'Stan & Ollie': the true story of Laurel and Hardy -

A new biopic is in the works, and will tell the story of Laurel & Hardy, the classic comedy duo. The film will follow their lives on and off-screen.

Click through this gallery for the facts behind the film.

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‘Stan & Ollie’ - ‘Stan & Ollie’ is the new biopic that’s sure to sweep awards during Oscar season. It is about the life and careers of comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

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Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel - Steve Coogan will star as Stan Laurel. Coogan is best known for his Alan Partridge character.

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John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy - Meanwhile, John C. Reilly joins as Oliver Hardy. The US star is known for dramas like ‘Magnolia’, as well as comedies such as ‘Step Brothers’. But what’s the real story behind ‘Stan & Ollie’?

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Stanley Jefferson - Stan Laurel was born Stanley Jefferson into a theatrical family in Ulverston, Lancashire.

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Famous connections - In 1910, he was an ambitious teenager who was the understudy for Charlie Chaplin.

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Name change -
Since a stage name with 13 letters spelled bad luck, Stanley changed his name to Stan Laurel and worked behind-the-scenes of American show business.

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Norvell Hardy - Meanwhile, the younger Oliver Hardy was born Norvell Hardy in Harlem, Georgia.

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A man of ambition - He was an ambitious actor who appeared in hundreds of films.

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All-Stars - Laurel was a last-minute replacement for one of Hardy’s partners for a comedy film. The two got along, and joined the comedy group “All-Stars”.

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Comedic chemistry - The two appeared in many All-Star comedies, before producers started noticing their unique chemistry.

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"Two minds without a single thought” -

By 1927, Laurel and Hardy was an established duo. Their routine involved being brainless buffoons, “two minds without a single thought”, as noted by Laurel.

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Making it big -

Through their goofy routines and hilarious performances, the duo became a huge success of the silent era. Hit films include ‘Liberty’ and ‘Big Business’.

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Both sides of the pond - The dawn of motion-picture sound could have threatened Laurel and Hardy, yet they still persevere. Laurel’s English accent gelled well with Hardy’s deep Southern dialect.

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Niches - Laurel’s niche was his whimpering cries, and his catchphrase “I couldn’t help it!”. Meanwhile, Hardy had an explosive acting presence.

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Prolific figures -

The duo starred in 40 sound shorts, including Oscar-winning comedy ‘The Music Box’.

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Laurel behind the camera -

The films and shows had a consistent feel, despite being credited to different directors. Laurel was said to be a de facto director for the films.

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Winning streak -

Laurel and Hardy were also popular in feature films like ‘Pardon Us’, ‘Toyland’, and ‘Way Out West’.

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Roach Studios - The duo remained loyal to Roach Studios, a smaller-sized company which gave them a generous amount of creative freedom.

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Working with the big guys - However, by the 1940s Laurel and Hardy were working with studios like Twentieth Century-Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

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General decline - These studios reportedly restricted the duo more than Roach did. It’s said that their comedy generally declined in quality.

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Still popular - Despite this, the duo were still popular with wartime audiences. Their final film together was ‘Atoll K’ in 1950.

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UK tour -

After that, they embarked on a tour of the UK, which turned out to be a late success for the duo.

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Together 'til the end - Despite being less prolific, the duo remained a team until Hardy passed away in 1957.

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Strict diet - The comedian had tried to take care of his health, even losing 150 pounds in a couple months.

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1892 - 1957 - However, he died in 1957 after, suffering a critical stroke the year before.

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“Babe would understand” - Laurel famously never attended Hardy’s funeral. He was quoted as saying “Babe would understand”.

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Honorary Oscar - Hardy was given an honorary Oscar in 1960, thanks to his contributions to film comedy.

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One of his own - The year after, Laurel received a Lifetime Achievement Oscar.

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Settling in Santa Monica - After that, Laurel laid low in Santa Monica, California. He was visited by comedians, and offered cameo roles, but he did not want to be seen on-screen without Hardy.

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1890 - 1965 -

Laurel died in 1965, four days after suffering a heart attack.

(Photo: Alan Light/Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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