Arthur Stanley Jefferson
was born in Ulverston,
Lancashire, England,
on June 16, 1890.

Because of his mother's illness his grandmother took care of him until he was about five or six, when Stan moved in with his father.

Stan was fascinated with all aspects of the theatre life. His favoured toys were all associated with the theatre. When he was about nine he built a theatre in the attic of his home, wrote his own plays and recruited the neighbourhood children as supporting players.

Stan debuted in a real theatre at the age of sixteen and shortly joined the Fred Karno theatrical troupe, one of the leading English music hall groups of the day.