James Hugh Calum Laurie CBE (known professionally as Hugh Laurie; born 11 June 1959) 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.
In the Know
Self · (1 episode)
2024
All the Light We Cannot See
Etienne LeBlanc · (4 episodes)
2023
The Canterville Ghost
Grim Reaper / Gardener / Swordsman / Monster / Old Duke (voice)
2023
Blackadder: A Cunning Story
Self – Contributor
2023
The Amazing Maurice
Maurice (voice)
2022
Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
Dr. James Nicholson · (2 episodes)
2022
Roadkill
Peter Laurence · (4 episodes)
2020
Tehran
Eric Peterson · (8 episodes)
2020
Avenue 5
Ryan Clark · (17 episodes)
2020
The Personal History of David Copperfield
Mr. Dick
2019
Catch-22
Major de Coverley · (3 episodes)
2019
Holmes & Watson
Mycroft Holmes (uncredited)
2018
Chance
Eldon Chance · (20 episodes)
2016
The Night Manager
Richard Roper · (6 episodes)
2016
A Life On Screen: Stephen Fry
Self
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
Tomorrowland
David Nix
2015
A Life on Screen
Himself · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Hugh Laurie: Live on the Queen Mary
Himself
2013
Hugh Laurie: Copper Bottom Blues
2013
Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker
Self
2013
Monsters vs Aliens Stories
2013
Mr. Pip
Mr. Watts
2012
Shrek's Thrilling Tales
Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
2012
Dreamworks Spooky Stories
Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
2012
FOX 25th Anniversary Special
Self
2012
Veep
Tom James · (20 episodes)
2012
Jools Holland: My Life in Music
Self
2012
Arthur Christmas
Steve (voice)
2011
The Oranges
David Walling
2011
Let Them Talk: A Celebration of New Orleans Blues
Self
2011
Hugh Laurie: Down by the River
2011
Perspectives
Himself · (1 episode)
2011
Perspectives
(1 episode)
2011
Hop
E.B.'s Dad (voice)
2011
Fry and Laurie Reunited
Self
2010
Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010
SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas
2009
B.O.B.'s Big Break
Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
2009
The Jay Leno Show
Self · (1 episode)
2009
Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space
Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
2009
Monsters vs Aliens
Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (voice)
2009
Blackadder Rides Again
Self
2008
Band from TV: Hoggin' All the Covers
Self
2008
Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments
Self
2008
Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga
Self
2008
Street Kings
Captain James Biggs
2008
Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out
Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (5 episodes)
2007
The Reichen Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild
Mr. Little (voice)
2005
The Big Empty
Doctor
2005
Monkey Trousers
(7 episodes)
2005
Valiant
Gutsy (voice)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self · (3 episodes)
2005
Flight of the Phoenix
Ian
2004
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
2004
House
Gregory House · (176 episodes)
2004
The Culture Show
(1 episode)
2004
The Tale of Jack Frost
Narrator (voice)
2004
The Young Visiters
Lord Bernard Clark
2003
MechaNick
Narrator · (80 episodes)
2003
QI
Self · (1 episode)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Fortysomething
Paul Slippery · (6 episodes)
2003
Stuart Little: The Animated Series
Mr. Frederick Little (voice) · (13 episodes)
2003
Lost in the Snow
Teddy
2002
Stuart Little 2
Mr. Little
2002
American Idol
Self · (2 episodes)
2002
Spooks
Jools Siviter · (2 episodes)
2002
Second Star to the Left
Archie (voice)
2001
Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter
Narrator (voice)
2001
Baldrick's Video Diary - A Blackadder in the Making
Self
2001
Chica de Río
Raymond
2001
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
Vincente Minnelli · (2 episodes)
2001
Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings
John Malkovich
2000
Preston Pig
Mr. Wolf · (26 episodes)
2000
Maybe Baby
Sam Bell
2000
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
(1 episode)
2000
Carnivale
Cenzo (voice)
2000
The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything
(2 episodes)
2000
Lounge Act
2000
Stuart Little
Mr. Little
1999
Blackadder: Back & Forth
George
1999
Family Guy
Bar Patron (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Dr. Gregory House (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Santa's Last Christmas
Geoffrey the Seagull (voice)
1999
Stuart Little: Making It Big
Self
1999
Cousin Bette
Baron Hector Hulot
1998
The Man in the Iron Mask
King's Advisor
1998
Parkinson
Self · (2 episodes)
1998
Spice World
Poirot
1997
The Borrowers
Officer Steady
1997
The Ugly Duckling
Tarquin (voice)
1997
Treasure Island
Squire Trelawney
1997
Ruby
Self · (1 episode)
1997
101 Dalmatians
Jasper
1996
The Adventures of Toad
Toad
1996
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher
Mr. Abercrombie (voice) · (1 episode)
1996
Tracey Takes On...
(4 episodes)
1996
The Snow Queen's Revenge
Peeps
1996
The Adventures of Mole
Toad
1995
Sense and Sensibility
Mr. Palmer
1995
Look at the State We're In!
Sir Michael Jaffa · (6 episodes)
1995
A Pin for the Butterfly
Uncle
1995
The Snow Queen
Peeps
1995
Friends
Gentleman on the Plane · (1 episode)
1994
Shooting Stars
Self · (1 episode)
1993
All or Nothing at All
Leo Hopkins · (3 episodes)
1993
The Legends of Treasure Island
Squire Trelawney (voice)
1993
The Legends of Treasure Island
Squire Trelawney (voice) · (26 episodes)
1993
Peter's Friends
Roger Charleston
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self · (7 episodes)
1992
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends
Johnny Town-Mouse (voice) · (1 episode)
1992
White Bear's Secret
Owl (voice)
1992
Annie Lennox: Totally Diva
1992
Brown Bear's Wedding
Owl / Mice (voice)
1991
Murder Most Horrid
Jerry Bryce · (1 episode)
1991
Jeeves and Wooster
Bertie Wooster · (23 episodes)
1990
The Simpsons
Roger (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Strapless
Colin
1989
A Bit of Fry & Laurie
(25 episodes)
1989
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
1989
Employees From Hell
1989
Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Princes Regent / Pigmot
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988
Friday Night Live
(1 episode)
1988
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years
Roundhead with Cromwell (uncredited)
1988
Comic Relief
(1 episode)
1988
The Lenny Henry Show
Professor · (7 episodes)
1987
The New Statesman
Waiter · (1 episode)
1987
The Laughing Prisoner
Assistant
1987
Up Line
Howard Caprice
1987
Filthy Rich & Catflap
N'Bend · (1 episode)
1987
The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball
Self
1987
Experiment IV
Lab Assistant 2
1986
The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live
Self
1986
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
(1 episode)
1986
Saturday Live
(30 episodes)
1986
Dangerous Brothers Present: World of Danger
1986
The Dangerous Brothers
(1 episode)
1986
Mrs. Capper's Birthday
Bobby McMichael
1985
Girls On Top
Tom · (1 episode)
1985
Happy Families
Jim · (2 episodes)
1985
Plenty
Michael
1985
The Bill
(1 episode)
1984
The Crystal Cube
Max Belhaven / Various Roles · (1 episode)
1983
Blackadder
The Prince Regent · (6 episodes)
1983
Blackadder
Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh · (6 episodes)
1983
Blackadder
Prince Ludwig · (1 episode)
1983
Blackadder
Simon Partridge · (1 episode)
1983
Alfresco
Admissions Officer · (7 episodes)
1983
Alfresco
Various · (13 episodes)
1983
The Young Ones
Lord Monty · (1 episode)
1982
There's Nothing to Worry About!
Various · (3 episodes)
1982
The Cellar Tapes
various
1982
Wogan
Self · (2 episodes)
1982
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (1 episode)
1981
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · (15 episodes)
1976
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (2 episodes)
1975
Great Performances
(1 episode)
1971
The Wanted Man
Felix Carmichael · (0 episode)