"Fin"

JAMES FINLAYSON ("Fin")

b. August 27, 1887, d. October 9, 1953
Appeared with Laurel and Hardy in 33 films.

Other Notable Films: Married Life (1920), Lady Be Good (1928), Wall Street (1929), The Dawn Partol (1930), Feet First (1930), The Great Victor Herbert (1939), To Be or Not to Be (1942), Royal Wedding (1951)
 

Finlayson got his start on the stage in his native Scotland. A role in a touring production (circa 1912) brought him to America where he decided to stay and try his luck in films. Throughout the late teens and early twenties, he was a journeyman comic actor, appearing in dozens of two-reel comedies as well as feature films for Mack Sennett. He signed with Hal Roach in 1923 where he was to play numerous leads and supporting roles.     "Fin," as he was known to friends and fans, was probably Laurel and Hardy's best-known and most beloved regular supporting player. His explosive temper and exaggerated double-takes contrasted perfectly with Stan and Ollie's easy pace. His most memorable roles came in the silent classic Big Business, while the feature WAY OUT WEST provided him with what was probably his best-ever role in films.

JAMES FINLAYSON'S FILMS WITH LAUREL AND HARDY SHORTS: Love 'Em and Weep (Titus Tillbury) With Love and Hisses (Captain Bustle) Do Detectives Think? (Judge Foozle) Flying Elephants (Saxophonus) Sugar Daddies (Cyrus Brittle) The Second Hundred Years (Governor Browne Van Dyke) Call of the Cuckoos (one of the cuckoos) Hats Off (Owner of Kwickway Washing Machine Company) Liberty (Owner of Record Shop) Big Business (Homeowner) Men O' War (Soda Jerk), The Hoosegow (The Governor) Night Owls (Meadows the butler) Another Fine Mess (Colonel Wilberforce Buckshot) Chickens Come Home (Hardy's butler) Our Wife (Father of the Bride) One Good Turn (local community theater actor) Any Old Port (Captain, cut from film) The Chimp (circus ringmaster) Me and My Pal (Peter Cucumber) Thicker Than Water (landlord) FEATURES: PARDON US (Prison Teacher) PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES (General) THE DEVIL'S BROTHER (Lord Rocberg) BONNIE SCOTLAND (Sergeant Major) THE BOHEMIAN GIRL (Captain) OUR RELATIONS (Chief Engineer) WAY OUT WEST (Mickey Finn) PICK A STAR (Director) BLOCK-HEADS (annoyed neighbor) THE FLYING DEUCES (Jailer) A CHUMP AT OXFORD (Baldy Vandevere) SAPS AT SEA (Doctor)