Oliver Hardy is scheduled this morning to marry Marion Bardell, daughter of oil magnate James Finlayson. Ollie's best man -- comparatively -- is Stan Laurel, who has brought a jigsaw puzzle along before they head off to the wedding.
While Stan and Ollie could create a classic comedy short with just the two of them and a prop, there's also a lot of laughs to be had with someone to tangle with, and Finn was a frequent and exasperated opponent. He was headed for a business career when a friend talked him out of Edinburgh University and onto the stage. He came to America in 1911, entered the movies in 1916, and by 1920 was working for Sennett. In 1923, he came to the Hal Roach lot, where it was thought he could become a star comic. By 1927, that was proven wrong, but his contributions as a supporting comic are legendary. His last appearance in more than 250 shorts and features was in 1952. He died the following year, age 66.
While Stan and Ollie could create a classic comedy short with just the two of them and a prop, there's also a lot of laughs to be had with someone to tangle with, and Finn was a frequent and exasperated opponent. He was headed for a business career when a friend talked him out of Edinburgh University and onto the stage. He came to America in 1911, entered the movies in 1916, and by 1920 was working for Sennett. In 1923, he came to the Hal Roach lot, where it was thought he could become a star comic. By 1927, that was proven wrong, but his contributions as a supporting comic are legendary. His last appearance in more than 250 shorts and features was in 1952. He died the following year, age 66.