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
Scenario Writer
The Dome Doctor
Producer
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 Suitor
Lightning Love

Actor Larry, a Waiter
The Midnight Cabaret

Actor Larry
Horseshoes
Actor Larry
No Wedding Bells
Actor Larry, a salesman
The Gown Shop

Actor Lay Zee, Farm Hand
The Barnyard

Director
Lightning Love

Director
The Midnight Cabaret
Director
No Wedding Bells

Director
Horseshoes
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 King August / Stranger
A Pair of Kings
Actor Larry, the Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper

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

Writer
Golf

Producer
Golf

Writer
The Sawmill

Executive Producer
The Sawmill
Writer
A Weakend Driver

Director
The Show

Producer
The Show

Writer
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 Bell Hop

Director
The Rent Collector
Director
The Sportsman

Director
The Bakery

Director
The Fall Guy

Story
The Bell Hop

Producer
The Bell Hop

Producer
The Rent Collector

Writer
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 Larry, the Detective
Dew Drop Inn

Actor The Husband
His Home Sweet Home
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

Writer
The Grocery Clerk

Scenario Writer
The Simple Life

Scenario Writer
Between the Acts

Scenario Writer
Well, I'll Be

Director
The Simple Life

Scenario Writer
Passing the Buck

Director
Passing the Buck

Director
Between the Acts

Director
Scamps and Scandals
Director
Dull Care

Director
His Home Sweet Home

Director
Dew Drop Inn

Director
Traps and Tangles

Director
The Star Boarder

Director
The Grocery Clerk

Director
The Head Waiter

Scenario Writer
His Home Sweet Home

Scenario Writer
Scamps and Scandals

Director
Well, I'll Be

Writer
The Star Boarder
1918

Actor The Janitor
Pluck and Plotters

Actor Larry Cutshaw
Bears and Bad Men

Actor Larry
Huns and Hyphens

Actor Larry
Dunces and Dangers
Actor Caesar / A Minstrel
Romans and Rascals

Actor Larry, First Prisoner
Frauds and Frenzies

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
Bears and Bad Men

Director
Frauds and Frenzies
Director
Romans and Rascals

Director
Huns and Hyphens

Director
Dunces and Dangers
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
Actor
Turks and Troubles
Actor
Footlights and Fakers
Actor
He Never Touched Me
Actor
Somewhere in Any Place
Actor
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
Actor
Jolts and Jewelry

Actor
Bullies and Bullets
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
Director
Turks and Troubles
Scenario Writer
Turks and Troubles
Director
Footlights and Fakers
Scenario Writer
Footlights and Fakers
Director
He Never Touched Me
Scenario Writer
He Never Touched Me

Scenario Writer
Rips and Rushes
Director
Somewhere in Any Place
Scenario Writer
Somewhere in Any Place
Director
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
Scenario Writer
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
Director
Jolts and Jewelry
Scenario Writer
Jolts and Jewelry