At 64 years old, the legendary actor is unrecognizable
Despite achieving immense success as one of television’s highest-paid actors, Hugh Laurie is haunted by a persistent sense of being a “fraud.” The British star, who earned $700,000 per episode as Dr. House, feels guilt for portraying a doctor instead of fulfilling his late father’s dream of him becoming a real physician.
His father, Dr. William Laurie, was a Cambridge-educated doctor, an Olympic gold medalist, and a war hero. Hugh initially followed this path, attending the same Cambridge college and training as a rower with Olympic ambitions.
However, his life detoured when he discovered the Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe. There, he met Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson, forging connections that would steer him away from medicine and toward a career in entertainment.
Laurie first became a household name in Britain through comedic roles in the 1980s and ’90s. His global fame arrived with *House* (2004-2012), where he played the brilliant, cynical Dr. Gregory House, winning two Golden Globes.
Behind the scenes, the role took a heavy emotional toll. Laurie confessed to having “pretty bleak times” and even wishing for a minor accident to get a break from the demanding work.
Even after *House* ended, he was drawn back to playing a doctor in the 2016 series *Chance*. He described the neuropsychiatrist role as “irresistible,” highlighting his enduring fascination with the medical field.
Yet, the guilt remains. Laurie believes he disappointed his father, calling himself a “cop out” for taking “shortcuts.” He feels his father would have hated him being a fake doctor, a source of profound regret that fame has been unable to erase.
