James Finlayson

Biography

James Finlayson was a Scottish actor who moved from the stage to silent and sound comedy. Born in Larbert, Stirlingshire, he worked as a tinsmith before joining John Clyde's company and appearing in Jeanie Deans in 1910. He later won a Broadway role in Bunty Pulls the Strings and left a national tour in 1916 for Hollywood. After early film work at L-KO and Thomas H. Ince's studio, he signed with Mack Sennett in 1919, then moved to Hal Roach, where he became Laurel and Hardy's comic foil. He appeared in 33 of their films, often as a villain or antagonist, among them Way Out West (1937) and Big Business (1929), and was known for squinting, outraged double takes. He also played uncredited bits in Foreign Correspondent (1940), Royal Wedding (1951), and To Be or Not to Be (1942).

66years old at death

Born August 27, 1887Falkirk
Died October 9, 1953Los Angeles
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Also credited as James Henderson Finlayson

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 18 years1930 to 1948

Genres

Comedy81%, 13 films
Family19%, 3 films
Music19%, 3 films
Crime13%, 2 films
Drama13%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Finlayson's trademark frustrated exclamation "Dohhhhhhh!" was a minced oath for "damn" and later inspired Dan Castellaneta's Homer Simpson catchphrase "D'oh!"
A change of course
Before acting, Finlayson worked as a tinsmith, then joined John Clyde's company and played Jamie Ratcliffe in Jeanie Deans at Edinburgh's Theatre Royal in 1910.
Big break
Finlayson took the part of Rab Biggar in Graham Moffat's Bunty Pulls the Strings on Broadway. He then quit a national tour in 1916 to chase a Hollywood career.

James Finlayson movies on Netflix

Grand Canyon Trail1948IMDb rating 5.6as Sheriff
She-Wolf of London1946IMDb rating 5.3as Constable
A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2as Baldy Vandevere
Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1as Dr. J.H. Finlayson
Raffles1939IMDb rating 6.4as Hansom Cab Driver
The Flying Deuces1939IMDb rating 6.7as Jailor
Block-Heads1938IMDb rating 7.5as Man on Stairs
Angel1937IMDb rating 7.2as Barker's 2nd Butler
Pick a Star1937IMDb rating 5.4as Director
Way Out West1937IMDb rating 7.6as Mickey Finn
Our Relations1936IMDb rating 7.3as Finn
The Bohemian Girl1936IMDb rating 6.6as Captain Finn
Bonnie Scotland1935IMDb rating 6.7as Sgt. Maj. Finlayson
The Devil's Brother1933IMDb rating 7.0as Lord Rocburg
Pack Up Your Troubles1932IMDb rating 7.2as General
Night Owls1930IMDb rating 7.4as Meadows

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Way Out West1937 Action, Comedy, Familyas Mickey Finn
IMDb rating 7.69.7K votes
Saps at Sea1940 Comedyas Dr. J.H. Finlayson
IMDb rating 7.13.4K votes
Block-Heads1938as Man on Stairs
IMDb rating 7.55.0K votes
The Flying Deuces1939as Jailor
IMDb rating 6.76.3K votes
Night Owls1930as Meadows
IMDb rating 7.42.0K votes
Bonnie Scotland1935as Sgt. Maj. Finlayson
IMDb rating 6.72.3K votes
Pack Up Your Troubles1932as General
IMDb rating 7.23.0K votes
Our Relations1936as Finn
IMDb rating 7.33.8K votes

Most often with

James W. Horne directed three of these films. Two actors appear in twelve of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Oliver Hardy

Stan Laurel

Eddie Borden

Richard Cramer

Charlie Hall

Harry Bernard

James W. HorneDirector, 3 films

Films together

Oliver Hardy12 films together, 1930 to 1940
Oliver Hardy's page
- A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as Baldy VandevereHardy as Ollie
- Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1Finlayson as Dr. J.H. FinlaysonHardy as Ollie
- The Flying Deuces1939IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as JailorHardy as Ollie
- Block-Heads1938IMDb rating 7.5Finlayson as Man on StairsHardy as Ollie
- Pick a Star1937IMDb rating 5.4Finlayson as DirectorHardy as Oliver Hardy
- Way Out West1937IMDb rating 7.6Finlayson as Mickey FinnHardy as Oliver Hardy
- Our Relations1936IMDb rating 7.3Finlayson as FinnHardy as Ollie / Bert Hardy
- The Bohemian Girl1936IMDb rating 6.6Finlayson as Captain FinnHardy as Ollie
- Bonnie Scotland1935IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as Sgt. Maj. FinlaysonHardy as Oliver Hardy
- The Devil's Brother1933IMDb rating 7.0Finlayson as Lord RocburgHardy as Ollio
- Pack Up Your Troubles1932IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as GeneralHardy as Ollie
- Night Owls1930IMDb rating 7.4Finlayson as MeadowsHardy as Mr. Hardy
Stan Laurel12 films together, 1930 to 1940
Stan Laurel's page
- A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as Baldy VandevereLaurel as Stan
- Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1Finlayson as Dr. J.H. FinlaysonLaurel as Stan
- The Flying Deuces1939IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as JailorLaurel as Stan
- Block-Heads1938IMDb rating 7.5Finlayson as Man on StairsLaurel as Stan
- Pick a Star1937IMDb rating 5.4Finlayson as DirectorLaurel as Stan Laurel
- Way Out West1937IMDb rating 7.6Finlayson as Mickey FinnLaurel as Stan Laurel
- Our Relations1936IMDb rating 7.3Finlayson as FinnLaurel as Stan / Alf Laurel
- The Bohemian Girl1936IMDb rating 6.6Finlayson as Captain FinnLaurel as Stan
- Bonnie Scotland1935IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as Sgt. Maj. FinlaysonLaurel as Stanley MacLaurel
- The Devil's Brother1933IMDb rating 7.0Finlayson as Lord RocburgLaurel as Stanlio
- Pack Up Your Troubles1932IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as GeneralLaurel as Stan
- Night Owls1930IMDb rating 7.4Finlayson as MeadowsLaurel as Mr. Laurel
Eddie Borden5 films together, 1936 to 1940
Eddie Borden's page
- A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as Baldy VandevereBorden as Ghost
- Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1Finlayson as Dr. J.H. FinlaysonBorden as Berserk Employee
- The Flying Deuces1939IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as JailorBorden as Legionnaire
- Way Out West1937IMDb rating 7.6Finlayson as Mickey FinnBorden as Barfly
- The Bohemian Girl1936IMDb rating 6.6Finlayson as Captain FinnBorden as Nobleman
Richard Cramer4 films together, 1932 to 1940
Richard Cramer's page
- A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as Baldy VandevereCramer as Minor Role
- Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1Finlayson as Dr. J.H. FinlaysonCramer as Nick Grainger - Escaped Convict
- The Flying Deuces1939IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as JailorCramer as Legionnaire Truck Driver
- Pack Up Your Troubles1932IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as GeneralCramer as Uncle Jack(Rychard Cramer)
Charlie Hall4 films together, 1935 to 1940
Charlie Hall's page
- A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as Baldy VandevereHall as Student
- Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1Finlayson as Dr. J.H. FinlaysonHall as Desk Clerk
- Our Relations1936IMDb rating 7.3Finlayson as FinnHall as Man in Pawnshop
- Bonnie Scotland1935IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as Sgt. Maj. FinlaysonHall as Native Henchman
Harry Bernard3 films together, 1937 to 1940
Harry Bernard's page
- A Chump at Oxford1940IMDb rating 7.2Finlayson as Baldy VandevereBernard as Policeman
- Saps at Sea1940IMDb rating 7.1Finlayson as Dr. J.H. FinlaysonBernard as Harbor Patrol Captain
- Way Out West1937IMDb rating 7.6Finlayson as Mickey FinnBernard as Man Eating at Bar
James W. HorneDirector, 3 films, 1935 to 1937
All films by James W. Horne
- Way Out West1937IMDb rating 7.6Finlayson as Mickey Finn
- The Bohemian Girl1936IMDb rating 6.6Finlayson as Captain Finn
- Bonnie Scotland1935IMDb rating 6.7Finlayson as Sgt. Maj. Finlayson

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top