“Louie” is very much a one-man show — Louis C.K. not only stars in, but also writes, directs and edits each episode.
But his FX comedy also frequently features some great guest stars, from his comedian pals like Todd Barry, Sarah Silverman and Chris Rock making cameos as themselves, to big-name actors in guest roles.
In honor of “Louie” returning for its fifth season Thursday at 10:30 p.m. on FX, we rounded up the show’s five best guest stars so far.
Ricky Gervais (Season 1)
The Brit comedian guest-starred as C.K.’s high school classmate and physician, Dr. Ben, a jokester who makes fun of him through their entire appointment.
Dane Cook (Season 2)
Comedians often make cameos on “Louie,” but none was more fascinating than Cook’s appearance in Season 2. Cook had been accused of stealing C.K.’s jokes back in 2006 — and C.K. thinks he did — which led to a beef between the two comics. In the episode, C.K. is forced to go to Cook for a favor and they confront their real-life tension.
Melissa Leo (Season 3)
Leo caused quite a buzz when she guest-starred as Laurie, a woman whom C.K. gets set up on a blind date with. While driving him home, she bluntly tells C.K. to “whip it out” — then gets upset when he refuses to reciprocate.
Parker Posey (Season 3)
Pressured by his daughters to get a girlfriend, C.K. asks out a cute bookstore employee, Liz (Posey). But on their first date — which includes a stop at Russ & Daughters — she reveals that she’s a bit of a nut case when she insists on dangling at the edge of a rooftop. In the season finale he runs into her on a bus to the airport, where she collapses and then dies at the hospital.
David Lynch (Season 3)
The “Twin Peaks” director played Jack Dahl, C.K.’s eccentric late-night talk-show coach in a trilogy of episodes about the comedian being groomed to take over CBS’ “Late Show.”