Louis C.K.'s Real Name: Louis Szekely
Louis C.K. → Louis Szekely
Quick answer: The comedian and actor is known professionally as Louis C.K. TV Guide records the birth name Louis Szekely. The Guardian, reporting on a 2017 statement, independently says the stage name is derived from his last name at birth, which it spells Székely.
Real name and early life
TV Guide lists the birth name as Louis Szekely and places the birth in Washington, District of Columbia. The same page says he grew up in Mexico until the age of seven, that Spanish was his first language, and that he is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. The Guardian independently spells the birth surname Székely. Neither of those two pages gives a calendar birth date in the text used here.
Career highlights
TV Guide says he got his start as a comedy writer on the original broadcast of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, is known for stand-up work, and used his own camera to shoot scenes for the comedy Louie. The same page lists a 1999 Primetime Emmy win for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program and a 2012 Primetime Emmy win for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. The Guardian independently identifies Louie as a show that aired on FX, and it reports later work including a planned film titled I Love You, Daddy and a planned Netflix stand-up special. TV Guide also lists a 2012 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, and says he raised money for the Fistula Foundation by winning a celebrity edition of Jeopardy! in 2016.
2017 statement
In November 2017, the Guardian reported that Louis C.K. released a statement saying accounts of sexual misconduct reported by the New York Times were true. The Guardian also reported that FX ended its association with him, including Louie, that a distributor canceled the release of I Love You, Daddy, and that Netflix abandoned plans for a stand-up special. Those were publicly documented admissions, not criminal convictions.
Name notes for searchers
People looking up Louis C.K., Louis CK, Louis Szekely, or Louis Székely are looking for the same comedian and actor, including the later series Louie most often associated with his name. Search traffic often uses the professional styling Louis C.K.
FAQ
What is Louis C.K.'s real name?
He is known professionally as Louis C.K. TV Guide records the birth name Louis Szekely. The Guardian spells the birth surname Székely.
Where was he born?
TV Guide places the birth in Washington, District of Columbia. The Guardian page cited here does not give a birthplace.
Is there a calendar birth date in these sources?
The TV Guide and Guardian pages used here do not give a calendar birth date.
What did the 2017 statement address?
The Guardian reported that he released a statement saying accounts of sexual misconduct reported by the New York Times were true, and that FX ended its association with him. That reporting does not describe a criminal conviction on that subject.


