Jimmy Finlayson

James Henderson "Jimmy" Finlayson (August 27 1887 – October 9 1953) was a Scottish-American 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 for Laurel and Hardy. Born in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland to pa... more

James Henderson "Jimmy" Finlayson (August 27 1887 – October 9 1953) was a Scottish-American 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 for Laurel and Hardy. Born in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland to parents Alexander and Isabella (Henderson) Finlayson , he attended George Watson's College before dropping 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 U.S. 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 married Emily Gilbert in July 1919 (per IMDb). He starred in numerous Mack Sennett-produced comedies, most notably as one of the original... less