Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel (1890–1965) was the thin, befuddled half of Laurel and Hardy, the comedy duo that dominated film comedy from the late 1920s through the 1940s.
Born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in England, Laurel played the childlike, bumbling partner to Oliver Hardy's exasperated fat man.
He was also the creative force behind their films, writing gags and directing scenes.
He did a Stan Laurel head-scratch when confused.
- silent eraFilmmaking before talkies
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- black and whiteWithout middle ground
- talkiesMovies with audible dialogue
intertitles · cinematography · studio system · classic cinema · motion picture · feature film · silver screen · shorts
- double actTwo performers working together
- duoTwo working together
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- straight manComedy duo's serious half
foil · pairing · costars · collaboration · routines · tandem · bickering · friendship
Comedic fall on buttocks
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- physical comedyHumor from bodily mishaps
- deadpanExpressionless, especially for humor
- bumblingClumsily incompetent
whimpering · head scratch · crying · slow burn · double take · gag · buffoonery · clowning
Venue for live entertainment
- varietyState of being diverse
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- actDeed or performance
- performerOne who entertains audiences
entertainer · troupe · revue · cabaret · touring · British · Lancashire · theatrical
Famous beyond ordinary measure
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- classicOf lasting excellence
- timelessUnaffected by eras
iconic · memorable · enduring · Oscar · honorary award · Chaplin · Keaton · inspiration
Oliver Hardy
- silent eraFilmmaking before talkies
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- black and whiteWithout middle ground
talkies · intertitles · cinematography · studio system · classic cinema · motion picture · feature film · silver screen · shorts · two-reeler
Oliver Hardy
- double actTwo performers working together
- duoTwo working together
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
straight man · foil · pairing · costars · collaboration · routines · tandem · bickering · friendship · contrast
pratfall
Comedic fall on buttocks
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- physical comedyHumor from bodily mishaps
- deadpanExpressionless, especially for humor
bumbling · whimpering · head scratch · crying · slow burn · double take · gag · buffoonery · clowning · antics
music hall
Venue for live entertainment
performer · entertainer · troupe · revue · cabaret · touring · British · Lancashire · theatrical · stage
legendary
Famous beyond ordinary measure
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- classicOf lasting excellence
timeless · iconic · memorable · enduring · Oscar · honorary award · Chaplin · Keaton · inspiration · archive
- comedianscomedian, stand-up, comic, stand-up comic, standup comic
Stan LaurelOliver Hardy
Groucho Marx · John Belushi · Mae West · Jackie Gleason · John Wayne