James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE (born 11 June 1959), known as Hugh Laurie, is an English actor, comedian, writer, musician and director. He first became known as one half of the Fry and Laurie double act, along with his friend and comedy partner Stephen Fry, whom he joined in the cast of Blackadder and Jeeves and Wooster from 1987 to 1999.

Laurie is best known for is portrayal of Dr. Gregory House on the hit American television show, House. He played this role from 2004 to 2012, for which he received two Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and six Emmy nominations. He is listed in the 2011 Guinness Book of World Records as the highest paid actor ever in a television drama, earning $409,000 per episode in House.