Stan Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson on 16 June 1890 in Ulverston, England (UK). The son of a British showman, he had been raised in English music halls. In 1910 he made his first trip to America as a member of the Fred Karno musical-comedy troupe, which also included Charlie Chaplin. Laurel stayed in the United States, touring in vaudeville and landing an occasional movie job.

Oliver Hardy was born Norvell Hardy on 18 January 1892 in Harlem, Georgia (USA). He had been destined for a military career, but opened a movie theatre in Milledgeville, Georgia, instead. He next found work as an actor in Jacksonville, Florida, home of the Lubin film company. Hardy later moved to Hollywood, and by the mid 1920s, he was working as an all-purpose comic at the Hal Roach studio.

Laurel and Hardy's partnership at the Hal Roach studio began in 1926. Within a year of their first joint appearance, they were being touted as the new comedy team. After collaborating on many silent films, they took the transition to the talking film in stride. As their success spread throughout the world, they began making feature films as well and won an Oscar for their short subject entitled The Music Box (1932).

After the team left the Hal Roach studio, they formed their own production company but were unable to repeat the success they had enjoyed under the guidance of Hal Roach. Oliver Hardy died on 7 August 1957, Stan Laurel on 23 February 1965.

(more information at: www.laurel-and-hardy.com)