, 2014|type=Embedded Hulu video of Charlie Rose Show appearance|date=May 9, 2014|archive-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525132543/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/05/09/louis_c_k_charlie_rose_interview_louie_talks_parenting_comedy_and_more_video.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The success of the special prompted other comedians, including [[Jim Gaffigan]], [[Joe Rogan]], and [[Aziz Ansari]], to release their own specials with a similar business model.<ref name="Forbes-RedditAMA-2012"/>

== Personal life == ===Marriage and relationships=== C.K. married artist Alix Bailey in 1995.<ref>Knutzen, Eirik (June 19, 2006). "Louis C.K." ''Copley News Service''.</ref> Together, they have two daughters.<ref name="Willamette-AmericaLedge-2008">{{cite news|last=Singer|first=Matthew|title=Louis CK talks America off the ledge—then kicks it in the balls|work=[[Willamette Week]]|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-5945-louis_ck_talks_america_off_the_ledgemdashthen_kicks_it_in_the_balls.html|date=November 17, 2008|access-date=January 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927221809/http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-5945-louis_ck_talks_america_off_the_ledgemdashthen_kicks_it_in_the_balls.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lovell |first=Joel |url=https://www.gq.com/story/louis-ck-interview-gq-august-2011 |title=That's Not Funny, That's C.K. |publisher=GQ |date=August 2, 2011 |access-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226083449/https://www.gq.com/story/louis-ck-interview-gq-august-2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> C.K.'s mother, Mary Louise Székely, died on June 3, 2019.<ref name=motherobit>{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=mary-louise-szkely-davis&pid=193121372 |title=Mary Székely Obituary – Boston, MA &#124; Boston Globe |publisher=Legacy.com |access-date=2020-02-12 |archive-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406012448/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=mary-louise-szkely-davis&pid=193121372 |url-status=live }}</ref>

C.K. had a brief relationship with musician [[Fiona Apple]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/23/fiona-apples-art-of-radical-sensitivity|title=Fiona Apple's Art of Radical Sensitivity|last=Nussbaum|first=Emily|magazine=The New Yorker|date=March 13, 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-04-18|archive-date=February 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228001250/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/23/fiona-apples-art-of-radical-sensitivity|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. confirmed he was dating [[Blanche Gardin]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/opinion/sunday/louis-ck-blanche-gardin-metoo.html|title=Opinion {{!}} The Woman Who Still Finds Louis C.K. Lovable|last=Druckerman|first=Pamela|date=November 24, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 16, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011161029/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/opinion/sunday/louis-ck-blanche-gardin-metoo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2022, he mentioned that they had broken up.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-08-19 |title=JRE #1859 – Louis C.K. & Joe List – Book List |url=https://jrelibrary.com/1859-louis-ck-joe-list/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=JRE Library |language=en-US |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819153659/https://jrelibrary.com/1859-louis-ck-joe-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Political views === About political partisanship, C.K. stated, "Some things I think are very [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]], or very [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]]. I think when someone falls into one category for everything, I'm very suspicious. It doesn't make sense to me that you'd have the same solution to every issue."<ref name="ThinkProgress-Politics-2012">{{cite web |url=http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/01/16/404790/louis-ck-on-his-political-philosophy-and-the-value-of-curiosity/ |work=[[ThinkProgress]] |last=Rosenberg |first=Alyssa |title=Louis CK on His Political Philosophy and the Value of Curiosity |date=January 16, 2012 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140121204942/http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/01/16/404790/louis-ck-on-his-political-philosophy-and-the-value-of-curiosity/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

In March 2016, C.K. sent an email to those subscribed to his mailing list which was critical of the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential race]]. C.K. stated he hoped for a conservative president but likened [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]] to [[Adolf Hitler]]. He labeled Trump an "insane bigot", also adding, "He's not a monster. He's a sad man."<ref>{{cite news|last=Reilly|first=Katie|title=Louis C.K. on Donald Trump: 'The Guy Is Hitler'|url=https://time.com/4248723/louis-ck-donald-trump-email-hitler-comparison/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=March 10, 2016|date=March 5, 2016|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309090010/http://time.com/4248723/louis-ck-donald-trump-email-hitler-comparison/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Krieg|first=Gregory|title=Louis C.K.: 'Insane bigot' Donald Trump 'is Hitler'|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/05/politics/louis-ck-donald-trump-adolf-hitler/|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=March 10, 2016|date=March 5, 2016|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311090840/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/05/politics/louis-ck-donald-trump-adolf-hitler/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Tricia|last=Gilbride|url=http://mashable.com/2016/03/06/louis-ck-donald-trump-hitler/#cTEDqy5SdiqV|title=Louis C.K. wants a conservative president, calls Donald Trump 'Hitler'|work=[[Mashable]]|date=March 6, 2016|access-date=December 28, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118122428/http://mashable.com/2016/03/06/louis-ck-donald-trump-hitler/#cTEDqy5SdiqV|url-status=live}}</ref> C.K. later referred to the email as "irrational".<ref>{{cite episode |title= Louis C.K. Interview|series = Opie with Jim Norton|series-link=Opie with Jim Norton|credits= Hughes, Gregg, Norton, Jim, and C.K., Louis|network=[[XM Satellite Radio]], [[Sirius Satellite Radio]]|airdate=April 18, 2016}}</ref> But he clarified to Stephen Colbert in April 2017 that Trump is not "some new kind of evil" but rather "a gross, crook, dirty, rotten, lying sack of shit", to applause from the ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|Late Show]]'' audience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louis C.K. Calls Trump A 'Gross Crook Dirty Rotten Lying Sack Of'... |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=89&v=XNxG2PBVMlI&feature=youtu.be |last=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |date=Apr 4, 2017 |access-date=2020-12-29 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407212215/https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=89&v=XNxG2PBVMlI&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2020, C.K. donated to [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign]]. However, the campaign said that it has refunded the $2,800 donation from C.K. Neither Biden nor C.K. have released statements regarding the matter.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5825872/joe-biden-donation-louis-ck/ |date=April 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422222518/https://time.com/5825872/joe-biden-donation-louis-ck/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 22, 2020|title= Joe Biden's Campaign Says It Has Refunded Donation From Louis C.K.|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref>

C.K. is on the record as having voted for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] presidential candidate in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 [[United States presidential election]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Dixon |title=MSSP- The Presidents - Parts 1-4 (feat. Louis CK) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0yDwdyFQzQ |date=May 18, 2022 |website=YouTube |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215005849/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0yDwdyFQzQ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Ashley |title=Louis C. K.: 'If You Vote for Trump You're a Sucker' |url=https://time.com/4554664/louis-c-k-on-trump-hillary/ |website=Time |date=November 2, 2016 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy === In 2011, by selling ''[[Live at the Beacon Theater]]'' on his website, C.K. earned a "million dollars in a matter of days, half of which he [gave] away to his staff and charities."<ref name=reuters>{{cite news|last=Molloy|first=Tim|title=How comedian Louis C.K. made $1M and gave half away|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-louisck-idUSTRE7BM1R120111223|access-date=April 5, 2016|work=Reuters|date=December 23, 2011|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416221722/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-louisck-idUSTRE7BM1R120111223|url-status=live}}</ref> Recipients included [[Fistula Foundation|the Fistula Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Grant|first=Kate|title=Angel in Disguise|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-grant/fistula-foundation-louis-ck_b_1182044.html|website=Huffington Post|date=January 4, 2012|access-date=April 5, 2016|archive-date=April 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420023519/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-grant/fistula-foundation-louis-ck_b_1182044.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Green Chimneys, [[Pablove Foundation|the Pablove Foundation]], [[Charity: Water]], and [[Kiva (organization)|Kiva]].<ref name="reuters"/>

In 2016, he selected the [[Fistula Foundation]] as the beneficiary of his ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' Power Players Week appearance, and won $50,000 for the charity.<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 Power Players Week Contestants Announced|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news/power-players-contestants-announced|website=Jeopardy!|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025014527/https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news/power-players-contestants-announced|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2020, C.K. donated $30,000 to the wait staff at the [[Comedy Cellar]] in [[Greenwich Village]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]] as part of a [[GoFundMe]] program called "Tip Your Wait Staff".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.film-news.co.uk/news/UK/74745/Louis-C-K-donates-30-000-to-comedy-club-staff-relief-fund|title=Louis C.K. donates $30,000 to comedy club staff relief fund|website=Film-News.co.uk|access-date=August 12, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812190205/https://www.film-news.co.uk/news/UK/74745/Louis-C-K-donates-30-000-to-comedy-club-staff-relief-fund|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thelaughbutton.com/louis-c-k-s-donation-to-joe-bidens-campaign-has-been-rejected|title=Louis C.K.'s donation to Joe Biden's campaign rejected|website=The Laugh Button|access-date=August 12, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812190205/https://thelaughbutton.com/louis-c-k-s-donation-to-joe-bidens-campaign-has-been-rejected|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20200417/12991888/Louis-donates-30-000-to-comedy.htm|title=Louis C.K. donates $30,000 to comedy club staff relief fund|date=April 17, 2020|website=One News Page|archive-date=August 12, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812190205/https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20200417/12991888/Louis-donates-30-000-to-comedy.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Religion === Louis C.K. was raised Catholic and has identified as an [[agnostic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2015/08/06/louis-ck-new-st-augustine|title=Is Louis C.K. the new St. Augustine?|date=August 6, 2015|website=America Magazine|access-date=May 24, 2021|archive-date=May 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524183502/https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2015/08/06/louis-ck-new-st-augustine|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Filmography == {{main|Louis C.K. filmography}} Louis C.K. is a writer, director, producer and actor who has acted in many television series, including ''[[Lucky Louie]]'' (2006), ''[[Louie (American TV series)|Louie]]'' (2010–2015) and ''[[Horace and Pete]]'' (2016). He has hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' four times, in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017. He has also appeared in television shows, such as ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'' and ''[[Portlandia (TV series)|Portlandia]]''. C.K. has also starred in a number of films such as [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Blue Jasmine]]'', [[David O. Russell]]'s ''[[American Hustle]]'' (both 2013) and [[Jay Roach]]'s [[Hollywood blacklist]] drama ''[[Trumbo (2015 film)|Trumbo]]'' (2015).

== Comedy releases ==

=== Specials and albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Studio ! scope="col"|Formats |- | 2001 ! scope="row" | [[Live in Houston (Louis C.K. album)|''Live in Houston'']] | louisck.com | LP/CD/download/streaming (audio only) |- | 2007 ! scope="row" | [[Shameless (Louis C.K. special)|''Shameless'']] | [[HBO]], louisck.com | Broadcast/DVD/video & audio download/streaming |- | 2008 ! scope="row" | ''[[Chewed Up]]'' | [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]/[[Image Entertainment]], louisck.com | Broadcast/DVD/CD/video & audio download/streaming |- | 2010 ! scope="row" | [[Hilarious (film)|''Hilarious'']] | [[Epix]], [[Comedy Central]], louisck.com, [[Netflix]] | Theatrical/broadcast/DVD/CD/video & audio download/streaming |- | 2011 ! scope="row" | ''[[Live at the Beacon Theater]]'' | louisck.com, [[FX (TV channel)|FX]], Netflix | Broadcast/DVD/video & audio download/streaming |- | 2012 ! scope="row" | ''[[Word: Live at Carnegie Hall]]'' | louisck.com | Download/streaming (audio only) |- | 2013 ! scope="row" | [[Oh My God (Louis C.K. special)|''Oh My God'']] | HBO, louisck.com | Broadcast/DVD/LP/CD/video & audio download/streaming |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 ! scope="row" | ''[[Live at the Comedy Store]]'' | louisck.com, FX, Netflix | Broadcast/DVD/video & audio download/streaming |- ! scope="row" | ''Live at Madison Square Garden'' | louisck.com | LP/download/streaming (audio only) |- | 2017 ! scope="row" | ''2017'' | Netflix | LP/streaming |- | 2020 ! scope="row" | ''[[Sincerely Louis CK]]'' | rowspan="4" | louisck.com | rowspan="3" | Video & audio download/streaming |- |2021 ! scope="row" | ''[[Sorry (2021 film)|Sorry]]'' |- | rowspan="2" | 2023 ! scope="row" | ''Louis C.K. at The Dolby'' |- ! scope="row" | ''Back to the Garden'' | Video download/streaming |- |}

=== Appearances === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Studio ! scope="col"|Track Information ! scope="col"|Formats |- | 1995 ! scope="row" | "Young Comedians Special" | rowspan="2" | [[HBO]] | Special feature of ''One Night Stand'' DVD<ref name="One Night Stand">{{cite AV media notes|others=Louis C.K.|title=One Night Stand|year=2006|type=Liner notes|publisher=[[HBO Home Video]]|id=93317}}</ref> | Broadcast/DVD (2006) |- | 1996 ! scope="row" | "[[HBO Comedy Half-Hour]]" | Special feature of ''Shameless'' DVD<ref>{{cite AV media notes|others=Louis C.K.|title=Shameless|year=2007|type=Liner notes|publisher=[[HBO Home Video]]|id=94247}}</ref> | Broadcast/streaming/DVD (2007) |- | 2000 ! scope="row" | "Stand Up America" | Laughing Stock | Track 8: "Louis CK"<ref>{{cite AV media notes|others=Various Artists|title=Stand Up America|year=2000|type=Liner notes|publisher=Laughing Stock Productions|id=5022739011329}}</ref> | CD/download (2005)/streaming (2009) |- | 2001 ! scope="row" | "[[Comedy Central Presents]]" | [[Comedy Central]]/[[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount]] | ''Stand-Up Vault #3'' DVD<ref>{{cite AV media notes|others=Various Artists|title=Comedy Central Stand-Up Vault #3|year=2015|type=Liner notes|publisher=[[Comedy Central]], [[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount]]|id=D59170694D}}</ref> | Broadcast/download/streaming (2010)/DVD (2015) |- | 2003 ! scope="row" | "[[Just for Laughs]]" | Just For Laughs (JFL) | Episode: "Louis CK"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7o2bo7 |title=Louis CK – Stand Up In Montreal (03) |date=November 18, 2019 |publisher=[[Dailymotion]] |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407212214/https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7o2bo7 |url-status=live }}</ref> | Broadcast/streaming (2010) |- | 2005 ! scope="row" | "[[One Night Stand (American TV series)|One Night Stand]]" | HBO | Includes deleted scenes on DVD<ref name="One Night Stand"/> | Broadcast/streaming/DVD (2006) |- | rowspan="2" | 2007 ! scope="row" | "Just for Laughs" | JFL | Episode: "Louis CK II"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6k2te8 |title=Louis C.K. Stand Up – 2007 |date=May 22, 2018 |publisher=[[Dailymotion]] |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407212215/https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6k2te8 |url-status=live }}</ref> | Broadcast/streaming (2010) |- ! scope="row" | "[[We Just Landed!]]" by [[The Bob & Tom Show|Bob & Tom]] | Friggemall Records | Track 6: "One of Those Couples"<ref>{{cite AV media notes|others=[[The Bob & Tom Show|Bob & Tom]]|title=[[We Just Landed!]]|year=2007|type=Liner notes|publisher=Friggemall Records|id=FRIG 2007-2}}</ref> | CD |- | 2008 ! scope="row" | "[[Comic Relief USA|Comic Relief: The Greatest...And The Latest]]" | HBO/[[Shout! Factory]] | "Comic Relief 2006"<ref>{{cite AV media notes|others=[[Comic Relief USA]]|title=Comic Relief: The Greatest...And The Latest|year=2008|type=Liner notes|publisher=[[Shout! Factory]]|id=SF 10746}}</ref> | Broadcast/streaming/DVD |- | 2009 ! scope="row" | "Just for Laughs" | JFL | Episode: "Whoopi Goldberg"<ref name="Just for Laughs">{{cite web |url=https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/318193/s01-e05-season-1-episode-5?start=true |title=Just for Laughs – Comedy Kings 5 |publisher=[[Tubi]] |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129051952/https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/318193/s01-e05-season-1-episode-5?start=true |url-status=live }}</ref> | Broadcast/streaming |- | 2010 ! scope="row" | "Lafflink's Platinum Comedy Series Vol. 4" | [[First Look Studios]] | Chapter: "Louis CK"<ref>{{cite AV media notes|others=Lafflink|title=Lafflink's Platinum Comedy Series Vol. 4|year=2010|type=Liner notes|publisher=[[First Look Studios]]|id=FLP-13179}}</ref> | DVD/streaming |- | 2013 ! scope="row" | "Best of Just for Laughs" | rowspan="3" | JFL | Episode: "Comedy Kings 5"<ref name="Just for Laughs"/> | Broadcast/streaming |- | 2017 ! scope="row" | "Just for Laughs – Comedy All-Stars, Vol. 4" | Tracks 1-3: ''Jfl 2009''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/1441470119?i |title=Just for Laughs – Comedy All-Stars, Vol. 4 |date=November 4, 2017 |publisher=[[Apple Music]]|access-date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> | rowspan="2" | CD/download/streaming |- | 2018 ! scope="row" | "Just for Laughs – The Nasty Show, Vol. 3" | Track 10: ''Sexual Expression (Jfl 1994)''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/1442338502?i |title=Just for Laughs – The Nasty Show, Vol. 3 |date=November 14, 2018 |publisher=[[Apple Music]]|access-date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" | 2021 ! scope="row" | "Caroline's Comedy Hour, Vol. 1" | rowspan="3" | Clown Jewels | Track 7: ''Guy from the Thing'' | rowspan="3" | Download/streaming |- ! scope="row" | "Caroline's Comedy Hour, Vol. 5" | Track 18: ''Diverse Culture'' |- ! scope="row" | "Caroline's Comedy Hour, Vol. 8" | Track 13: ''Do You Ever Feel Stupid?'' |}

== Awards and nominations == {{main|List of awards and nominations received by Louis C.K.}}

For his work performing stand-up, writing, acting, directing, producing, and editing, C.K. has received several awards and nominations. Among them are 39 [[Emmy Award]] nominations, with six wins.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/bios/louis-ck|title= Louis C.K. – Emmy Awards, Nominations, and Wins|website= Emmys.com|access-date= May 27, 2020|archive-date= August 6, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200806150653/https://www.emmys.com/bios/louis-ck|url-status= live}}</ref> C.K. has won the [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album]] three times—for ''[[Hilarious (film)|Hilarious]]'' in 2012, ''[[Louis C.K. filmography#Standup specials|Live at Madison Square Garden]]'' in 2016, and ''[[Sincerely Louis C.K.]]'' in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/louis-ck|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022110403/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/louis-ck|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2019|title= Louis C.K. – Artist|website= Grammy.com|access-date= May 27, 2020}}</ref>

C.K. has also been nominated for two [[Golden Globes]] and five [[SAG-AFTRA|Screen Actors Guild]] awards, winning the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture [[20th Screen Actors Guild Awards#Film|in 2013]], together with the other cast members of ''[[American Hustle]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/awards/lupita-nyongo-jared-leto-win-sag-supporting-actor-awards-1201063802/|title='American Hustle' Wins SAG Ensemble Cast Award|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 19, 2014|access-date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808190908/https://variety.com/2014/film/awards/lupita-nyongo-jared-leto-win-sag-supporting-actor-awards-1201063802/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Additionally, C.K. has won three [[Peabody Awards]] in the area of Excellence in Entertainment for his shows ''Louie'', ''Better Things'', and ''Horace and Pete'', as well as three [[Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America awards]] for his work on ''Louie'', alongside his writing partner, [[Pamela Adlon]].

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links == {{sister project links|b=no|s=no|n=no|v=no|voy=no|species=no|wikt=no|d=Q15079|c=Category:Louis C.K.}} * {{Official website}} * {{Discogs artist}} * {{IMDb name}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Louis C.K.}} {{Navboxes |title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Louis C.K.|Awards for Louis C.K.]] |list = {{Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series}} {{EmmyAward ComedyWriting}} {{EmmyAward ComedyVarietyMusicWriting 1990s}} {{EmmyAward VarietySpecialWriting}} {{Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album}} {{Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy}} {{TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy}} {{WritersGuildofAmericaEpisodicComedyScreenplay 2010s}} }} {{Authority control}}

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