Nobody else could look into camera with that expression of long-suffering.
And the double take was (and is) his alone
Played 'heavies' before being teamed up with Laurel in 1927 (Putting Pants on Philip). This began a series of shorts which will never be equalled and akin to the other great comedy short duo, Tom and Jerry.
Hardy had moved into films in 1913 from being a cinema owner. He had dropped out of Law School to open it.
A fat man by almost any standard, he had grace and balance, the only way you can keep hitting the water bucket every time.
They stopped working together in 1945. A comeback in 1950 with Robinson Crusoeland (aka Atoll K, Utopia and Escapade) was not a success in their terms and a second comeback was being put together when Hardy suffered a crippling stroke in 1954.