Larry Semon
Known For: Directing
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: July 14, 1889
Day of Death: October 8, 1928 (39 years old)
Place of Birth: West Point, Mississippi, USA
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. 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.
1928
1927
1925
Actor Scarecrow
The Wizard of Oz
Actor Self
Go Straight!
Actor Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
The Cloudhopper
Actor Bert Larry
The Perfect Clown
Actor Peter Pep
The Dome Doctor
Director
The Wizard of Oz
Director
The Cloudhopper
Writer
The Wizard of Oz
Producer
The Dome Doctor
Scenario Writer
The Dome Doctor
Producer
The Cloudhopper
Director
The Dome Doctor
Producer
The Wizard of Oz
1924
Actor The Speed Kid
Kid Speed
Actor Larry, the Chief's son
Her Boy Friend
Actor Tony
The Girl in the Limousine
Actor Government agent
Trouble Brewing
Director
Kid Speed
Producer
Her Boy Friend
Director
Her Boy Friend
Writer
Kid Speed
Producer
Kid Speed
Director
The Girl in the Limousine
Director
Trouble Brewing
Writer
Trouble Brewing
Producer
The Girl in the Limousine
1923
Actor Larry, a salesman
The Gown Shop
Actor Larry
Horseshoes
Actor Larry, a Waiter
The Midnight Cabaret
Actor Larry, a Suitor
Lightning Love
Actor Larry
No Wedding Bells
Actor Lay Zee, Farm Hand
The Barnyard
Director
No Wedding Bells
Director
The Midnight Cabaret
Director
Horseshoes
Director
Lightning Love
Director
The Gown Shop
Director
The Barnyard
Writer
The Barnyard
Producer
The Midnight Cabaret
Writer
The Midnight Cabaret
Writer
Lightning Love
1922
Actor The Dumb-Bell
The Sawmill
Actor The son
Golf
Actor
A Weakend Driver
Actor Larry, the Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper
Actor King August / Stranger
A Pair of Kings
Actor The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker
The Show
Director
The Sawmill
Director
Golf
Producer
A Pair of Kings
Writer
A Pair of Kings
Director
A Weakend Driver
Director
The Counter Jumper
Director
A Pair of Kings
Producer
Golf
Writer
Golf
Writer
The Sawmill
Executive Producer
The Sawmill
Writer
A Weakend Driver
Director
The Show
Writer
The Show
Producer
The Show
1921
Actor Larry, the Hick
The Hick
Actor Larry, a Bakery Clerk
The Bakery
Actor Larry, the Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
Actor Larry, the Rent Collector
The Rent Collector
Actor The Bellhop
The Bell Hop
Actor The Sportsman
The Sportsman
Director
The Hick
Director
The Bakery
Director
The Bell Hop
Director
The Fall Guy
Director
The Sportsman
Director
The Rent Collector
Producer
The Bell Hop
Story
The Bell Hop
Writer
The Rent Collector
Producer
The Rent Collector
Story
The Fall Guy
Writer
The Bakery
Producer
The Bakery
1920
1919
Actor A Farmer's Boy
The Simple Life
Actor The House Detective
Passing the Buck
Actor Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard
Between the Acts
Actor Larry
Scamps and Scandals
Actor Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
The Star Boarder
Actor The Grocery Clerk
The Grocery Clerk
Actor The Husband
His Home Sweet Home
Actor Larry, the Detective
Dew Drop Inn
Actor Larry, a Detective
Dull Care
Actor Detective Sparks
Traps and Tangles
Actor The Head Waiter
The Head Waiter
Actor The Sheriff
Well, I'll Be
Scenario Writer
Between the Acts
Writer
The Grocery Clerk
Director
The Simple Life
Scenario Writer
The Simple Life
Scenario Writer
Well, I'll Be
Scenario Writer
Passing the Buck
Director
Passing the Buck
Director
Scamps and Scandals
Director
Between the Acts
Director
Dew Drop Inn
Director
Traps and Tangles
Director
Dull Care
Director
His Home Sweet Home
Director
The Star Boarder
Director
The Grocery Clerk
Director
The Head Waiter
Scenario Writer
Scamps and Scandals
Scenario Writer
His Home Sweet Home
Director
Well, I'll Be
Writer
The Star Boarder
1918
Actor The Janitor
Pluck and Plotters
Actor Caesar / A Minstrel
Romans and Rascals
Actor Larry Cutshaw
Bears and Bad Men
Actor Larry
Huns and Hyphens
Actor Larry, First Prisoner
Frauds and Frenzies
Actor Larry
Dunces and Dangers
Actor Lawrence
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
Actor Larry
Hindoos and Hazards
Scenario Writer
Dunces and Dangers
Writer
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
Director
Pluck and Plotters
Director
Romans and Rascals
Director
Dunces and Dangers
Director
Huns and Hyphens
Director
Bears and Bad Men
Director
Frauds and Frenzies
Scenario Writer
Romans and Rascals
Director
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
Director
Hindoos and Hazards
Director
Skids and Scalawags
Writer
Romans and Rascals
Writer
Bears and Bad Men
1917
Actor Larry
Plagues And Puppy Love
Actor O.U. Dubb
Gall and Golf
Actor Our Hero
Risks and Roughnecks
Actor Larry
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
Director
Flatheads and Flivvers
Writer
Bullies and Bullets
Director
Plagues And Puppy Love
Director
Gall and Golf
Director
Rips and Rushes
Director
Bullies and Bullets
Director
Worries and Wobbles
Director
Risks and Roughnecks
Director
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
