John Laurie

Biography

John Laurie was a Scottish actor whose career spanned theater, film and television, including Shakespearean leads, many supporting roles and a long-running sitcom part. Born in Dumfries, he served in the First World War before training as an actor under Elsie Fogerty in London. He made his stage debut in 1921 and, in 1922, appeared at the Old Vic, later playing Hamlet, Richard III, Othello and Macbeth at Stratford-upon-Avon. Alfred Hitchcock gave him his first film, Juno and the Paycock (1930), and cast him again in The 39 Steps (1935). Laurie appeared in Laurence Olivier's Shakespearean films Henry V, Hamlet (1948) and Richard III (1955), and in films such as The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), I Know Where I'm Going! (1945), Treasure Island (1950), Hobson's Choice (1954) and The Reptile (1966). On television, he played Private Frazer in the sitcom Dad's Army, which ran from 1968 to 1977.

83years old at death

Born March 25, 1897Dumfries
Died June 23, 1980Buckinghamshire
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Also credited as John Paton Laurie and John Laurie (actor)

Movie Career

Films: 22
Career span: 49 years1930 to 1979

Genres

Drama59%, 13 films
Adventure32%, 7 films
Comedy32%, 7 films
Romance23%, 5 films
War18%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
In his third film, John Laurie had a breakthrough part as John the Crofter in The 39 Steps, after Alfred Hitchcock had directed him in Juno and the Paycock, his first film.
Beyond film
Laurie became a member of the Edinburgh Gateway Company in 1954. There he took the leading part in Robert Kemp's The Laird o' Grippy, a Scots version of Moliere's L'avare.

John Laurie movies on Netflix

The Prisoner of Zenda1979IMDb rating 5.3as Archbishop
One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing1975IMDb rating 5.9as Jock
Dad's Army1971IMDb rating 6.9as Pte. Frazer
The Reptile1966IMDb rating 6.1as Mad Peter
Kidnapped1960IMDb rating 6.5as Ebenezer Balfour
Campbell's Kingdom1957IMDb rating 6.3as Mac
Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3as Lovel
Devil Girl from Mars1954IMDb rating 5.0as Mr. Jamieson
Hobson's Choice1954IMDb rating 7.7as Dr. McFarlane
Saturday Island1952IMDb rating 5.9as Grimshaw
Laughter in Paradise1951IMDb rating 7.1as Gordon Webb
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman1951IMDb rating 6.9as Angus
Madeleine1950IMDb rating 6.9as Scots Divine
Treasure Island1950IMDb rating 6.9as Blind Pew
Hamlet1948IMDb rating 7.5as Francisco
I Know Where I'm Going!1945IMDb rating 7.4as John Campbell
The Way Ahead1944IMDb rating 6.9as Pvt. Luke
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0as Murdoch
The Four Feathers1939IMDb rating 7.4as The Khalifa
The Edge of the World1937IMDb rating 7.3as Peter Manson
The 39 Steps1935IMDb rating 7.6as Crofter
Juno and the Paycock1930IMDb rating 4.6as Johnny Boyle

Best known for

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

Top

The 39 Steps1935 Crime, Mystery, Thrilleras Crofter
IMDb rating 7.667K votes
The Edge of the World1937 Drama, Romanceas Peter Manson
IMDb rating 7.32.4K votes
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943as Murdoch
IMDb rating 8.018K votes
Dad's Army1971as Pte. Frazer
IMDb rating 6.94.0K votes
I Know Where I'm Going!1945as John Campbell
IMDb rating 7.412K votes
Hamlet1948as Francisco
IMDb rating 7.520K votes
The Way Ahead1944as Pvt. Luke
IMDb rating 6.92.5K votes
The Reptile1966as Mad Peter
IMDb rating 6.14.5K votes

Most often with

Michael Powell directed three of these films, Alfred Hitchcock two and Emeric Pressburger two. Finlay Currie appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Finlay Currie

Laurence Olivier

Peter Ustinov

Ralph Richardson

Michael Ripper

Niall MacGinnis

Michael PowellDirector, 3 films

Alfred HitchcockDirector, 2 films

Emeric PressburgerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Finlay Currie5 films together, 1937 to 1960
Finlay Currie's page
- Kidnapped1960IMDb rating 6.5Laurie as Ebenezer BalfourCurrie as Cluny MacPherson
- Campbell's Kingdom1957IMDb rating 6.3Laurie as MacCurrie as Hyper-religious Old Barfly
- Treasure Island1950IMDb rating 6.9Laurie as Blind PewCurrie as Capt. Billy Bones
- I Know Where I'm Going!1945IMDb rating 7.4Laurie as John CampbellCurrie as Ruairidh Mhór
- The Edge of the World1937IMDb rating 7.3Laurie as Peter MansonCurrie as James Gray
Laurence Olivier2 films together, 1948 to 1955
Laurence Olivier's page
- Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3Laurie as LovelOlivier as Richard III
- Hamlet1948IMDb rating 7.5Laurie as FranciscoOlivier as Hamlet - Prince of Denmark / Voice of Ghost
Peter Ustinov2 films together, 1944 to 1975
Peter Ustinov's page
- One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing1975IMDb rating 5.9Laurie as JockUstinov as Hnup Wan
- The Way Ahead1944IMDb rating 6.9Laurie as Pvt. LukeUstinov as Rispoli
Ralph Richardson2 films together, 1939 to 1955
Ralph Richardson's page
- Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3Laurie as LovelRichardson as Duke of Buckingham
- The Four Feathers1939IMDb rating 7.4Laurie as The KhalifaRichardson as John Durrance
Michael Ripper2 films together, 1955 to 1966
Michael Ripper's page
- The Reptile1966IMDb rating 6.1Laurie as Mad PeterRipper as Tom Bailey
- Richard III1955IMDb rating 7.3Laurie as LovelRipper as Forrest
Niall MacGinnis2 films together, 1937 to 1960
Niall MacGinnis's page
- Kidnapped1960IMDb rating 6.5Laurie as Ebenezer BalfourMacGinnis as Mr. Shaun
- The Edge of the World1937IMDb rating 7.3Laurie as Peter MansonMacGinnis as Andrew Gray
Michael PowellDirector, 3 films, 1937 to 1945
All films by Michael Powell
- I Know Where I'm Going!1945IMDb rating 7.4Laurie as John Campbell
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0Laurie as Murdoch
- The Edge of the World1937IMDb rating 7.3Laurie as Peter Manson
Alfred HitchcockDirector, 2 films, 1930 to 1935
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
- The 39 Steps1935IMDb rating 7.6Laurie as Crofter
- Juno and the Paycock1930IMDb rating 4.6Laurie as Johnny Boyle
Emeric PressburgerDirector, 2 films, 1943 to 1945
All films by Emeric Pressburger
- I Know Where I'm Going!1945IMDb rating 7.4Laurie as John Campbell
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0Laurie as Murdoch
Also two films together21 more actors
- Stanley BakerCampbell's Kingdom (1957) and Richard III (1955)
- Raymond HuntleyHobson's Choice (1954) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Sam KyddDad's Army (1971) and Saturday Island (1952)
- Stanley HollowayHamlet (1948) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Pamela BrownRichard III (1955) and I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
- Patrick TroughtonRichard III (1955) and Hamlet (1948)
- Basil SydneyTreasure Island (1950) and Hamlet (1948)
- Valentine DyallI Know Where I'm Going! (1945) and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
- Arthur HowardThe Prisoner of Zenda (1979) and One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)
- Leslie DwyerLaughter in Paradise (1951) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Andrew CruickshankKidnapped (1960) and Richard III (1955)
- Hugh BurdenOne of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Edie MartinKidnapped (1960) and Hobson's Choice (1954)
- Joseph TomeltyDevil Girl from Mars (1954) and Hobson's Choice (1954)
- Helen HayeHobson's Choice (1954) and The 39 Steps (1935)
- Norman WoolandMadeleine (1950) and Hamlet (1948)
- Roger LiveseyI Know Where I'm Going! (1945) and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
- Jean CadellMadeleine (1950) and I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
- Donald GraySaturday Island (1952) and The Four Feathers (1939)
- Russell ThorndikeRichard III (1955) and Hamlet (1948)
- Patricia RainePandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) and Madeleine (1950)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.