What was Stan Laurel like in real life?

 First of all the real Stan Laurel was twenty times brighter than his screen image!

I have read that he was a bit of workaholic, used to stay at the Hal Roach studios quite late and work over the editing of a film. Like any average comedian, Laurel’s own picture of what is the comedy movie looked like. He therefore expected those that worked with him to share his vision. Incidently, sometimes this might result in tension. Laurel though didn’t interfere into anyone’s work on the film set. With the writing, slapstick directing, he would see what happened. If there is anything that Laurel doesn’t like, it will be suggested. He was known to the fans for personally answering his own fan mail. Laurel never employed a secretary. He never declined to sign an autograph, as far as I know. He certainly must have been more attuned to his public than his own comparison, Charlie Chaplin.