What you didn't know
During a guest appearance on The Tonight Show on 16 November 2005, Laurie revealed that he once tried hydrocodone (Vicodin) in order to get into character for his role as Dr. House.
In the late 1990s, Laurie concluded he was clinically depressed, a diagnosis that was later confirmed in analysis and treated successfully. Laurie first recognized the extent of his depression when he realized the car race he was in neither excited nor scared him. His comedy partner Stephen Fry is similarly burdened, instead with bi-polar disorder.
Laurie was cast as The Daily Planet editor, Perry White, in the film Superman Returns by director Bryan Singer, but was unable to play the role due to his prior commitment to the second season of House. (The series is backed by Bryan Singer's production company, Bad Hat Harry Productions.)
Laurie admires the writings of P.G. Wodehouse: he explained in a 27 May 1999 article in The Daily Telegraph how reading Wodehouse novels had saved his life.
Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, originally wanted him to play Arthur Dent for the film adaptation. A deal was almost in place to have Hugh play Dent, along with Jim Carrey as Zephod and Jay Roach directing, before Adams' untimely death.