Hugh Laurie

James Hugh Calum Laurie was born in Oxford, England, in 1959. He was educated at Eton College and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he studied archaeology and anthropology. While at Cambridge, Laurie was a competitive rower, following in his father’s footsteps, who was an Olympic gold medalist in rowing. A bout of glandular fever led him to join the Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe in 1978. Here, he met Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry, forming a significant comedy partnership with Fry that would launch his career.

Laurie’s early career was marked by his collaboration with Stephen Fry, notably in the BBC sketch comedy series “A Bit of Fry & Laurie” (1987-1995) and the P. G. Wodehouse adaptation “Jeeves and Wooster” (1990-1993), where he played Bertie Wooster. He also appeared in three series of the period comedy “Blackadder” between 1986 and 1989. These roles showcased his comedic timing and versatility, establishing him as a prominent figure in British television.

A significant turning point in Laurie’s career arrived when he took on the lead role of Dr. Gregory House in the American medical drama “House” (2004-2012). His portrayal, delivered with a convincing American accent, earned him critical acclaim, including two Golden Globe Awards. During this period, he was recognized by “Guinness World Records” as the most-watched leading man on television and was one of the highest-paid actors in a TV drama. Post-“House,” Laurie continued to explore diverse roles, including his Golden Globe-winning performance as Richard Onslow Roper in “The Night Manager” (2016) and his recurring role as Senator Tom James in “Veep” (2015-2019), which earned him his tenth Emmy Award nomination. Beyond acting, Laurie is an accomplished blues musician, releasing albums like “Let Them Talk” (2011) and “Didn’t It Rain” (2013), and is also an author, with his novel “The Gun Seller” published in 1996.