Oliver Hardy: A History

Oliver Hardy's relationship with Harlem, Georgia

Norville Hardy was born in Harlem, Georgia, on January 18, 1892. After the death of his father, Norville's mother would move the family to Milledgeville, Georgia. Growing up, Norville had little to no interest in formal education, although he was successful in school; his interest was solely in music and acting. As a teenager, Norville began calling himself Oliver Norville Hardy, in honor of his late father whose name had been Oliver. ​

Between the years of 1910 and 1924, Oliver worked on various movies and short films, both directing them and acting in them. In 1925, he co-starred in a film called Yes, Yes, Nanette! directed by Stan Laurel. These two men would go on to make many short films together, their comedic acts rising in popularity between the years of 1927 and 1951, and they continued to make comedy history until Oliver's death in 1957.