Hugh Laurie (born June 11, 1959) is a British comedian, actor, and author best known for his television work, especially his double act, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, with Stephen Fry.

He was born and raised in Oxford, where he attended the Dragon School (a famous prep school), before going on to Eton and then to Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he read Archaeology and Anthropology. His father had won an Olympic gold medal in rowing, and he himself was a rower at school and university taking part in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race of 1980.

During his first year at university, Laurie went out for a while with Emma Thompson, now a well-known actress. He also joined the famous Footlights Club at Cambridge, which has been the starting point for many successful British comedians. In his final year, he was the President of the Club, while Emma Thompson was the Vice-president. It was when Footlights took their end-of-year revue to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1980 that Laurie met Stephen Fry.

Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster.

Fry and Laurie had several series of their own as a double act, as well as starring in the television series Jeeves and Wooster, an adaptation of P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories. Laurie played Bertie Wooster, a role for which his talent as a pianist and singer came in handy.

However, like Fry, Laurie has branched out into a solo career as an actor in both comic roles (such as the Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson as Prince George and Lieutenant George). He has also had more serious roles, such as his parts in the films, Peter's Friends and Sense and Sensibility. Other film appearances include Maybe Baby and Stuart Little. In 1996, his book The Gun Seller , a humorous novel of suspense, was published.

Since 2002 he has been a familiar face in a range of television dramas, guest starring that year in several episodes of the first season of the spy thriller series Spooks on BBC One. In 2003 he starred in and also directed ITV's comedy-drama series Fortysomething . In 2004, Laurie stars in the Fox Broadcasting medical drama, House, M.D.

He married the former Jo Green in June 1989, and they live in north London with their two sons and daughter.

External links

• Hugh Laurie FAQ site by Peggy Haley, containing extensive information on Laurie's life and work
• PG Wodehouse Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster