Hugh Laurie Biography
Hugh Laurie is a popular actor and a recipient of the Order of the British Empire. He gained fame in his homeland through sketches he filmed with Stephen Fry, and achieved international recognition for his role as Dr. House in the eponymous series. He has also established himself as a talented blues musician, writer, and screenwriter. He's also a devoted father of three children, whom he considers the main purpose of his life.
Childhood and Youth
James Hugh Calum Laurie was born and raised in the historic English town of Oxford, known for its oldest university in Europe. His father, William Laurie, was fond of rowing in his youth and won a gold medal at the 1948 Olympic Games. After finishing his sports career, he earned a medical degree and became a family doctor in Oxford. His wife, Patricia Laidlaw, took care of the household and raised their four children.
Hugh received an excellent education - first, he studied at the junior Oxford school Dragon School, then - at the private boarding school for boys in Eton. He served as class president and played in the school orchestra. Following his father's example, he took up rowing and achieved excellent results. In 1977, he became the UK junior champion and had the opportunity to represent the country at the World Championship. He competed in the prestigious Oxford-Cambridge competitions and could have won Olympic gold if infectious mononucleosis hadn't ended his rowing career.


Duet with Stephen Fry
Fresh out of university, Hugh already knew he wouldn't pursue a career in his field of study. He felt an irresistible pull toward the arts and decided to follow his passion. In 1981, Laurie became the president of the Footlights Dramatic Club, where he and his loyal friends staged the comedy "The Cellar Tapes". The production earned the newcomers their first theater award and a contract to broadcast it on British television.


"House M.D."
Initially, they wanted an American actor for the lead role, but series producer Bryan Singer insisted on Hugh Laurie after being blown away by the Brit's performance on the set of the adventure film "Flight of the Phoenix".
Further Career
In 2016, the Anglo-American series "The Night Manager" was released, in which Laurie played the role of arms dealer Richard Roper and received his third Golden Globe for it (the first two were for Dr. House). This topic had long fascinated the actor - in 1996 he wrote and published the book "The Gun Seller", which became a bestseller and was translated into other languages.

Music
As a schoolboy, Laurie mastered piano, guitar, and harmonica, and played drums in a school band during his senior years. At ten, he first heard blues music and has been passionate about it ever since.
Hugh Laurie's Personal Life
During his studies at the University of Cambridge, Hugh had a romance with future actress Emma Thompson, which over time transformed into a strong, long-lasting friendship and creative partnership. He then had a relationship with a fellow student named Kate.




Hugh Laurie Now
In 2023, Hugh Laurie lent his voice to the animated film "The Amazing Maurice", an adaptation of Terry Pratchett's novel. He voiced the main character - a cheeky cat named Maurice, who helps a group of rats escape from exterminators. In November of the same year, the mini-series "All the Light We Cannot See" premiered on Netflix, in which Laurie played Etienne LeBlanc, one of the central characters.