Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy Facts
| Sign | Capricorn |
| Born |
Jan 18, 1892 Harlem, GA |
| Died |
Aug 7, 1957 North Hollywood, CA |
| Age | Died at 65 |
| Total Facts | 40 |
Billy Wilder planned on doing a film with him and Stan Laurel in the 1950s. The film would have opened with each of them sleeping in one of the letter O's of the Hollywood sign. The plot centered on a woman coming between them. The project was aborted owing to Ollie's failing health.
A heavy smoker, Hardy had been suffering from heart problems since the filming of Utopia (1951), and his weight had ballooned from 250 to 350 lbs.
A man of many interests, Hardy was an excellent cook, card player, golfer, singer, and dancer, and unlike "Ollie", was always impeccably tailored. Off camera, he and Laurel both combed their hair straight back, as was the fashion of their time.
A popular Lakeside Country Club foursome consisted of Oliver Hardy, Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields and Babe Ruth.
According to letters written by Stan Laurel, Hardy had advanced cancer at the time of his death from two strokes.
Although he often insisted he was not a big eater, friends says Hardy's favorite meal was a 32-ounce steak medium well, potatoes fried in pure lard, a salad, and a pot of coffee.
An avid sportsman, Hardy became interested in hunting. After he shot his first deer, he walked to the animal expecting to field-dress it. However, the deer was still alive, and looked Hardy directly in the eyes. He never picked up a gun again.
Appears on sleeve of The Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.
Best known for his work with Stan Laurel.
Despite rumors over the years, he did not die from the effects of obesity--quite the contrary. Dieting on doctor's orders, he took off too much weight too fast, going from 300+ pounds to 150 in a matter of a few weeks, weakening his constitution well past the danger point. It was becoming dangerously underweight in this manner that brought about his final illness and death.
Entered St. Vincent's Hospital to have his tonsils removed the day after filming wrapped on Babes in Toyland (1934).
Had a mild heart attack in May 1954.
He and partner Stan Laurel have been and continue to be very popular in Germany under the name of "Dick und Doof" (Fatty and Stupid).
He and partner Stan Laurel have been and continue to be very popular in Hungary under the name of "Stan és Pan".
He and partner Stan Laurel have been and continue to be very popular in Spain, Mexico and Latin America under the name of "El Gordo y El Flaco" (The Fat One and The Thin One).
He was the only child of Oliver Hardy and his second wife; both of them had two children from an earlier marriage; Oliver had two boys, and his second wife had two girls.
He was voted, along with comedy partner Stan Laurel, the 45th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
His father, also named Oliver Hardy, was a successful lawyer who died when Norvell, as he was known to his family, was ten months old. At a time when few women had careers, his mother supported the family by running a highly successful hotel.
His favourite pastime was playing golf, which he learned from comedian Larry Semon.
His given first name was Norvell, the name his family always used. He took the name Oliver in respect for his father, who died when Norvell was still an infant. He also liked the "over the top" sound of introducing himself as "Oliver Norvell Hardy" in the films.
His voice in the Italian version of his and Stan Laurel's shorts and features was that of Alberto Sordi.
In 1930, he lived at 621 North Alta Drive in Beverly Hills.
Interred at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California, USA.
Is portrayed by John Fox in Harlow (1965/II)
Laurel and Hardy's films had and still have great success in Italy, where they are known as "Stanlio and Ollio". Their voices being dubbed into Italian in a very funny and colorful way accentuates their funny lines.
Lucille Hardy tells the story of Babe, her brother, and several others building elaborate chicken coops for the birds they raised. In true Laurel and Hardy fashion, they were too big to move out the door of the shed where they had been built, and had to be taken apart and reconstructed outside.
Oliver Hardy was born in the town of Harlem, Georgia on January 18, 1892. Although the building no longer stands, a plaque was placed in front of the city hall in his memory.
Oliver Hardy's father, Oliver, was a Confederate veteran wounded at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862.
Related to Captain Hardy (as in "Kiss me Hardy" - Nelson).
Shared the nickname "Babe" with another beloved comedian of his time - Jerome "Curly" Howard. Hardy was named by a Florida barber because of his "baby" face; Howard by his family because he was the youngest, or "baby".
Still popular in Brazil where he and partner Stan Laurel are known as "O Gordo e O Magro" (Fat and Skinny).
Subject of one of five 29¢ US commemorative postage stamps celebrating famous comedians, issued in booklet form 29 August 1991. He is shown with his partner Stan Laurel. The stamp designs were drawn by caricaturist Al Hirschfeld. The other comedians honored in the set are Edgar Bergen (with alter ego Charlie McCarthy), Jack Benny, Fanny Brice, and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
Suffered a severe stroke on 12 September 1956 that left him paralyzed and unable to speak.
The annual "Oliver Hardy Festival" is held in Harlem, Georgia. http://www.harlemga.org/ohfest.htm
There is a small Laurel and Hardy Museum in Hardy's hometown of Harlem, Georgia at 250 N. Louisville Street. The museum opened on July 15, 2000. The website address is www.laurelandhardymuseum.org
Throughout their association with Hal Roach, Laurel and Hardy had separate contracts, with Stan's salary being considerably higher than Babe's. This didn't bother Hardy one bit, as he acknowledged that Stan did much more than he during the making of their films.
Used Babe Hardy for a screen name until convinced by a numerologist that the longer screen name, Oliver Hardy, would bring him success.
Was a member of the Lakeside Country Club and a close friend of John Wayne and Bing Crosby.
Was in over 400 movies.
When Ollie died in 1957, his partner, Stan Laurel, pledged he would never perform again. Despite offers, he never did.