Stan's early years were spent living with his grandmother, Sarah Metcalfe, in Ulverston. The family moved frequently, as A.J. owned and managed a number of different theatres. Stan attended school in Bishop Auckland. At an early age, he sought out a stage career. A.J. built his son a play theatre in the attic of the home. Stan frequently staged plays and sketches as a pastime when a child. It has been said that he once almost burned the house down, when one of the oil lamps used to light the stage set the curtains on fire.

Arthur Stanley's birth date is sometimes shown as 1895. This however, is incorrect. It is possible that this year has been cited due to a Christening record bearing this date. After a difficult birth, Arthur Stanley was thought unlikely to survive and a hurried, private Christening was performed. The child did survive, but with other children being born and careers in the making, it wasn't until he was five years old, that a more formal second Christening was held.

Laurel and Hardy's partnership at the Hal Roach studio began in 1926. Within a year of their first joint appearance, they were being touted as the new comedy team.

Stan Laurel was married to four women: Louis Neilson (1926-1935), later with Virginia Ruth Rogers (1935-1937). They first married in 1934 before Stan's divorce was confirmed. A second ceremony to confirm the marriage took place in 1935. Later with Vera Ivanova Shuvalova
(1938-1940), they underwent three marriage ceremonies in 1938, the second in the mistaken belief that the first was not valid and the third in a Russian Orthodox Church. Later with Virginia Ruth Roger (1941-1946) again!, and finally with Ida Kitaeva Raphael (1946-1965) who survived him.
Stan Laurel died in February 23rd 1965 following a hearth attack. Stan's final resting place is in Burbank at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery.