Acting

James Finlayson

Born August 26, 1887 · Larbert, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK

Died October 9, 1953 · aged 66

James Henderson "Jimmy" Finlayson (August 27, 1887 – October 9, 1953) was a Scottish actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Bald, with a fake moustache, Finlayson had many trademark comic mannerisms and is famous for his squinting, outraged, "double take and fade away" head reaction, and characteristic expression "d'ooooooh", and as the most famous comic foil of Laurel and Hardy.

Known For

Foreign Correspondent

Foreign Correspondent · 1940

Foreign Correspondent

MovieThrillerMystery

American crime reporter John Jones is reassigned to Europe as a foreign correspondent to cover the imminent war. When he walks into the middle of an assassination and stumbles on a spy ring, he seeks help from a beautiful politician’s daughter and an urbane English journalist to uncover the truth.

Pardon Us

Pardon Us · 1931

It's Prohibition, and the boys wind up behind bars after Stan sells some of their home-brew beer to a policeman.

Playing at Politics

Playing at Politics · 1931

Playing at Politics

Ollie is running for mayor and an old flame threatens to blackmail him.

Block-Heads

Block-Heads · 1938

It's 1938, but Stan doesn't know the war is over; he's still patrolling the trenches in France, and shoots down a French aviator. Oliver sees his old chum's picture in the paper and goes to visit Stan who has now been returned to the States and invites him back to his home.

To Be or Not to Be

To Be or Not to Be · 1942

To Be or Not to Be

During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.

Way Out West

Way Out West · 1937

MovieComedyWestern

Stan and Ollie try to deliver the deed to a valuable gold mine to the daughter of a dead prospector. Unfortunately, the daughter's evil guardian is determined to have the gold mine for himself and his saloon-singer wife.

The Flying Deuces

The Flying Deuces · 1939

The Flying Deuces

Ollie falls in love with a woman. When he discovers she's already married, he unsuccessfully attempts suicide but he and Stan then decide to join the Foreign Legion to get away from their troubles. When they’re arrested for soon trying to desert the Legion—they escape a firing squad by stealing an aircraft.

Another Fine Mess

Another Fine Mess · 1930

Another Fine Mess

Two homeless vagabonds hide out in a vacant mansion and pose as the residents when prospective lessees arrive and try to rent it.

Filmography

Sort

Foreign Correspondent

Foreign Correspondent · 1940

Foreign Correspondent

MovieThrillerMystery

American crime reporter John Jones is reassigned to Europe as a foreign correspondent to cover the imminent war. When he walks into the middle of an assassination and stumbles on a spy ring, he seeks help from a beautiful politician’s daughter and an urbane English journalist to uncover the truth.

Dutch Peasant (uncredited)

Pardon Us

Pardon Us · 1931

It's Prohibition, and the boys wind up behind bars after Stan sells some of their home-brew beer to a policeman.

Schoolteacher

Playing at Politics

Playing at Politics · 1931

Playing at Politics

Ollie is running for mayor and an old flame threatens to blackmail him.

Criado

Block-Heads

Block-Heads · 1938

It's 1938, but Stan doesn't know the war is over; he's still patrolling the trenches in France, and shoots down a French aviator. Oliver sees his old chum's picture in the paper and goes to visit Stan who has now been returned to the States and invites him back to his home.

Man on Stairs

To Be or Not to Be

To Be or Not to Be · 1942

To Be or Not to Be

During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.

Scottish Farmer with Mustache (uncredited)

Way Out West

Way Out West · 1937

MovieComedyWestern

Stan and Ollie try to deliver the deed to a valuable gold mine to the daughter of a dead prospector. Unfortunately, the daughter's evil guardian is determined to have the gold mine for himself and his saloon-singer wife.

Mickey Finn

The Flying Deuces

The Flying Deuces · 1939

The Flying Deuces

Ollie falls in love with a woman. When he discovers she's already married, he unsuccessfully attempts suicide but he and Stan then decide to join the Foreign Legion to get away from their troubles. When they’re arrested for soon trying to desert the Legion—they escape a firing squad by stealing an aircraft.

Jailor

Another Fine Mess

Another Fine Mess · 1930

Another Fine Mess

Two homeless vagabonds hide out in a vacant mansion and pose as the residents when prospective lessees arrive and try to rent it.

Col. Wilburforce Buckshot (uncredited)

A Chump at Oxford

A Chump at Oxford · 1940

A Chump at Oxford

The boys get jobs as a butler and maid-- Stan in drag-- for a dinner party. When that ends in disaster, they resort to sweeping streets and accidentally capture a bank robber. The grateful bank president sends them to Oxford, at their request, and higher-education hijinks ensue.

Baldy Vandevere (uncredited)

Show Girl

Show Girl · 1928

MovieComedyDrama

An aspiring dancer fakes her own kidnapping as a publicity stunt. Her new found fame causes trouble with her boyfriend.

Mr. Dugan

Our Relations

Our Relations · 1936

Two sailors get caught in a mountain of mix-ups when they meet their long-lost twins. Laurel and Hardy play themselves and their twins.

Finn

Our Wife

Our Wife · 1931

Oliver is making plans to marry his sweetheart Dulcy with Stan as his best man, but the plans are thwarted when Dulcy's father sees a picture of Ollie and forbids the marriage. The couple plan to elope, and run away to a Justice of the Peace. After typical Laurel and Hardy blundering, they manage to sneak the girl away from her father's house.

Father of the bride (uncredited)

She-Wolf of London

She-Wolf of London · 1946

She-Wolf of London

MovieMysteryHorror

A young heiress finds evidence suggesting that at night she acts under the influence of a family curse and has begun committing ghastly murders in a nearby park.

Constable (uncredited)

The Devil's Brother

The Devil's Brother · 1933

The Devil's Brother

MovieComedyMusic

Two wannabe bandits join the service of a dashing nobleman, who secretly masquerades as Fra Diavolo, a notorious outlaw.

Lord Rocburg

Royal Wedding

Royal Wedding · 1951

MovieMusicComedy

A brother and sister dance act encounter challenges and romance when booked in London during the Royal Wedding.

Cabby (uncredited)

Bonnie Scotland

Bonnie Scotland · 1935

Bonnie Scotland

Stan and Ollie stow away to Scotland expecting to inherit the MacLaurel estate. When things don't quite turn out that way, they unwittingly enlist in the Scottish army and are posted to India.

Sgt. Maj. Finlayson

Married Life

Married Life · 1920

Ben Turpin's rival marries his college sweetheart played by Phyllis Haver.

Man Who Made Good

Pack Up Your Troubles

Pack Up Your Troubles · 1932

Pack Up Your Troubles

The story begins in 1917 with Stan and Ollie being drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War I. While in the Army, the pair befriend a man named Eddie Smith, who is killed by the enemy during a battle. After the war is over, Stan and Ollie venture to New York City, where they begin a quest to reunite Eddie's little daughter with her rightful family. The task proves both monumental and problematic as the boys discover just how many people in New York have the last name Smith.

General

The Bohemian Girl

The Bohemian Girl · 1936

The Bohemian Girl

MovieComedyMusic

Stan and Ollie travel with a band of 18th-century Gypsies holding a nobleman's daughter.

Captain Finn

Angel

MovieRomanceDrama

While vacationing without her busy British diplomat husband, a married woman falls for another man.

Barker's 2nd Butler (uncredited)

In Dutch

In Dutch · 1918

Comedy short starring Alice Howell

Wife Tamers

Wife Tamers · 1926

Mr. Barry has a huge argument with his wife, and to make her jealous, he asks his valet to set him up with a pretty girl who is stranded in their neighborhood. He takes her out to dinner, but to his disgust he discovers that she lacks even one ounce of class and her table manners are frightening. Soon enough, Barrymore is reunited with his wife.

The Waiter

Saps at Sea

Saps at Sea · 1940

Stan and Ollie work in a horn factory. Ollie starts having violent fits every time he hears a horn. His doctor prescribes a restful sea voyage. Mayhem ensues.

Dr. J.H. Finlayson (uncredited)

Scorching Sands

Scorching Sands · 1923

Scorching Sands

The misadventures of two intrepid explorers in the Egyptian desert.

James