James Hugh Calum Laurie was born on June 11, 1959 in Oxford, England and was raised in the Presbyterian church. He was later educated at Selwyn College in Cambridge, where he earned a degree in archaeology and anthropology. While in college, he engaged in rowing. However, he was diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis, which forced him to give up sports. This marked the beginning of Laurie's acting career, as he joined the Cambridge Footlights, a drama club. His early work with the Footlights was in an episode of The Young Ones titled Bambi. Laurie later became the president of the Footlights and took their annual revue, The Cellar Tapes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he, along with his co-writers, won the first Perrier Comedy Award.
Laurie then went on with Stephen Fry, whom he worked with on The Cellar Tapes, to work on several comedy projects throughout the 1980s and 1990s. These projects include the Blackadder series, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, and Jeeves and Wooster. Their other projects include The Secret Policeman's Third Ball (a stage production), variety show Fry and Laurie Host a Christmas Night with the Stars, and the film Peter's Friends.
Laurie then independently worked on films Sense and Sensibility, 101 Dalmatians, Maybe Baby, Girl from Rio, The Flight of the Phoenix and the three Stuart Little films.
In 2004, Laurie gained recognition in the United States when he played Dr. Gregory House in the highly acclaimed FOX medical drama, House. A year later, he was nominated for an Emmy award for his work on the series. Although he did not win the award, he was able to take home the two Golden Globe awards in 2006 and 2007.
On May 23, 2007, Hugh Laurie was honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In talking to Playboy about his role as Dr. House, Laurie said, "House is a rather heroic figure. He's a man in search of some kind of truth, whether it's scientific or psychological or whatever. And he is prepared to give up a lot, to make sacrifices to get there. Also he has no friends because of his dedication to discovering and telling the truth. I suppose that's sort of the definition of a hero.”
Other works of Laurie’s include the movies The Big Empty, and 2008’s Street Kings. He has also signed on to voice the character Dr. !$#!#roach, PhD in Monsters vs. Aliens.
The youngest of 4.
He would hate to be friends with his character (House)
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
2006, 2007 House
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Best Actor - Drama Series
2006 House
Other Awards
Perrier Comedy Award (1981)
Satellite Award for Best Actor - TV Series Drama (2005, 2006 House)
# Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) (post-production) (voice) .... Dr. !$#!#roach Ph.D.
# "House M.D." .... Dr. Gregory House (87 episodes, 2004-2008)
... aka House (South Africa: English title) (USA: short title)
- Wilson's Heart (2008) TV episode .... Dr. Gregory House
- House's Head (2008) TV episode .... Dr. Gregory House
- Living the Dream (2008) TV episode .... Dr. Gregory House
- No More Mr. Nice Guy (2008) TV episode .... Dr. Gregory House
- Don't Ever Change (2008) TV episode .... Dr. Gregory House
(82 more)
# Street Kings (2008) .... Captain James Biggs
# The Big Empty (2005) .... Doctor #5
# Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2005) (V) (voice) .... Mr. Frederick Little
# Valiant (2005) (voice) .... Gutsy
# The Tale of Jack Frost (2004) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator
# Flight of the Phoenix (2004) .... Ian
# "The Lenny Henry Show" .... Professor (1 episode, 2004)
- Episode #1.1 (2004) TV episode .... Professor
# The Young Visiters (2003) (TV) .... Lord Bernard Clark
# "Fortysomething" .... Paul Slippery (4 episodes, 2003)
- Episode #1.4 (2003) TV episode .... Paul Slippery
- Episode #1.3 (2003) TV episode .... Paul Slippery
- Episode #1.2 (2003) TV episode .... Paul Slippery
- Episode #1.1 (2003) TV episode .... Paul Slippery
# "Stuart Little" .... Mr. Fredrick Little (1 episode, 2003)
- The Meatloaf Bandit (2003) TV episode (voice) .... Mr. Fredrick Little
# Lost in the Snow (2002) (V) (voice) .... Teddy
# Stuart Little 2 (2002) .... Mr. Frederick Little
# "Spooks" .... Jools Siviter / ... (2 episodes, 2002)
... aka MI-5 (USA)
- The Rose Bed Memoirs (2002) TV episode .... Jules Siviter
- Traitor's Gate (2002) TV episode .... Jools Siviter
# Dragans of New York (2002) (TV)
# Second Star to the Left (2001) (TV) (voice) .... Archie the Bunny
# "Family Guy" .... Bar Patron (1 episode, 2001)
... aka Padre de familia (USA: Spanish title)
- One If by Clam, Two If by Sea (2001) TV episode (voice) .... Bar Patron
# Chica de R?o (2001) .... Raymond
... aka Girl from Rio (UK)
# The Piano Tuner (2001) .... Charles
# Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV) .... Vincente Minnelli
... aka Judy Garland: L'ombre d'une ?toile (Canada: French title)
# "Preston Pig" (2000) TV series (voice) .... Mr. Wolf (2000)
# "Dominion" (2000) TV series .... Freleng
# Maybe Baby (2000) .... Sam Bell
# "Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)" .... Dr. Lawyer (1 episode, 2000)
- Mental Apparition Disorder (2000) TV episode .... Dr. Lawyer
# Carnivale (2000) (voice) .... Cenzo
... aka Carnivale (France)
# The Journal of Edwin Carp (2000) (voice) .... Edwin Carp
# "Little Grey Rabbit" (2000) TV series (voice) .... Hare
# Lounge Act (2000) (voice)
# The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything (1999) (TV) .... French Ambassador
# Blackadder Back & Forth (1999) .... Viscount George Bufton-Tufton / Georgius
# Stuart Little (1999) .... Mr. Fredrick Little
# Santa's Last Christmas (1999) (TV) (voice) .... Geoffrey the Seagull
# Cousin Bette (1998) .... Baron Hector Hulot
# "Friends" .... The Gentleman on the Plane (1 episode, 1998)
- The One with Ross's Wedding: Part 2 (1998) TV episode .... The Gentleman on the Plane
# The Man in the Iron Mask (1998/I) .... King's Advisor
# "The Bill" .... Harrap (1 episode, 1998)
- Good Faith: Part 1 (1998) TV episode .... Harrap
# Spice World (1997) .... Poirot
# The Borrowers (1997) .... Police Officer Steady
# The Place of Lions (1997) (TV) .... Steve Harris
# The Ugly Duckling (1997) (voice) .... Tarquin
# 101 Dalmatians (1996) .... Jasper
# "Murder Most Horrid" .... Jerry Bryce (1 episode, 1996)
- The Body Politic (1996) TV episode .... Jerry Bryce
# "Tracey Takes On..." .... Timothy 'Timmy' Bugge (2 episodes, 1996)
- Death (1996) TV episode .... Timothy 'Timmy' Bugge
- Royalty (1996) TV episode .... Timothy 'Timmy' Bugge
# The Snow Queen's Revenge (1996) (voice)
# Sense and Sensibility (1995) .... Mr. Palmer
# "Look at the State We're In!" (1995) TV mini-series .... Director / ... (unknown episodes)
# "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" .... Various Characters (26 episodes, 1987-1995)
- Episode #4.7 (1995) TV episode .... Various Characters
- Episode #4.6 (1995) TV episode .... Various Characters
- Episode #4.5 (1995) TV episode .... Various Characters
- Episode #4.4 (1995) TV episode .... Various Characters
- Episode #4.3 (1995) TV episode .... Various Characters
(21 more)
# The Snow Queen (1995) (voice) .... Peeps
# The Adventures of Mole (1995) (TV) .... Toad
... aka The Wind in the Willows Collection: The Adventures of Mole (USA: video title)
# "The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends" .... Johnny Town-Mouse (1 episode, 1995)
- The Tale of the Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse (1995) TV episode (voice) .... Johnny Town-Mouse
# A Pin for the Butterfly (1994) .... Uncle
# All or Nothing at All (1993) (TV) .... Leo Hopkins
# "The Legends of Treasure Island" .... Squire Trelawney (2 episodes, 1993)
- The Watch Tower (1993) TV episode (voice) .... Squire Trelawney
- The Quest Begins (1993) TV episode (voice) .... Squire Trelawney
# "Jeeves and Wooster" .... Bertie Wooster (23 episodes, 1990-1993)
- The Ex's Are Nearly Married Off (1993) TV episode .... Bertie Wooster
- Totleigh Towers (1993) TV episode .... Bertie Wooster
- Arrested in a Night Club (1993) TV episode .... Bertie Wooster
- Honoria Glossop Turns Up (1993) TV episode .... Bertie Wooster
- Lady Florence Craye Arrives in New York (1993) TV episode .... Bertie Wooster
(18 more)
# Peter's Friends (1992) .... Roger Charleston
# "Blackadder Goes Forth" .... Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh (6 episodes, 1989)
- Goodbyeee (1989) TV episode .... Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
- General Hospital (1989) TV episode .... Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
- Private Plane (1989) TV episode .... Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
- Major Star (1989) TV episode .... Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
- Corporal Punishment (1989) TV episode .... Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
(1 more)
# Strapless (1989) .... Colin
# "The New Statesman" .... Waiter (1 episode, 1989)
- The Haltemprice Bunker (1989) TV episode .... Waiter
# "Les Girls" (1988) TV series (unknown episodes)
# Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (1988) (TV) (uncredited) .... Roundhead with Cromwell
# Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988) (TV) .... George, the Prince Regent / Lord Pigmot
# "Blackadder the Third" .... The Prince Regent (6 episodes, 1987)
... aka Blackadder 3 (UK)
... aka Blackadder III (USA: video title)
- Duel and Duality (1987) TV episode .... The Prince Regent
- Amy and Amiability (1987) TV episode .... The Prince Regent
- Sense and Senility (1987) TV episode .... The Prince Regent
- Nob and Nobility (1987) TV episode .... The Prince Regent
- Ink and Incapability (1987) TV episode .... The Prince Regent
(1 more)
# The Laughing Prisoner (1987) (TV) .... Assistant
# "Filthy Rich & Catflap" .... Alfons N'Bend (1 episode, 1987)
- Episode #1.2 (1987) TV episode .... Alfons N'Bend
# Up Line (1987) (TV)
# "Girls on Top" .... Tom (1 episode, 1986)
- Big Snogs (1986) TV episode .... Tom
# "Blackadder II" .... Prince Ludwig / ... (2 episodes, 1986)
... aka Black-Adder II
- Chains (1986) TV episode .... Prince Ludwig
- Beer (1986) TV episode .... Simon Partridge
# "Happy Families" .... Jim (2 episodes, 1985)
- Reunion (1985) TV episode .... Jim
- Edith (1985) TV episode .... Jim
# Mrs. Capper's Birthday (1985) (TV) .... Bobby
... aka Star Quality: Mrs. Capper's Birthday (UK)
# Plenty (1985) .... Michael
# "The Young Ones" .... Lord Monty (1 episode, 1984)
- Bambi (1984) TV episode .... Lord Monty
# The Crystal Cube (1983) (TV) .... Max Belhaven/Various Roles
# "Alfresco" (1 episode, 1983)
- Episode #1.1 (1983) TV episode
# "There's Nothing to Worry About!" (3 episodes, 1982)
- Episode #1.3 (1982) TV episode
- Episode #1.2 (1982) TV episode
- Episode #1.1 (1982) TV episode
# Cambridge Footlights Revue (1982) (TV) .... Various Characters
# Who Sold You This, Then? (1975) (V)
... aka The Selling Line: Who Sold You This, Then? (UK: complete title)
“I run six-to-eight miles a day, plus weights and aerobics in the lunch hour. I also lie a lot, which keeps me thin.”
"The Gun Seller" (1996)
"Paper Soldier" (Hopefully September 2009)