James Finlayson (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Finlayson
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Finlayson in 1923
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| Born |
James Henderson Finlayson
27 August 1887 Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland
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| Died | 9 October 1953 (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, US
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1910–1951 |
| Spouse(s) |
Emily Cora Gilbert
(m. 1919) |
James Henderson Finlayson (born August 27, 1887 – died October 9, 1953) was a Scottish actor. He was famous for acting in both silent movies and early sound comedies.
Finlayson was bald and often wore a fake mustache. He had many funny ways of acting. He was known for his squinting eyes, surprised "double take" head movement, and his special sound, "d'ooooooh". He is best remembered as a funny sidekick to the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
People called him by different names. His friends called him Jimmy or Jim. Today, many people simply call him 'Fin'.
Contents
Early Life and Stage Acting
James was born in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His parents were Alexander and Isabella Finlayson. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a tinsmith, making things from metal.
In 1910, he started acting in plays. He performed in a play called Jeanie Deans in Edinburgh.
In 1911, when he was 24, both his parents had passed away. He moved to the United States with his brother, Robert. In New York City in 1912, he played a detective in a play called The Great Game. People said he was great at playing two different characters at once: a simple Scottish man and a clever detective.
He later acted in a Broadway play called Bunty Pulls the Strings. In 1916, he left a national tour to start acting in movies in Hollywood.
Becoming a Film Star
James Finlayson arrived in Los Angeles in 1916. He quickly found work in movies at different studios.
In 1919, he signed a contract with Mack Sennett Comedies. He appeared in many comedies made by Sennett. This included movies with the famous Keystone Kops.
A newspaper article from 1920 called Finlayson an "international celebrity." It praised his funny and powerful acting in the movie Down on the Farm.
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Finlayson even asked his friend Andy Clyde from Scotland to come to America. Clyde arrived in 1922 and became a well-known actor at Sennett's studio. However, Finlayson himself left Sennett's studio later that year.
Working at Hal Roach Studios
Finlayson was soon hired by Hal Roach, another big movie studio owner. Roach gave him supporting roles in comedies starring Snub Pollard and Stan Laurel.
When Harold Lloyd, a big star, moved on to longer movies, Roach tried to create new comedy series. He was successful with Charley Chase. He also tried with James Finlayson, but it didn't quite work out.
In 1927, Finlayson got equal billing with rising stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Some ads even called them a "famous comedy trio." But a director named Leo McCarey saw how well Laurel and Hardy worked together. He decided to focus on them as a duo.
By 1928, Laurel and Hardy had their own starring movies. Still, many people thought Finlayson was a very important part of the Laurel and Hardy team.
Finlayson acted in 33 Laurel and Hardy films. He usually played a bad guy or someone who caused trouble. Some of these movies include Big Business (1929) and Way Out West (1937).
Before Laurel and Hardy teamed up, Finlayson also starred with Stan Laurel in 19 movies. He appeared with Oliver Hardy in five films. He was in many other Hal Roach Studio films with actors like Charley Chase and Ben Turpin. He also appeared in several Our Gang shorts. In Mush and Milk, he had a funny phone conversation with Spanky McFarland.
Later in his career, Finlayson had small, uncredited roles in movies. These included Foreign Correspondent (1940) and Royal Wedding (1951). He often appeared in movies that brought back silent film stars, like Hollywood Cavalcade (1939).
Personal Life and Passing
James Finlayson married Emily Cora Gilbert in 1919. She was from Iowa in the United States. He became a US citizen in 1942.
English actress Stephanie Insall and Finlayson often had breakfast together. One morning in October 1953, Finlayson did not show up. Insall knew he had been sick with the flu. She went to his home and found that he had passed away. James Finlayson died from a heart attack. He was 66 years old.
His Lasting Impact
One of Finlayson's famous sayings was a long "dohhhhhhh!" He used this sound when he was annoyed or surprised.
Many years later, this sound inspired Dan Castellaneta. He is the voice actor for Homer Simpson on The Simpsons. When recording for a TV show, Castellaneta needed to make an "annoyed grunt." He made it sound like Finlayson's "dohhhhhhh." The show's creator, Matt Groening, liked it but wanted it faster. So, Castellaneta shortened it to the quick "D'oh!" that Homer Simpson uses today.
Art and Tributes
James Finlayson's name, "Jimmy Finlayson," is part of the Catchphases 1 mosaic. This artwork is next to the Blackpool Tower in England. It includes a star with "D'OH!" on it.
The Scottish Film Council placed a plaque honoring James in Bo'ness Library. This was part of a silent film festival in 2019.
Portrayals in Movies
James Finlayson has been played by other actors in films.
- In the 2018 movie Stanley: a Man of Variety, English actor Timothy Spall played Finlayson.
- In the 2018 movie Stan & Ollie, which is about Laurel and Hardy, Scottish actor Keith MacPherson played Finlayson. This was during a scene showing the filming of Way Out West.
Sons of the Desert Fan Club
In 2019, a special group called a "tent" was started in Glasgow, Scotland. It is part of the Sons of the Desert fan club, which celebrates Laurel and Hardy. This tent was formed by and for relatives of James Finlayson. They named it Our Relations after a Laurel and Hardy film.
Selected Films
James Finlayson appeared in many films throughout his career. Here are some notable ones:
- Down on the Farm (1920)
- The Noon Whistle (1923) - with Stan Laurel
- Hollywood (1923) - as himself
- The Second Hundred Years (1927) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Big Business (1929) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Night Owls (1930) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Pardon Us (1931) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Pack Up Your Troubles (1932) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Fra Diavolo (1933) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Mush and Milk (1933) - with Our Gang
- Bonnie Scotland (1935) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Our Relations (1936) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Way Out West (1937) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Block-Heads (1938) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) - as himself
- A Chump at Oxford (1939) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Saps at Sea (1940) - with Laurel and Hardy
- Foreign Correspondent (1940)
- To Be or Not to Be (1942)
- The Perils of Pauline (1947)
- Royal Wedding (1951)
Images for kids
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Finlayson in 1923
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Still from Down on the Farm (1920)
See also
In Spanish: Jimmy Finlayson para niños
