Even though TV’s most famous doctor was earning $700,000 per episode in the final season, *House* star Hugh Laurie said he still feels like a fraud.
Laurie regrets playing a “fake version” of a doctor instead of becoming a real one, as his father had hoped. He admitted that his “dad would have hated” the easier path he chose by becoming an actor.
Keep reading to find out why Laurie chose acting over medicine.
Dr. William (Ran) Laurie, Hugh’s father, had big dreams for his youngest son, born in June 1959.
Hugh Laurie was on track to follow in his father’s footsteps. His father was not only a respected physician but also a 1948 Olympic gold medalist in rowing and a graduate of a Cambridge college.
When British-born Hugh Laurie was studying at the same college as his father, he was also a member of the rowing team, with plans to train for the Olympics and then go to medical school.
However, Laurie discovered a drama club, the Cambridge Footlights, a sketch comedy group. There, he met actress Emma Thompson (*The Remains of the Day*) and his future comedy partner, Stephen Fry, who later co-starred with him in the 1997 film *Wilde*.
Laurie’s path changed completely.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the now 64-year-old actor appeared in several TV shows, including the BBC sitcom *Blackadder*, where he co-starred with Fry.
Hugh Laurie also appeared in the 1995 film *Sense and Sensibility* with Emma Thompson, with whom he had once been in a relationship. He starred in Disney’s live-action *101 Dalmatians* (1996) and even made a guest appearance on *Friends*.
In 2004, Laurie was offered the chance to play a doctor in a new TV series called *House*, a medical drama that ran for eight seasons.
In his Golden Globe-winning role as Dr. Gregory House, Laurie dropped his British accent and perfectly played the narcissistic genius who led a teaching hospital in New Jersey.
During the show’s run, Laurie became Hollywood’s most popular doctor, gaining a huge global fan base. However, life as a celebrity also brought its own challenges.
“I had some pretty bleak times, dark days when it felt like there was no way out,” Hugh Laurie said in a 2013 interview with *Radio Times* (via *Daily Mail*). “I have a strong work ethic, so I was determined never to be late or miss a single day of filming. You wouldn’t catch me calling in sick, saying, ‘I think I’m getting the flu.’ But there were times when I’d think, ‘If I had a little accident on the way to the studio and got a couple of days off to recover, that would be great.’”
Those days off didn’t come until 2012, with the final season of *House*.
After that, Laurie kept busy, appearing in TV shows like *Veep* and the 2015 science fiction film *Tomorrowland*, which starred another famous TV doctor, George Clooney.
In 2016, Hugh Laurie took on another doctor role, this time as neuropsychiatrist Dr. Eldon Chance in the TV series *Chance*.
The *Maybe Baby* star explained to the *Los Angeles Daily News*, “As a gambler, my instinct is to walk away after even a modest win… Yet I was drawn back to this wonderful project that was simply irresistible.” Comparing *House* to his role in *Chance* (which was canceled after two seasons in 2017), Laurie said, “The characters are very different. Their medical practices and attitudes toward life are completely different.”
Despite his Hollywood fame, Laurie, who also starred in 2018’s *Holmes & Watson*, still feels he let his father down by not becoming a real doctor. His father, who passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 1998, had been a respected physician.
“My father was a real doctor. If it’s true that many men try to become versions of their father and fail, it seemed fitting that I ended up being a fake version of a doctor,” said Laurie, who also played a doctor in the 2005 film *The Big Empty*.
“My father had high hopes for me to follow him into medicine,” Hugh Laurie said. “I would have liked to become a doctor myself, and I still have dreams about being one. We live in a world of shortcuts, don’t we? And I took those shortcuts. Dad would have hated that.”
Laurie calls himself a “cop-out,” adding, “Honestly, this causes me a lot of guilt.”
What do you think about Hugh Laurie’s surprising confession? Please share your thoughts in the comments below and share this story so we can hear what others think!
“1000-lb Sisters” Star Reveals Her Dramatic Transformation and Becomes an Inspiration to Many
1,000-lb Sisters fame Tammy has got the internet talking about her impressive transformation. The star shared her weight loss journey with the fans and moved everyone with her determination. In her latest photos, Tammy is unrecognizable as she smiles in a bold swimsuit.
Tammy and her sister’s rise to fame.
Tammy, a 37-year-old resident of Dixon, Kentucky, made her first appearance on the show 1000-Lb Sisters in 2020. Before the show, she and her sister Amy were popular YouTubers, known for their engaging content and a large number of followers.
Both sisters, in their thirties, had a combined weight of over 1,000 pounds. They faced challenges with weight loss and maintaining a healthy diet, but as of 2024, they’ve made significant progress. Let’s take a look at Tammy’s inspiring journey.
Tammy’s path to a healthier lifestyle.
Initially, Tammy tipped the scales at 717 pounds (325 kg). Due to her weight, she faced many difficulties in her daily life and also suffered from various health issues.
Tammy took up the challenge and decided to change things up. She spent 14 months at Windsor Lane Center in Gibsonburg. It was also where she met her husband. Sadly, he later passed away in 2023.
A challenge well accepted and executed.
In late 2022, Tammy had a surgery. Now she weighs 285 pounds (129 kg), having shed over 400 pounds (181 kg).
Tammy is currently doing well as she recovers from her partner’s passing. She enjoys connecting with her fans from 1000-Lb Sisters on TikTok. There, she shares lip-sync videos and moments with her new pet cat. A serious health scare was a pivotal moment for Tammy, leading her to take charge of her health. Her ongoing success continues to inspire her supporters and silence her critics.
Overcoming adversity.
Over the years, Tammy faced several health issues due to her increasing weight and lifestyle choices. In a critical event in November 2021, she was hospitalized and placed on life support. Despite also needing a tracheostomy, she made a remarkable recovery.
An inspiration to many, she continues to shine.
In the last episode of the third season, which aired in January 2022, Tammy’s brother, Chris Combs, shared that she had lost 115 pounds (52 kg) while in a rehabilitation center in Ohio. Following her hospital stay, Tammy hinted at her weight loss in a TikTok video.
Back in January 2020, Tammy’s weight was around 600 pounds (272 kg). Although she managed to reduce her weight during the show, it fluctuated often. Recently, Tammy displayed her weight loss by spending time by the pool with her friend Haley Michelle. Haley posted a photo on Instagram showing Tammy in a navy-blue bathing suit, looking happy and relaxed by the poolside. Haley expressed her pride in Tammy’s achievement with a supportive hashtag.
Fans poured in comments on Tammy’s photos, praising her. Many pointed out how she looks incredible, and her journey inspired them. Some also noted how she did a more impressive job at getting healthier than her siblings.
However, some were also confused by the way Tammy posed with her friend. Many are wondering if the two are actually in a relationship.
Kelly Clarkson also recently debuted a slimmer figure that surprised fans. See her photos here.
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