John McCabe (writer)

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John McCabe (November 14, 1920 – September 27, 2005), born John Charles McCabe III, was a Shakespearean scholar and author, whose first book was the authorized biography of Laurel and Hardy.

His Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy. first published in 1961, is credited with helping establish the critical reputation of the comedy duo. He also wrote individual books on Stan Laurel (The Comedy World of Stan Laurel) and Oliver Hardy (Babe: The Life of Oliver Hardy). A professor at Lake Superior State University, Dr. McCabe was founder and "Exhausted Ruler" of the international Laurel and Hardy society, the The Sons of the Desert, named after one of the team's films.

Dr. McCabe was known as a show-business biographer. His other books include Cagney by Cagney (1976), the ghostwritten autobiography of James Cagney; George M. Cohan: The Man Who Owned Broadway (1973); Charlie Chaplin (1978), and Cagney (1997), an authorized biography.

His first wife, Peggy Richards, met him while they were both involved in The Catholic Theater of Detroit in the 1940s. Together they produced, directed and acted in numerous summer stock productions in Milford, Pennsylvania. In 1962, John married Vija Zarina, a Latvian dancer/choreographer. She passed away in 1985. They had three children.

Late in life Dr. McCabe married the former Rosina Lawrence, one of Laurel & Hardy's movie co-stars. The McCabes divided their time between British Landing, Mackinac Island (where McCabe had been a professor in residence at Mackinac College) and New York.

McCabe died just before the Sons of the Desert were due to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

[edit] Bibliography

Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy: An Affectionate Biography. Doubleday, 1961; reprint edition, Robson Books, Ltd., 1976; revised edition, New American Library, 1985. ISBN 1-86105-606-0
The Comedy World of Stan Laurel. Doubleday, 1974; reprint edition, Past Times, 1990. ISBN 1-86105-780-6
Babe: The Life of Oliver Hardy. Citadel Press, 1990; reprint edition, Robson Books, 2004. ISBN 1-86105-781-4
Cagney. Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. ISBN: 0-679-44607-9

Not to be confused with British novelist John McCabe, author of comic thrillers "Stickleback," "Herding Cats," and "Big Spender."