Stan Laurel, who passed away on February 23, 1965, was a comedy icon who achieved international acclaim as part of the comedic duo Laurel and Hardy. An English-born actor and director, Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in Ulverston, Cumbria in 1890. He began his career in music hall, performing a comedy routine he had developed from his mother’s sheet music collection. After moving to the United States in 1917, an executive suggested he changes his name to Stan Laurel and he eventually joined Fred Karno’s company, alongside Charlie Chaplin. In 1927, Laurel and Oliver Hardy met on the set of the silent comedy The Horror and the two comedians quickly became an iconic act. The duo’s films included such classics as Sons of the Desert, The Music Box, and Way Out West. After Oliver Hardy’s death in 1957, Stan continued to act in theaters both in Europe and North America. His career reportedly brought him both fame and fortune, though he was reported to have downplayed it in his later years. In 1961, Laurel received an Academy Honorary Award, recognizing his tremendous contributions to the movie industry. He is survived by his daughter Lois de Frees, who currently resides in the United States.