Stan Laurel

English actor (1890–1965)

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Source-basedRising

Lived 1890–1965, aged 75United Kingdom

United Kingdom ActorsActor

Wikipedia
58 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1890–1965
Aged 75
Known for
Sons of the Desert
1933

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

Half of the most enduring slapstick partnership in film history. With Oliver Hardy, he refined physical comedy into something both precise and absurd—107 films built on bowler hats, bewildered stares, and the rhythm of two men failing in perfect sync.

Biography

About

Born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in 1890, he came up through English music halls and joined Fred Karno's comedy troupe, where he understudied Charlie Chaplin before both sailed to America. He started making films in 1917, appeared opposite Oliver Hardy by chance in The Lucky Dog in 1921, but didn't officially partner with him until late 1927. From then the two were inseparable—107 short films, features, and cameos that turned tight-laced fumbling into an art form. Laurel worked through 1951, then retired after Hardy died in 1957. The 1961 Academy gave him an honorary Oscar for pioneering work in…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Stan Laurel

Stan Laurel

said25 Feb 1961

I don't see many people anymore. It's a long way out here to . And I can't go any place.

— As cited in James Bacon "French Mime Calls Stan 'Greatest'" (AP)/Binghamton Press (February 25, 1961), p. 15

Stan Laurel

said25 Feb 1961

We had different hobbies. He likes horses and golf. You know my hobby—and I married them all.

— As cited in James Bacon "French Mime Calls Stan 'Greatest'" (AP)/Binghamton Press (February 25, 1961), p. 15

Stan Laurel

said1961

I suppose we had very little of what you'd call family life. We were very seldom all together.

— p. 17

Stan Laurel

said1961

I wish they’d re-release ... I guess maybe I’d like to see it again because it has one beautifully funny sequence that I’ve never seen in movies, either before or since.

— p. 109

Stan Laurel

said1961