Jimmy Finlayson
James Henderson "Jimmy" Finlayson (
August 27,
1887 Larbert,
Scotland -
October 9,
1953,
Los Angeles) was a
Scottish-American actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Bald, with a fake moustache, Finlayson was famous also for his squinting, outrageous "
double-take, and fade away" head reaction.
Born to parents Alexander and Isabella (Henderson) Finlayson
[Scotland Statutory Registers: Births in the Parish of Larbert in the County of Stirling, 1887 - page 51, Item #151], he dropped out of the
University of Edinburgh to pursue an acting career. He won the main role in the
West End production of
Bunty Pulls the Strings. He emigrated to the
United States in
1912 to reprise the role on
Broadway, and dropped out of a country-wide theatrical tour in
1916 to pursue a career in
Hollywood. He starred in numerous
Mack Sennett-produced comedies, most notably as one of the original
Keystone Kops.
However, he is most remembered for his work with
Hal Roach Studios. He played roles in 33
Laurel and Hardy films, usually as a villain or a person intent on getting revenge on the pair for getting in his way, especially in the films
Big Business (
1929), and
Way Out West (
1937). He also starred alongside
Stan Laurel in 19 films, and opposite
Oliver Hardy in 5 films before Laurel and Hardy were teamed together.
Actor
Dan Castellaneta, who provides the voice of
Homer Simpson in
The Simpsons, claims that Homer's catchphrase "
D'oh!" was based on a very similar utterance used by Finlayson in the Laurel and Hardy films. Finlayson used the phrase "D'Oh!" (although it is more drawn out than Homer Simpson's) in the Laurel and Hardy short film, "Me and My Pal" and many others.
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James Finlayson Biography*
Brief article with pictures*
Yes Yes Nanette Public Domain short comedy for free download
