Stan Laurel

Birth Name: Arthur Stanley Jefferson

Date of Birth: 16 June, 1890

Place of Birth: Ulverston, Lancashire, England, U.K.

Date of Death: 23 February, 1965

Place of Death: Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: English

Stan Laurel was an English comic actor, writer, film director, and music hall, stage show, and pantomime performer. He often worked with Oliver Hardy, as part of comedy duo act Laurel & Hardy; the two mostly performed slapstick comedy. Also known as Stan and Ollie, they worked together for 30 years, in 107 filmed projects, feature films, short films, and cameos; first appearing in the same work in the short The Lucky Dog, and officially teaming in 1927, with the short Putting Pants on Philip. Their other works included the films Sons of the Desert and Atoll K, and the short Galaxy of Stars. They often wore bowler hats. Their signature song was “The Cuckoo Song”/Ku-Ku”/”The Dance of the Cuckoos.” Stan was also assistant director on the film Raggedy Rose. He was also billed as Stanley Laurel and Stan Jefferson.

Stan was the son of Margaret “Madge” and Arthur J. Jefferson. He moved to the U.S. in the 1910s, appearing with “Fred Karno’s Army,” a comedy troupe. He was married to Ida Kitaeva Raphael, until his death. He had two children with his former wife, actress Lois Neilson.

Stan’s paternal grandfather was named Christopher Jefferson.

Stan’s paternal grandmother was named Harriet Wilson.

Stan’s maternal grandfather was named George Metcalfe.

Stan’s maternal grandmother was named Sarah Shaw.

Source: Genealogy of Stan Laurel – http://www.geni.com