Stan Laurel

Stan Laurel
Laurel circa 1920
Born	Arthur Stanley Jefferson (1890-06-16)16 June 1890 Ulverston, Cumbria, UK
Died	23 February 1965(1965-02-23) (aged 74) Santa Monica, California, US
Cause of death	Heart attack
Other names	Stan Jefferson, Stanley Laurel
Occupation	Actor, writer, comedian, entertainer, film director
Years active	1910–1955
Spouse(s)	Lois Neilson (m.1926–1934; divorced) Virginia Ruth Rogers (m.1935–1937; 1941–1946; divorced twice) Vera Ivanova Shuvalova (m.1938–1940; divorced) Ida Kitaeva Raphael (m.1946–1965; his death)
Partner(s)	Mae Charlotte Dahlberg (1919–1925)
Children	2
Website	http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com/
Signature

Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, writer, and film director, most famous for his role in the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 short films, feature films, and cameo roles.

Laurel began his career in music hall, where he appropriated a number of his standard comic devices: the bowler hat, the deep comic gravity, and the nonsensical understatement. His performances polished his skills at pantomime and music hall sketches. Laurel was a member of "Fred Karno's Army," where he was Charlie Chaplin's understudy. With Chaplin, the two arrived in the US on the same ship from Britain with the Karno troupe. Laurel began his career in films in 1917 and made his last appearance in 1951. From 1928 onwards, he appeared exclusively with Oliver Hardy. Laurel officially retired from the screen following his comedy partner's death in 1957.

In 1961, Laurel was given a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award for his pioneering work in comedy. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. Laurel and Hardy ranked top among best double acts and seventh overall in a 2005 UK poll to find the Comedians' Comedian. In 2009, a bronze statue of the duo was unveiled in Laurel's hometown of Ulverston, Cumbria.

Arthur Stanley Jefferson was born in his grandparents' house on 16 June 1890 at 3 Argyle Street, Ulverston, Lancashire (now Cumbria), England. He had two brothers and a sister.

His parents Margaret (Metcalfe) and Arthur Jefferson were both active in the theatre and always very busy. In his early years, the boy spent much time living with his grandmother Sarah Metcalfe. He attended school at King James I Grammar School, Bishop Auckland, County Durham and the King's School, Tynemouth. He moved with his parents to Glasgow, Scotland, where he completed his education at Rutherglen Academy. His father managed Glasgow's Metropole Theatre, where Laurel began work. His boyhood hero was Dan Leno, one of the greatest English music hall comedians. With a natural affinity for the theatre, Laurel gave his first professional performance on stage at the Panopticon in Glasgow at the age of 16, where he polished his skills at pantomime and music hall sketches. It was the music hall from where he drew his standard comic devices, including his bowler hat and nonsensical understatement.