Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie
6.1
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Name:
Hugh Laurie
Real name:
James Hugh Calum Laurie
Who is:
,
Birth date:
(66 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Blackbird Leys, Oxfordshire, England
Height:
6'2 ft ()
Weight:
185 lb (84 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

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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.
Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie

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 Laurie as a child
Hugh Laurie as a child
Hugh was the youngest child, born much later than his siblings. Usually, such kids are pampered, but in the Laurie family, it was different. The parents, originally from Scotland, strictly adhered to the traditions of the Presbyterian Church and instilled them in their children from an early age. Hard work, modesty, and virtue were encouraged, while excessive displays of love and affection were considered sinful weakness. As a result, Hugh was extremely hard on himself - he took successes for granted, but failures and defeats devastated him.

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.
Hugh Laurie in his youth
Hugh Laurie in his youth
The Footlights Dramatic Club, a student theater organized at Cambridge University where he enrolled after leaving Eton College, helped Laurie overcome depression. During the day, Laurie studied anthropology and archaeology, and in the evenings, he performed in amateur plays. At the theater, Hugh met Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry, and found faithful friends and like-minded people in them.
Hugh Laurie and other stars of the Footlights Dramatic Club
Hugh Laurie and other stars of the Footlights Dramatic Club

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.
Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in their youth
Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in their youth
The talented trio caught producers' attention, earning them spots on a comedy sketch show. After gaining the necessary experience, Laurie and Fry formed a comedy duo and created their own show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie", which aired on BBC from 1989 to 1995.
Hugh Laurie's Kitty Puss - A Bit Of Fry And Laurie
Meanwhile, the duo tackled adapting P.G. Wodehouse's humorous stories about young wealthy aristocrat Wooster and his butler Jeeves. In the titular series, they played the lead roles, with Laurie personally performing several ragtime compositions that added unique charm to his character.
Jeeves and Wooster - The Hunger Strike
Worth mentioning too is the series "Blackadder" (1983-1989), where Laurie played several characters alongside the future Mr. Bean - Rowan Atkinson.
Hugh Laurie in the TV series 'Blackadder'
Hugh Laurie in the TV series 'Blackadder'
The iconic sitcom "Friends" also deserves mention, where Laurie played an airplane passenger alongside Rachel and Ross. The pinnacle of his acting career came with his role as Dr. House in the titular TV series, recognized as one of the most successful medical dramas worldwide and even earning a spot in the Guinness World Records.
Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Laurie on the set of 'Friends'
Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Laurie on the set of 'Friends'

"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".
Hugh Laurie - House M.D, Audition Tape
Laurie's British accent didn't bother Singer, and Laurie was able to shake it off pretty quickly. The actor's perfect pitch helped him accurately mimic any accent. Plus, having grown up in a doctor's family, Laurie was familiar with the profession and had deep respect for it.
Hugh Laurie as Gregory House
Hugh Laurie as Gregory House
For this role, the actor had to step away from his usual comedic parts. After all, Dr. House is a pretty dark character, though incredibly charming.
Best Fan Moments From the Show - House M.D.
Filming lasted for eight years, and all this time the actor had to stay away from his wife and three children. Hugh never got used to the noisy, bustling life in the States, though he bought a house in Los Angeles when he realized the project was a hit and shooting would clearly drag on.
Favorite 'House' Quote and Struggles With The American Accent: Hugh Laurie Answers...
At the end of the fifth season, Hugh became one of the producers of the series and personally directed several episodes. He earned $400,000 per episode, and by the end of the eighth season, his fee reached $700,000 per episode. The series ran for 8 seasons, and Laurie went from being a relatively unknown British actor to one of the highest-paid stars of American television, forever immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This let him stop worrying about earning a living after the project ended and focus on doing only what he loved.

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.
Hugh Laurie in the series 'The Night Manager'
Hugh Laurie in the series 'The Night Manager'
In 2018, the actor played Mycroft Holmes in the American television parody of Arthur Conan Doyle's immortal novel "Holmes & Watson". Interestingly, Laurie agreed to participate in this film, even though he'd previously thought that enough films based on this work had already been made.
Hugh Laurie as Mycroft Holmes
Hugh Laurie as Mycroft Holmes
2020 was marked by two high-profile premieres featuring Laurie. In the comedic sci-fi series "Avenue 5", he played the captain of a spaceship, and in the political thriller "Roadkill", he appeared as a politician, a high-ranking member of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom.

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 plays the guitar, piano, and harmonica excellently
Hugh Laurie plays the guitar, piano, and harmonica excellently
In many films, the actor has showcased his musical talent and also played keyboard in the Band From TV, which consisted of American TV series actors and donated all concert proceeds to charity.
Band From TV – Will It Go Round in Circles (2008)
Several of their compositions were included in the "House M.D." soundtrack, and after filming wrapped, Laurie decided to form his own band, the Copper Bottom Band. Before this, he'd already released his debut solo album "Let Them Talk," which was well received in Europe. In support of it, the musician performed in the birthplace of blues, New Orleans.
Hugh Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band – Mystery Train (2013)
In 2012, the Copper Bottom Band embarked on a world tour, during which they performed in Moscow, Kiev, and Saint Petersburg. In 2013, they released the second album, "Didn't It Rain," featuring compositions in blues, R'n'B, jazz, and tango styles.

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.
In their youth, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson dated
In their youth, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson dated
Hugh's wife, Jo Green, was a quiet, unassuming woman who captivated Hugh with her easygoing spirit and down-to-earth wisdom. She worked as a theatre administrator, and they often found themselves in the same company. Given Hugh's tendency toward depression and deep thinking, he knew he needed such an upbeat and grounded partner, so he wasted no time proposing to Jo in 1988, following his difficult split from Kate.
The wedding of Hugh Laurie and Jo Green
The wedding of Hugh Laurie and Jo Green
Their family grew rapidly - sons Charles (1989) and William (1991) arrived first, followed by daughter Rebecca (1993). All the children were christened by Laurie's best friend Stephen Fry, who was also the best man at their wedding.
Hugh Laurie with his wife and children
Hugh Laurie with his wife and children
The couple has been together for over thirty years, though their seemingly perfect marriage hasn't been without its challenges. Sixteen years into their marriage, Hugh strayed with television director Audrey Cook, a stunning, ambitious woman accustomed to getting whatever she wanted. But not this time - Jo took action after Hugh came clean about the affair. Instead of causing drama, Jo simply wrote to her rival, describing just how moody, depressed, and difficult Hugh could be at his worst. She ended by asking if Audrey was really prepared to sacrifice her life for such a complicated man. Audrey never responded, and she vanished from Hugh's life for good.
Hugh Laurie with his wife in the paparazzi lens
Hugh Laurie with his wife in the paparazzi lens
Hugh was also linked romantically to his "House M.D." co-star Lisa Edelstein, who played hospital administrator Cuddy, but those rumors faded quickly without confirmation. These days, Hugh openly celebrates his love for Jo, who continues to be his rock, closest friend, and devoted mother to their children.
Lisa Edelstein and Hugh Laurie
Lisa Edelstein and Hugh Laurie
In his downtime, Hugh loves jumping on his motorcycle and escaping to places far from paparazzi and city chaos. During these getaways, he writes music, brainstorms ideas for books and scripts, or just reflects on life's bigger questions.

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.
A scene from the mini-series 'All the Light We Cannot See'
A scene from the mini-series 'All the Light We Cannot See'
He also worked on the series "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" based on Agatha Christie's detective novel of the same name. In the project, he served as director and screenwriter, and the main roles were played by Lucy Boynton and Will Poulter. Laurie explained his choice of this novel for adaptation as follows: "I find this novel unique. It has this light, comic spirit. There's something fresh about it. These are contemporary characters, and it's a contemporary story".

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