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Hugh Laurie Biography

Birth Name:James Hugh Calum Laurie

Birth Place:Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer, Director

Fast Facts

  • An accomplished blues/jazz singer and multi-instrumentalist, who has released two solo albums as of 2013
  • Listed in the Guinness World Records in 2011, as the most watched leading man in a TV series for his role in "House․"
  • Named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 2007
  • Guest-starred on piano in the song "If I Can't Have You" from Meat Loaf's 2010 album "Hang Cool Teddy Bear․"
  • Often plays with jazz groups as well as the celebrity charity cover group Band from TV
  • Was made an honorary fellow of his alma mater, Selwyn College
  • Attended the Dragon School, a renowned British public college preparatory school located in Oxford, England
  • Earned a third-class degree in anthropology and archaeology from Selwyn College, Cambridge University
  • Actor and comedian Stephen Fry is godfather to his three children
  • His father was a medical doctor and an Olympic rowing gold medalist
  • A bout of mononucleosis forced him to quit rowing, so he joined the drama club, Cambridge Footlights
  • Was a member of the Cambridge Footlights, where he met Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry
  • Quote: "[About maintaining his American accent for "House"] "It's like everyone else is playing with a tennis racket and you have a salmon․""
  • Quote: "In life you don't regret the things you do, you regret the things you don't do․"
  • Quote: "[On the Oxford-vs․-Cambridge Boat Race] "The year was 1980, I was No․ 4 in this particular encounter, and the result was a loss by Cambridge by a distance of five feet, which is something which I will carry to my grave․""
  • Frequently plays upper-class and dim-witted English characters
  • Enjoys a variety of 20th century American music, including jazz, blues and country
  • Published his first novel, "The Gun Seller," in 1996
  • Rowed for the England youth team in 1977 and for Cambridge in 1980

Awards

  • 1999Young Artist Award-Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2005TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: winner
  • 2005WIN Award-Actor in Drama Series: winner
  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2006Prism Award-Performance in a Drama Series Episode: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2006Teen Choice Award-TV - Choice Actor: nominated
  • 2006TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: winner
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: winner
  • 2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Prism Award-Performance in a Drama Series, Multi-Episode Storyline: nominated
  • 2007Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2007Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Actor: Drama: winner
  • 2007TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2009Audience Camera-Best US Series: winner
  • 2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Annie-Voice Acting in a Feature Production: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Prism Award-Performance in a Drama Episode: nominated
  • 2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Teen Choice Award-Choice TV Actor: Drama: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2017OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2019British Independent Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2020National Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated