Now that we've reached the midpoint of the latest season of Louis C.K.'s great TV show 'Louie,' can we just go ahead and declare it the smartest comedy series of the 21st century? And while it may seem like you know a lot about the comedian from his semi-autobiographical show, we've uncovered 20 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Louis C.K.

  • 1

    Spanish is Louis' first language. He was born in Mexico City. When he was 7, his family moved to Massachusetts.

  • 2

    He went to high school with 'Friends' actor Matt LeBlanc.

  • 3

    He began his career in the same fertile Boston comedy club scene with pals and comedy stars Patrice O'Neal, Nick DiPaolo and Joe Rogan

  • 4

    His production company is called Pig Newton, Inc. because his daughter thought Fig Newtons were called that.

  • 5

    At 27, he opened for Jerry Seinfeld. The pair have remained close friends ever since.

    Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images / FX
    Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images / FX
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  • 6

    He won three Emmys before he won one in 2012 for 'Louie.' They were all for writing on the forgotten 'The Chris Rock Show.'

  • 7

    After hearing one of Louis' routines about his troubled marriage, Andrew Dice Clay convinced Louis to get a divorce.

  • 8

    Before making his name as a stand-up comedian, Louis wrote scripts for 'The Late Night Show With Conan O'Brien,' 'The Chris Rock Show' and 'The Dana Carvey Show.'

  • 9

    Louis auditioned for Andrew Dice Clay's role in 'Blue Jasmine,' but Woody Allen didn't think he was right for the part. So he wrote another role for him instead.

    Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images
    Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images
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  • 10

    He was the first comedian to perform stand up on 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien.'

  • 11

    He never attended any of the auditions for his brief cameo in the 2008 Martin Lawrence movie 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.' After three attempts, the casting director gave up and just gave him the part.

  • 12

    His roommates during his struggling years include famous comedians Marc Maron and David Cross.

  • 13

    He was supposed to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2012, but he backed out after Fox News' Greta Van Susteren threatened to not show up.

  • 14

    Jon Stewart helped fund Louis' 1998 movie 'Tomorrow Night,' which he wrote, directed and starred in.

  • 15

    After graduating from high school, he worked as a mechanic.

  • 16

    Even though his daughters on the show are "extremely white," Louie cast a black actress as his ex-wife because he doesn't "care about the racial."

    FX
    FX
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  • 17

    The late Philip Seymour Hoffman was supposed to appear in the fourth season of 'Louie'.

  • 18

    Louis ended up owning the apartment used during 'Louie''s second and third seasons.

    FX
    FX
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  • 19

    When he won a Grammy for his 2011 album 'Hilarious,' he found out in an e-mail.

  • 20

    Along with comedians Dave Attell, Laura Kightlinger, Sarah Silverman and Jay Mohr, he auditioned for 'Saturday Night Live' in 1993. Everyone was offered a job except for Louis. (He's hosted the show twice since then.)

    NBC
    NBC
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