At 64 years old, the legendary actor is unrecognizable

Despite earning $700,000 per episode in the final season of House, Hugh Laurie admits to feeling an enduring sense of guilt. The acclaimed British actor, celebrated for his portrayal of the brilliant but broken Dr. Gregory House, confessed that he often feels like a “fraud” for acting as a doctor instead of becoming one — a dream once held by his late father.

Born in 1959, Laurie grew up under the shadow of his remarkable father, Dr. William “Ran” Laurie — a physician, Olympic gold medalist, and war hero. Following his father’s path, he attended Cambridge, joined the rowing team, and planned to study medicine after competing in the Olympics.

However, fate changed his direction when he joined the Cambridge Footlights, a comedy troupe where he met Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry. That discovery steered him away from medicine and toward a life in entertainment.

Laurie soon became a star of British comedy, appearing in Blackadder and Sense and Sensibility, before Hollywood roles followed. His global breakthrough came with House (2004–2012), which made him one of television’s highest-paid and most recognizable stars.

Despite fame and awards, Laurie struggled emotionally, admitting that the demanding series left him drained. “There were days I hoped for a small accident just to get a break,” he once said.

Even after House ended, he returned to the screen as another doctor in Chance (2016), drawn again to the world of medicine — at least fictionally.

Yet guilt still haunts him. Laurie believes he may have disappointed his father by choosing acting over medicine, though many would say he has honored that legacy in his own extraordinary way.