Directing · West Point, Mississippi, USA · Born July 14, 1889
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.
MovieA Simple Sap
1928
as It
Dummies
1928
as The Entertainer
MovieOh, What a Man!
1927
as The Detective
MovieThe Stunt Man
1927
as Larry
MovieUnderworld
1927
as Slippy Lewis
MovieSpuds
1927
as Spuds
MovieThe Perfect Clown
1925
as Bert Larry
MovieThe Cloudhopper
1925
as Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
MovieGo Straight!
1925
as Self
The Dome Doctor
1925
as Peter Pep
MovieThe Wizard of Oz
1925
as Scarecrow / Toymaker
MovieKid Speed
1924
as The Speed Kid
MovieHer Boy Friend
1924
as Larry, the Chief's son
MovieThe Girl in the Limousine
1924
as Tony
MovieTrouble Brewing
1924
as Government agent
MovieHorseshoes
1923
as Larry
MovieLightning Love
1923
as Larry, a Suitor
MovieThe Gown Shop
1923
as Larry, a salesman
MovieThe Barnyard
1923
as Lay Zee, Farm Hand
MovieThe Midnight Cabaret
1923
as Larry, a Waiter
No Wedding Bells
1923
as Larry
The Counter Jumper
1922
as Larry, the Counter Jumper
MovieGolf
1922
as The son
MovieA Pair of Kings
1922
as King August / Stranger
A Weakend Driver
1922
MovieThe Show
1922
as The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker
MovieThe Sawmill
1922
as The Dumb-Bell
MovieThe Bell Hop
1921
as The Bellhop
MovieThe Fall Guy
1921
as Larry, the Fall Guy
MovieThe Bakery
1921
as Larry, a Bakery Clerk
MovieThe Rent Collector
1921
as Larry, the Rent Collector
MovieThe Hick
1921
as Larry, the Hick
MovieThe Sportsman
1921
as The Sportsman
MovieThe Suitor
1920
as The Suitor
MovieThe Stage Hand
1920
as The Stage Hand
MovieSchool Days
1920
as Joe
MovieThe Fly-Cop
1920
as The Fly Cop
MovieThe Grocery Clerk
1919
as The Grocery Clerk
MovieThe Head Waiter
1919
as The Head Waiter
MovieDew Drop Inn
1919
as Larry, the Detective
MovieDull Care
1919
as Larry, a Detective
MovieBetween the Acts
1919
as Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard
MovieThe Simple Life
1919
as A Farmer's Boy
MovieHis Home Sweet Home
1919
as The Husband
MovieThe Star Boarder
1919
as Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
MoviePassing the Buck
1919
as The House Detective
MovieWell, I'll Be
1919
as The Sheriff
MovieScamps and Scandals
1919
as Larry
MovieTraps and Tangles
1919
as Detective Sparks
MoviePluck and Plotters
1918
as The Janitor
MovieFrauds and Frenzies
1918
as Larry, First Prisoner
MovieBears and Bad Men
1918
as Larry Cutshaw
MovieHuns and Hyphens
1918
as Larry
MovieDunces and Dangers
1918
as Larry
MovieBathing Beauties and Big Boobs
1918
as Lawrence
MovieHindoos and Hazards
1918
as Larry
Romans and Rascals
1918
as Caesar / A Minstrel
MovieBabes and Boobs
1918
as A Boob
MovieTough Luck and Tin Lizzies
1917
as Larry
Plagues And Puppy Love
1917
as Larry
MovieRisks and Roughnecks
1917
as Our Hero
Gall and Golf
1917
as O.U. Dubb
Turks and Troubles
1917
Footlights and Fakers
1917
He Never Touched Me
1917
Somewhere in Any Place
1917
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
1917
Jolts and Jewelry
1917
MovieBullies and Bullets
1917
Walls and Wallops
1916
