logo
James Finlayson: The actor who inspired Homer Simpson's 'D'oh!'

James Finlayson: The actor who inspired Homer Simpson's 'D'oh!'

BBC News11-03-2025

James Finlayson failed to make it as a lead man in Holywood but become one of the most memorable comic foils ever to grace the silver screen.The Scottish actor performed in more than 100 films but was best known for being the "third man" to Laurel and Hardy. With his distinctive fake moustache, he starred with the iconic duo in 33 of their films and later became the inspiration for Homer Simpson's "D'oh!" catchphrase.Now Finlayson has been memorialised with a new portrait in the Scottish theatre where he first tread the boards more than a century ago.
Dobbie Hall in his hometown of Larbert, Stirling, commissioned the oil painting to celebrate the actor's career and rise to international fame in the early days of cinema. The portrait by young artist Connor Draycott was unveiled by Finlayson's family, some of whom had travelled from the US for the occasion.They were joined by fans of the black and white movies and "talkies" from the UK chapters of Sons of the Desert, named after the fictional lodge that Laurel and Hardy belonged to in the 1933 film of the same name.
Finlayson, known as Fin to his fans and as Jimmy to his good friend Stan Laurel, was born in Larbert in 1887.He worked for a while as a tinsmith in his father's foundry before moving to Edinburgh to study and then pursue an acting career. At the age of 23 he was performing at the Theatre Royal, but his ambitions were not satisfied. After the death of his parents he moved to New York with his brother.Within the year he had landed a role on Broadway in The Great Game, for which reviews offered "nothing but praise".
In May 1912, the New York Dramatic Mirror said Finlayson had "an excellent opportunity, which he did not miss, for developing two characters in his one role - the simple, naive Scotsman and the artful, determined detective". It added: "The remarkable thing is that he managed to do them both at the same time."He took on another Scottish character in the Broadway production of Bunty Pulls the Strings, but pulled out of the national tour in 1916 when Holywood beckoned. By 1919 he was signed with the "King of Comedy" Mack Sennet, appearing as a Keystone Cop and lauded as a "legitimate and screen player of international celebrity".After a move to Hal Roach at Culver City in 1923, Finlayson was tested in different billings, sometimes in a lead role or as one of a comic trio with up-and-coming comics Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. He eventually found his niche as their established comic support or antagonist.
By the time he died aged 66 in 1953, he had more than 100 film credits to his name and his eccentric mannerisms were internationally recognised. The double-take, the squint then a one-eyed stare and raised eyebrow - Finlayson's madcap facial expressions became his trademark, along with the drawn-out "dohhhh".It inspired Dan Castellaneta when he voiced Homer in The Simpsons, which first aired in 1989. It is also said Finlayson's fake walrus moustache allowed him a degree of anonymity even in his heyday in Holywood.
The artist who created his new portrait said he toyed with the idea of picturing the actor without his famous facial hair. Draycott, who is studying fine art at Glasgow School of Art, was commissioned to produce the artwork by the Dobbie Hall Trust.It wanted to commemorate the Larbert man's global success and inspire young performers who appear in shows at the theatre.Draycott, 20, said it was an honour to be asked to create the portrait for the theatre.And he revealed he spent hours watching Finlayson's films to "recreate his trademark facial expression".
Draycott said: "James is such a well-known face among fans of black and white movies and I wanted to capture the distinctive look that made him a real superstar of his day." The award-winning artist said he was fascinated by Finlayson's look and story.He added: "There was initially some debate as to whether I should include his moustache in the portrait, as it was actually a false moustache that he wore specially for filming, but we decided that his moustache was such an integral part of his unique look that it should feature in the painting.""I like the fact that despite his face being so well-known during the 19040s and 50's he could apparently remove the moustache and walk around Hollywood without being recognised by members of the public."But now, thanks to his portrait, new generations in his hometown will recognise the young man from Larbert who followed his dream all the way to Holywood.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Harris Yulin, character actor and Broadway star, dies at 88
Harris Yulin, character actor and Broadway star, dies at 88

The Guardian

time2 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Harris Yulin, character actor and Broadway star, dies at 88

Harris Yulin, a character actor with more than 100 film and TV credits, has died at the age of 88. According to Deadline, his death was announced by family and his manager. He died on 10 June of a cardiac arrest in New York City. The Los Angeles-born actor appeared in films including Scarface, Ghostbusters II, Training Day, Rush Hour 2, Night Moves, Doc, Final Analysis, Multiplicity, The Hurricane, Bean and Clear and Present Danger. He was also known as a stage actor appearing on Broadway in productions of Hedda Gabler, The Price and The Diary of Anne Frank. He also directed a number of shows including The Glass Menagerie and won a Lucille Lortel award for his work behind the scenes on The Trip to Bountiful. On the small screen, Yulin's credits included Cagney and Lacey, Little House on the Prairie, an Emmy-nominated turn on Frasier, Entourage, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, Billions, And Just Like That and 12 episodes of Ozark. Before his death, Yulin was preparing for a role in TV series American Classic with Kevin Kline and Laura Linney. The series is focused on a Broadway actor who suffers a public meltdown. 'Harris Yulin was very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered,' said the show's director Michael Hoffman who had previously worked with Yulin on Michael Keaton comedy drama Game 6. 'His marriage of immense technique with an always fresh sense of discovery, gave his work an immediacy and vitality and purity I've experienced no where else. And what he was as an actor, he was as a man, the grace, the humility, the generosity. All of us at American Classic have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show.'

Scarface and Ghostbusters star Harris Yulin dies age 88
Scarface and Ghostbusters star Harris Yulin dies age 88

Metro

time3 hours ago

  • Metro

Scarface and Ghostbusters star Harris Yulin dies age 88

Harris Yulin, best known for his roles in Scarface and Ghostbusters II, has died at age 88, his family announced. The acclaimed actor starred in over 130 productions, including Bean (1997) and the long-running supernatural series Buffy The Vampire Slayer. His stint as Jerome Belasco, a crime boss on the beloved sitcom Frasier, earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 1996. Yulin was not only a prolific star of the silver screen but was also known for his roles on Broadway, including Hedda Gerba and The Diary of Anne Frank. He died on June 10 in New York City of a cardiac arrest, confirmed his family, according to Deadline. While he had taken a step back from acting in recent years, Yulin was due to start production in new MGM series American Classic. He would have had a starring role in the series alongside Kevin Kline and Laura Linney and was reportedly delighted to be taking part. More Trending Director Michael Hoffman shared: 'Harris Yulin was very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered. 'His marriage of immense technique with an always fresh sense of discovery, gave his work an immediacy and vitality and purity I've experienced no where else. And what he was as an actor, he was as a man, the grace, the humility, the generosity. 'All of us at American Classic have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Harvey Weinstein found guilty of sexual assault after bombshell retrial MORE: Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson dies aged 82 MORE: Brooke Shields podcast episode criticising Meghan Markle quietly removed from platforms

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store