Hugh Laurie's Biography

Early Life

Hugh Laurie was born on 11 June 1959 in Oxford and was educated at Eton College and Selwyn College, Cambridge University.

He was a Cambridge Blue and rowed in the 1980 Boat Race. His father had won an Olympic rowing gold medal.

Television Career

Hugh Laurie's early career was dominated by his association with Stephen Fry, including four series of the comedy sketch show A Bit of Fry and Laurie, three seasons of Blackadder, in which Fry also appeared, and four series of Jeeves and Wooster, based on the novels of P.G. Wodehouse, in which he played Bertie Wooster to Fry's Jeeves.

Hugh Laurie’s performance as Dr. Gregory House achieved critical acclaim and he led to him winning two Golden Globe® Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, six Emmy® nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series and he has twice been honoured by the Television Critics Association with TCA Awards for Individual Achievement in Drama.

Music and Books

Hugh Laurie has also composed and recorded numerous original songs. He recorded the New Orleans blues album Let Them Talk, which was produced by Joe Henry. The album was the biggest selling blues album of 2011 in the UK. Laurie’s second album, Didn’t It Rain, was released in August 2013.

His first novel The Gun Seller was published in both the UK and the US to critical acclaim. His second novel was The Paper Soldier.

Recent TV work

In 2015, Hugh Laurie guest starred as Tom James on the HBO series Veep.

In 2016, he was cast in the leading role of Richard Onslow Roper in The Night Manager.

In 2019, he was cast in the TV adaptation of Catch 22, directed by George Clooney.

In August 2019, the BBC announced that Hugh Laurie had been cast as Peter Laurence in a new political thriller series for BBC One written by David Hare, entitled Roadkill.

In 2024, the BBC announced that Hugh Laurie was to co-executive produce two more series of The Night Manager.

Honours

In 2016, was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In the 2018 New Year's Honours, Hugh Laurie was made a CBE.

Trivia
In October 2016, High Laurie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Back to Top