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Larry Semon
Director

Larry Semon

9 Feb 1889Born
8 Oct 1928Died
39Age at death
81Credits

Biography

American silent film comedian whose hugely successful career disappeared virtually overnight, Larry Semon was the son of a traveling vaudeville magician, Zera the Great. He grew up in show business and was trained in stage comedy and acrobatics. A talent for drawing and cartooning led to art school and then work as a cartoonist for various New York City newspapers. The humor evident in his published cartoons prompted executives at New York's Vitagraph Studios to hire him as a gag writer in 1916. He quickly proved himself and was promoted to director for the Hughie Mack series of comedies. His background in magic helped him create interesting new gags for the comedian.

Read the full biography

When Mack left the studio in 1917, Semon took over the starring role himself. His one-reelers were quite successful, and Vitagraph sent him to California to participate in its new West Coast operation. He produced as well as wrote, starred in and directed his own films, at the same time also producing films for other comics.

In the summer of 1928 Semon apparently fell ill with tuberculosis and simultaneously, it seems, suffered a nervous breakdown. He entered a sanitarium near San Bernardino, CA, where he reportedly died on October 8. However, an air of mystery surrounds his death, since his wife (and former co-star) Dorothy Dwan was allowed almost no contact with him and never saw his body, which was ordered cremated after a tightly secured funeral, which was carried out per Semon's "previous instructions" and to which almost no attendees were allowed. The whereabouts of Semon's cremated remains are to this day a mystery, and his widow professed until her death to be mystified by the circumstances of his passing. With enormous financial obligations facing him Larry Semon could easily have considered a dramatic escape of this sort from his creditors. Whether he did, or whether his death was the sad final chapter to a high-rising, briefly brilliant, but ultimately short-lived career may never be known for certain.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 81 credits.

  1. 1928A Simple SapFilm: It, Director
  2. 1928DummiesFilm: The Entertainer, Director
  3. 1927Oh, What a Man!Film: The Detective, Director
  4. 1927The Stunt ManFilm: Larry, Writer, Director
  5. 1927UnderworldFilm: Slippy Lewis
  6. 1927SpudsFilm: Spuds
  7. 1925The Perfect ClownFilm: Bert Larry
  8. 1925The CloudhopperFilm: Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn, Director
  9. 1925The Dome DoctorFilm: Peter Pep, Director
  10. 1925The Wizard of OzFilm: Scarecrow / Toymaker, Director, Writer
  11. 1924Kid SpeedFilm: The Speed Kid, Director, Writer
  12. 1924Her Boy FriendFilm: Larry, the Chief's son, Director
  13. 1924The Girl in the LimousineFilm: Tony, Director
  14. 1924Trouble BrewingFilm: Government agent, Director, Writer
  15. 1923HorseshoesFilm: Larry, Director
  16. 1923Lightning LoveFilm: Larry, a Suitor, Director, Writer
  17. 1923The Gown ShopFilm: Larry, a salesman, Director
  18. 1923The BarnyardFilm: Lay Zee, Farm Hand, Director, Writer
  19. 1923The Midnight CabaretFilm: Larry, a Waiter, Director, Writer
  20. 1923No Wedding BellsFilm: Larry, Director, Writer
  21. 1922The Counter JumperFilm: Larry, the Counter Jumper, Director, Writer
  22. 1922GolfFilm: The son, Director, Writer
  23. 1922A Pair of KingsFilm: King August / Stranger, Writer, Director
  24. 1922A Weakend DriverFilm: Director, Writer
  25. 1922The ShowFilm: The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker, Director, Writer
  26. 1922The SawmillFilm: The Dumb-Bell, Director, Writer
  27. 1921The Bell HopFilm: The Bellhop, Director
  28. 1921The Fall GuyFilm: Larry, the Fall Guy, Director
  29. 1921The BakeryFilm: Larry, a Bakery Clerk, Director, Writer
  30. 1921The Rent CollectorFilm: Larry, the Rent Collector, Director, Writer
  31. 1921The HickFilm: Larry, the Hick, Director
  32. 1921The SportsmanFilm: The Sportsman, Director
  33. 1920The SuitorFilm: The Suitor, Director
  34. 1920The Stage HandFilm: The Stage Hand, Director, Writer
  35. 1920School DaysFilm: Joe, Director, Writer
  36. 1920The Fly-CopFilm: The Fly Cop, Writer, Director
  37. 1919The Grocery ClerkFilm: The Grocery Clerk, Writer, Director
  38. 1919The Head WaiterFilm: The Head Waiter, Director, Writer
  39. 1919Dew Drop InnFilm: Larry, the Detective, Director
  40. 1919Dull CareFilm: Larry, a Detective, Director, Writer
  41. 1919Between the ActsFilm: Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard, Director
  42. 1919The Simple LifeFilm: A Farmer's Boy, Director
  43. 1919His Home Sweet HomeFilm: The Husband, Director
  44. 1919The Star BoarderFilm: Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict, Director, Writer
  45. 1919Passing the BuckFilm: The House Detective, Director
  46. 1919Well, I'll BeFilm: The Sheriff, Director
  47. 1919Scamps and ScandalsFilm: Larry, Director
  48. 1919Traps and TanglesFilm: Detective Sparks, Director
  49. 1918Pluck and PlottersFilm: The Janitor, Director
  50. 1918Frauds and FrenziesFilm: Larry, First Prisoner, Director
  51. 1918Bears and Bad MenFilm: Larry Cutshaw, Director, Writer
  52. 1918Huns and HyphensFilm: Larry, Director
  53. 1918Dunces and DangersFilm: Larry, Director
  54. 1918Bathing Beauties and Big BoobsFilm: Lawrence, Writer, Director
  55. 1918Skids and ScalawagsFilm: Director
  56. 1918Hindoos and HazardsFilm: Larry, Director
  57. 1918Romans and RascalsFilm: Caesar / A Minstrel, Director, Writer
  58. 1918Babes and BoobsFilm: A Boob, Director
  59. 1917Tough Luck and Tin LizziesFilm: Larry, Director
  60. 1917Plagues And Puppy LoveFilm: Larry, Director
  61. 1917Risks and RoughnecksFilm: Our Hero, Director
  62. 1917Gall and GolfFilm: O.U. Dubb, Director
  63. 1917Worries and WobblesFilm: Director
  64. 1917Turks and TroublesFilm: Director
  65. 1917Footlights and FakersFilm: Director
  66. 1917He Never Touched MeFilm: Director
  67. 1917Rips and RushesFilm: Director
  68. 1917Somewhere in Any PlaceFilm: Director
  69. 1917Big Bluffs and Bowling BallsFilm: Director
  70. 1917Jolts and JewelryFilm: Director
  71. 1917Bullies and BulletsFilm: Writer, Director
  72. 1917Plans and PajamasFilm: The Idler / Headmistress
  73. 1917Flatheads and FlivversFilm: Director
  74. 1916Hash and HavocFilm: Director
  75. 1916Walls and WallopsFilm: Director
  76. 1916A Villainous VillainFilm: Director
  77. 1916There and BackFilm: Director
  78. 1916The Man from EgyptFilm: Writer, Director
  79. 1916Losing WeightFilm: Director
  80. 1916Captain Jinks' EvolutionFilm: Director

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.