As the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards draw near, we look back at the careers of the lead acting nominees.
2 of 10 BBC Warner
Blackadder
After appearing in the second season of the hit historical British comedy as Simon Partridge and Prince Ludwig the Indestructible, Laurie became a regular in the third season in 1987, playing the buffoonish Prince of Wales.
3 of 10 BBC Warner
A Bit of Fry and Laurie
Laurie and his comedy partner, Stephen Fry — to whom he was introduced by ex-girlfriend Emma Thompson — starred in this BBC sketch comedy series from 1989-95. (During this time, they also starred in the comedy Jeeves and Wooster.) Laurie, who is now in the Band from TV, showed off his musical chops in many episodes, performing satirical musical numbers such as the torch love song "Mystery" and "I'm in Love with Steffi Graf," in which he claims to be the man who stabbed Monica Seles.
4 of 10 Sony Pictures
Sense and Sensibility
Laurie co-starred as Mr. Palmer in this 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, written by and starring his ex, Emma Thompson.
5 of 10 Warner Home Video
Friends
Laurie guest-starred on the Season 4 finale of Friends as a British lad on the plane who is annoyed by Rachel's plan to tell Ross she loves him before his wedding to Emily. "And by the way, it seems perfectly clear that you were on a break," he tells her.
6 of 10 Columbia Pictures
Stuart Little
Laurie played Frederick Little, father to George and Stuart, in the three live-action/CGI-animation adaptations of the children's story of the same name.
7 of 10 Mike Yarish/Fox
House
In addition to snagging five Emmy nominations, Laurie has won two Golden Globes, two SAG awards, two Television Critics Association awards for this turn as the misanthropic doctor. Laurie's American accent was so convincing that executive producer Bryan Singer did not know he was British after watching his audition tape.
8 of 10 20th Century Fox
Flight of the Phoenix
Laurie co-starred in this 2004 remake of the 1965 film — which itself is based on a novel — opposite Dennis Quaid and Giovanni Ribisi. The Brit filmed his audition tape for House in the bathroom of his hotel while on location for Phoenix in Namibia.
9 of 10 Fox Searchlight
Street Kings
Laurie starred in this 2008 action drama as James Biggs, a police captain who starts an investigation against Keanu Reeves' veteran detective.
10 of 10 Dreamworks
Monsters vs. Aliens
Laurie lent his vocal talents to Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D., a mad scientist and avid dancer with the head and abilities of a cockroach, in this 2009 DreamWorks film.