British actor and multi-hyphenate talent Hugh Laurie (1959–) was born on this day in Oxford, England. Son of an Olympic gold medalist, he described his youth with characteristic wit as “misspent watching too much TV and too many movies.”

Educated at Eton and Cambridge, Laurie’s brilliance was spotted early by fellow student Emma Thompson, who declared, “Star, star, star! I knew at once.” Together with Stephen Fry, he built a beloved BBC career with the dry and delightful Jeeves and Wooster.

Laurie transitioned from comedy to mainstream acclaim with his role in Stuart Little, then astonished American audiences with his transformative performance as the abrasive yet magnetic Dr. Gregory House in FOX’s House (2004–2012).

“The boldest thing FOX did,” he said, “was to put such a mean, unsympathetic character at the center.” Despite—or because of—House’s unfiltered sarcasm and relentless logic, Laurie’s portrayal resonated deeply. He called House “a hero, a relentless seeker of truth.”

Named “Sexy at Every Age” by People at 47, Laurie shrugged off celebrity. He continued to stretch his gifts through music, writing, and voice work. His novels The Gun Seller and Paper Soldier reflect his love for storytelling beyond the screen.

“When people say, ‘Oh, acting is an easy job,’ I don’t think there’s such a thing,” he noted. “If you care, it can be almost infinitely hard.”