Lois Neilson


Lois Neilson Laurel was an American silent movie actress who became actor and comedian Stan Laurel's first wife.

Early life and career

She was born in Tulare, California. Her family moved to Santa Cruz, California in 1909, where she entered high school in 1910. She acted in high school drama productions alongside ZaSu Pitts. Pitts invited Neilson to join her in Hollywood in 1918, where she began to appear in silent films. She and Laurel both appeared in Do You Love Your Wife? in 1919.

Personal life

Neilson and Laurel began sharing her apartment in 1925, and married on August 13, 1926. Their daughter, also named Lois, was born on December 10, 1927. Their son, also named Stanley, was born two months premature in 1930, and lived for only nine days. Neilson and Laurel divorced in December 1934. Through her daughter, she was the mother-in-law of actor Rand Brooks, best remembered for his role of Charles Hamilton in the movie Gone with [the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind].

Death

Neilson died in Los Angeles at the age of 94 from natural causes. Daughter Lois died in 2017 at age 89.