Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie

Biography

James Hugh Calum Laurie CBE (born June 11, 1959), known professionally as Hugh Laurie, is an English actor, director, singer, musician, comedian, and author. He is known for portraying the title character on the Fox medical drama series House (2004–2012), for which he received two Golden Globe Awards and nominations for numerous other awards. He was listed in the 2011 Guinness World Records as the most watched leading man on television and was one of the highest-paid actors in a television drama, earning £250,000 ($409,000) per episode of House.

His other television credits include arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper in the miniseries The Night Manager (2016), for which he won his third Golden Globe Award, and Senator Tom James in the HBO sitcom Veep (2012–2019), for which he received his 10th Emmy Award nomination.

Forced to abandon rowing during a bout of glandular fever, he joined the Cambridge Footlights, a university dramatic club that has produced many well-known actors and comedians. There he met Emma Thompson, with whom he had a romantic relationship, which later ended yet they remain good friends. She introduced him to his future comedy partner, Stephen Fry. Laurie, Fry and Thompson later parodied themselves as the University Challenge representatives of "Footlights College, Oxbridge" in "Bambi", an episode of The Young Ones, with the series' co-writer Ben Elton completing their team.

🎬 Movies Featuring Hugh Laurie

The Canterville Ghost

The Canterville Ghost (2023)

as Grim Reaper / Gardener / Swordsman / Monster / Old Duke (voice)
Veep

Veep (2019)

as Tom James
Holmes & Watson

Holmes & Watson (2018)

as Mycroft Holmes (uncredited)
Mr. Pip

Mr. Pip (2012)

as Mr. Watts
Shrek's Thrilling Tales

Shrek's Thrilling Tales (2012)

as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
Dreamworks Spooky Stories

Dreamworks Spooky Stories (2012)

as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
The Oranges

The Oranges (2011)

as David Walling
Hop

Hop (2011)

as E.B.'s Dad (voice)
B.O.B.'s Big Break

B.O.B.'s Big Break (2009)

as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space

Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space (2009)

as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
Monsters vs Aliens

Monsters vs Aliens (2009)

as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
Street Kings

Street Kings (2008)

as Captain James Biggs
Valiant

Valiant (2005)

as Gutsy (voice)
The Young Visiters

The Young Visiters (2003)

as Lord Bernard Clark
Carnivale

Carnivale (2000)

as Cenzo (voice)
Santa's Last Christmas

Santa's Last Christmas (1999)

as Geoffrey the Seagull (voice)
Cousin Bette

Cousin Bette (1998)

as Baron Hector Hulot
The Borrowers

The Borrowers (1997)

as Officer Steady
The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling (1997)

as Tarquin (voice)
No Image

Treasure Island (1997)

as Squire Trelawney
The Legends of Treasure Island

The Legends of Treasure Island (1993)

as Squire Trelawney (voice)
Peter's Friends

Peter's Friends (1992)

as Roger Charleston
Brown Bear's Wedding

Brown Bear's Wedding (1991)

as Owl / Mice (voice)
Blackadder's Christmas Carol

Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988)

as Princes Regent / Pigmot
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years

Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (1988)

as Roundhead with Cromwell (uncredited)
Up Line

Up Line (1987)

as Howard Caprice
No Image

Experiment IV (N/A)

as Second Assistant