Stan Laurel was a British actor, comedian, and filmmaker who was part of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. He is best known for his work in silent films and is considered one of the greatest comedians of all time. Stan Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in Ulverston, Lancashire, England in 1890. He began his career in music hall and theatre before joining the Hal Roach film studio in 1927. He went on to star in over 100 films with Oliver Hardy, and the pair became one of the most popular comedy teams of the early 20th century.