Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
August 26, 1887
Died
October 9, 1953 (age 66)
Place of Birth
Larbert, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK
Also Known As
Jimmy Finlayson
Jimmie Finlayson
Jim Finlayson
James Henderson Finlayson
Jimmy Finalyson
James Finlayson
Biography
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.
A tribute to James Finlayson
VideoKnown For
Film
The Mystery Man
1923
Film
Bonnie Scotland
Sgt. Maj. Finlayson
1935
Film
Married Life
Man Who Made Good
1920
Film
Pardon Us
Schoolteacher
1931
Film
To Be or Not to Be
Scottish Farmer with Mustache (uncredited)
1942
Film
Sure-Mike!
The Floorwalker
1925
Film
Block-Heads
Man on Stairs
1938
Film
The prince of the dollar
1930
Film
Foreign Correspondent
Dutch Peasant (uncredited)
1940
Film
Wife Tamers
The Waiter
1926
Film
Scorching Sands
James
1923
Film
Unfriendly Enemies
The Cameraman
1925
Film
Frozen Hearts
General Sappovitch
1923
Film
Show Girl
Mr. Dugan
1928
Film
Our Wife
Father of the bride (uncredited)
1931
Film
Newly Rich
1922
Film
A Chump at Oxford
Baldy Vandevere (uncredited)
1940
Film
Thieves
1930
Film
Playing at Politics
Criado
1931
Film
In Dutch
1918
Filmography
2002FilmLaurel & Hardy - Highlights1990FilmThe Laurel & Hardy Story: An Affectionate Rememberenceas Self (archive footage)1982FilmDance of the Cookoosas Man with Toothache / Christmas Tree Customer1968FilmThe Best of Laurel and Hardyas Meadows / Dulcy's Father / Fin (archive footage)1967FilmThe Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy1964FilmThe Big Parade of Comedyas Sergeant Major Finlayson in 'Bonnie Scotland' (archive footage)1952FilmHere We Go Againas Plato's Rival1951FilmThe Slappiest Days of Our Livesas (archive footage)1951FilmRoyal Weddingas Cabby (uncredited)1948FilmGrand Canyon Trailas Sheriff1947FilmThe Perils of Paulineas Comic Chef1946FilmTwo Sisters from Bostonas Street Cleaner (uncredited)1946FilmShe-Wolf of Londonas Constable (uncredited)1943FilmYanks Ahoyas Cook Flynn (uncredited)1943FilmHappy Times and Jolly Momentsas (archive footage)1942FilmWedding Yellsas Hammerhead Nahl1942FilmTo Be or Not to Beas Scottish Farmer with Mustache (uncredited)1940FilmForeign Correspondentas Dutch Peasant (uncredited)1940FilmSaps at Seaas Dr. J.H. Finlayson (uncredited)1940FilmA Chump at Oxfordas Baldy Vandevere (uncredited)1939FilmThe Great Victor Herbertas Lamplighter1939FilmRafflesas Hansom Cab Driver (uncredited)1939FilmThe Flying Deucesas Jailor1939FilmHollywood Cavalcadeas Keystone Cop1939FilmDog-Goneas Mr. Jones1938FilmBlock-Headsas Man on Stairs1937FilmAngelas Barker's 2nd Butler (uncredited)1937FilmAll Over Townas MacDougal1937FilmThe Toast of New Yorkas Trick-Hat Inventor (uncredited)1937FilmPick a Staras Director1937FilmWay Out Westas Mickey Finn1936FilmOur Relationsas Finn1936FilmThe Bohemian Girlas Captain Finn1935FilmMGM 1935 Promo Reelas Manager1935FilmLife Hesitates at 40as Dr. James Finlayson1935FilmManhattan Monkey Businessas Joyce's Father1935FilmBonnie Scotlandas Sgt. Maj. Finlayson1935FilmThicker Than Wateras Auction Manager1935FilmFather and Sonas Bidad1933FilmDick Turpinas Jeremy1933FilmSo This Is Harris!as Golf Pro1933FilmThe Gay Nightiesas Mr. Amos Pipp1933FilmMush and Milkas Mr. Brown, the banker1933FilmThe Druggist's Dilemmaas Andrew Finch1933FilmThe Devil's Brotheras Lord Rocburg1933FilmHis Silent Racketas James1933FilmMe and My Palas Peter Cucumber1933FilmNature in the Wrongas Voice of lion (uncredited)1932FilmJitters the Butleras Phineas P. McPhinn1932FilmBoy Oh Boy!as Saunders1932FilmThe Millionaire Catas Lawyer Fogg1932FilmPack Up Your Troublesas General1932FilmThe Iceman's Ballas Commissioner Walters1932FilmThunder Belowas Scotty1932FilmThe Chimpas Ringmaster (uncredited)1931FilmHasty Marriageas Kitty's Father1931FilmScratch-As-Catch-Can1931FilmOne Good Turnas A Community Player1931FilmFalse Roomersas Landlord1931FilmBeach Pajamas1931FilmPardon Usas Schoolteacher1931FilmStout Hearts and Willing Handsas Kop(as the Original Keystone Kops)1931FilmOne of the Smithsas Wine Brewer (uncredited)1931FilmOur Wifeas Father of the bride (uncredited)1931FilmPlaying at Politicsas Criado1931FilmSecond Hand Kissesas Jimmy Finlayson1931FilmChickens Come Homeas Butler (uncredited)1930FilmDon't Leave Home1930FilmAnother Fine Messas Col. Wilburforce Buckshot (uncredited)1930FilmThe prince of the dollar1930FilmGold Diggers1930FilmDollar Dizzyas House Detective1930FilmFor the Defenseas Parrott1930FilmThe Dawn Patrolas Field Sergeant1930FilmYoung Eaglesas Scotty1930FilmThieves1930FilmNight Owlsas Meadows1929FilmWall Streetas Andy (as Jimmy Finalyson)1929FilmThe Hoose-Gowas Governor (uncredited)1929FilmHard to Getas Pa Martin1929FilmMen O' Waras Soda jerk1929FilmTwo Weeks Offas Pa Weaver1929FilmBig Businessas Homeowner (uncredited)1929FilmLibertyas Store keeper1929FilmFast Freightas Spooky Wall Painting1928FilmShow Girlas Mr. Dugan1928FilmLady Be Goodas Trelawney West1928FilmLadies' Night in a Turkish Bathas Pa Slocum1928FilmBachelor’s Paradiseas Pat Malone1928FilmGalloping Ghostsas Police Commissioner1928FilmFlying Elephantsas Saxophonus (uncredited)1928FilmShould Tall Men Marry?as Joe Skittle1927FilmFighting Fathersas Neighbor1927FilmDo Detectives Think?as Judge Foozle (uncredited)1927FilmHats Offas Proprietor, Kwickway Washing Machine Co.1927FilmCall of the Cuckooas Asylum Inmate1927FilmThe Second 100 Yearsas Browne Van Dyke1927FilmSugar Daddiesas Oil tycoon Cyrus Brittle1927FilmWith Love and Hissesas Captain Bustle1927FilmDon't Tell Everythingas Lawyer Goldblum1927FilmLove 'Em and Weepas Titus Tillsbury1927FilmNo Man's Lawas Jack Belcher1927FilmForgotten Sweeties1927FilmOne Hour Married1927FilmSeeing the Worldas 'Old Buzz-Fuzz,' teacher1927FilmAnything Once!as Mabel's Boss1926FilmThe Nickel-Hopperas Rupert1926FilmRaggedy Roseas Simpson Sniffle1926FilmWise Guys Prefer Brunettesas Dean of Pinkham University1926FilmMerry Widoweras The Hunter1926FilmThundering Fleasas Justice of the Peace1926FilmDon Key (Son of Burro)as Vivien's Suitor1926FilmWife Tamersas The Waiter1926FilmDizzy Daddiesas Jonathan Haig1926FilmMadame Mysteryas Struggling Author1926FilmWhat's the World Coming To?as The Father-in-Law1926FilmA Punch in the Nose1925FilmFlaming Flappers1925FilmThe Caretaker's Daughteras The Prohibition Sleuth (as Jimmie Finlayson)1925FilmMoonlight and Nosesas Professor Sniff1925FilmUnfriendly Enemiesas The Cameraman1925FilmMary, Queen of Totsas Radio Actor1925FilmMadame Sans Janeas The Girl's Father1925FilmInnocent Husbandsas The Desk Clerk (as Jimmie Finlayson)1925FilmYes, Yes, Nanetteas Hillory, the new husband1925FilmChasing the Chaseras Gilroy (the husband)1925FilmThundering Landlordsas The Landlord1925FilmIn the Greaseas Father1925FilmTell It to a Policeman1925FilmSure-Mike!as The Floorwalker1925FilmWelcome Home1925FilmThe Haunted Honeymoon1925FilmHard Boiled1925FilmChange the Needle1924FilmShort Kiltsas McGregor's Son1924FilmWhy Husbands Go Mad1924FilmWide Open Spacesas Jack McQueen1924FilmRupert of Hee-Hawas Rupert of Hee Haw1924FilmNear Dublinas Sir Patrick1924FilmBrothers Under the Chin1924FilmZeb vs. Paprikaas Major Glanders Botts1924FilmPostage Dueas Postal Inspector Hawke1924FilmSmithyas Sergeant1923FilmMother's Joyas Baron Buttontop1923FilmFully Insuredas The Foreman1923FilmScorching Sandsas James1923FilmThe Soilersas Smacknamara1923FilmThe Whole Truthas Defense lawyer1923FilmFrozen Heartsas General Sappovitch1923FilmJus' Passin' Throughas Drunk (uncredited)1923FilmRoughest Africaas Hans Downe1923FilmA Man About Townas Humko, Store Detective1923FilmPitfalls of a Big Cityas The Hired Man1923FilmHollywoodas James Finlayson1923FilmThe Mystery Man1923FilmOranges and Lemonsas Worker1923FilmJack Frostas Wicked Man from the Wicked City1923FilmWhere's My Wandering Boy This Evening?as The Hired Man1923FilmCourtship of Miles Sandwichas Miles Sandwich1923FilmPick and Shovelas The Foreman1923FilmSold at Auction!as The Man Who WAS Sold1923FilmWhite Wingsas Dental Patient1923FilmCalifornia or Bustas Campground neighbor1923FilmThe Noon Whistle1923FilmBefore the Public1923FilmA Tough Winter1922FilmNewly Rich1922FilmThe Crossroads of New Yorkas Lawyer1921FilmHard Knocks and Love Tapsas Plato's Rival1921FilmShe Sighed by the Seasideas 1st Suitor1921FilmA Small Town Idolas J. Wellington Jones1920FilmLove, Honor and Behaveas Artist1920FilmDon't Weaken!as Lightfingered Luke - Professor Yonson's Assistant1920FilmMarried Lifeas Man Who Made Good1920FilmDown on the Farmas The Sportive Banker with the Mortgage1919FilmUp in Alf's Placeas The Dancing Instructor1919FilmTrying to Get Alongas The Beauty Parlor Operator1919FilmYankee Doodle in Berlinas Commander's Officer (uncredited)1918FilmIn Dutch—FilmThe World of Laurel and Hardy