Larry Semon
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- February 9, 1889
- Died
- October 8, 1928
- Birthplace
- 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.
Filmography
A Simple Sap 1928
as It, Director
- Dummies
Dummies 1928
as The Entertainer, Director
Oh, What a Man! 1927
as The Detective, Director
The Stunt Man 1927
as Larry, Writer, Director
Underworld 1927
as Slippy Lewis
Spuds 1927
as Spuds, Producer
- A Dozen Socks
A Dozen Socks 1927
Scenario Writer
The Perfect Clown 1925
as Bert Larry
The Cloudhopper 1925
as Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn, Director, Producer
Go Straight! 1925
as Self
- The Dome Doctor
The Dome Doctor 1925
as Peter Pep, Producer, Scenario Writer, Director
The Wizard of Oz 1925
as Scarecrow / Toymaker, Director, Writer, Producer
Kid Speed 1924
as The Speed Kid, Director, Writer, Producer
Her Boy Friend 1924
as Larry, the Chief's son, Producer, Director
The Girl in the Limousine 1924
as Tony, Director, Producer
Trouble Brewing 1924
as Government agent, Director, Writer
Horseshoes 1923
as Larry, Director
Lightning Love 1923
as Larry, a Suitor, Director, Writer
The Gown Shop 1923
as Larry, a salesman, Director
The Barnyard 1923
as Lay Zee, Farm Hand, Director, Writer
The Midnight Cabaret 1923
as Larry, a Waiter, Director, Producer, Writer
- No Wedding Bells
No Wedding Bells 1923
as Larry, Director, Writer, Producer
- The Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper 1922
as Larry, the Counter Jumper, Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
Golf 1922
as The son, Director, Producer, Writer
A Pair of Kings 1922
as King August / Stranger, Producer, Writer, Director
- A Weakend Driver
A Weakend Driver 1922
Actor, Director, Writer
The Show 1922
as The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker, Director, Writer, Producer
The Sawmill 1922
as The Dumb-Bell, Director, Writer, Executive Producer
The Bell Hop 1921
as The Bellhop, Director, Producer, Story
The Fall Guy 1921
as Larry, the Fall Guy, Director, Story
The Bakery 1921
as Larry, a Bakery Clerk, Director, Writer, Producer
The Rent Collector 1921
as Larry, the Rent Collector, Director, Writer, Producer
The Hick 1921
as Larry, the Hick, Director
The Sportsman 1921
as The Sportsman, Director, Story, Scenario Writer
The Suitor 1920
as The Suitor, Director
The Stage Hand 1920
as The Stage Hand, Director, Writer, Producer
School Days 1920
as Joe, Director, Writer, Producer
The Fly-Cop 1920
as The Fly Cop, Writer, Director
The Head Waiter 1919
as The Head Waiter, Director, Writer
The Grocery Clerk 1919
as The Grocery Clerk, Writer, Director
Dew Drop Inn 1919
as Larry, the Detective, Director
Dull Care 1919
as Larry, a Detective, Director, Writer
Between the Acts 1919
as Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard, Scenario Writer, Director
The Simple Life 1919
as A Farmer's Boy, Director, Scenario Writer
His Home Sweet Home 1919
as The Husband, Director, Scenario Writer
The Star Boarder 1919
as Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict, Director, Writer
Passing the Buck 1919
as The House Detective, Scenario Writer, Director
Well, I'll Be 1919
as The Sheriff, Scenario Writer, Director
Scamps and Scandals 1919
as Larry, Director, Scenario Writer
Traps and Tangles 1919
as Detective Sparks, Director
Pluck and Plotters 1918
as The Janitor, Director
Frauds and Frenzies 1918
as Larry, First Prisoner, Director
Bears and Bad Men 1918
as Larry Cutshaw, Director, Writer
Huns and Hyphens 1918
as Larry, Director
Dunces and Dangers 1918
as Larry, Scenario Writer, Director
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs 1918
as Lawrence, Writer, Director
- Skids and Scalawags
Skids and Scalawags 1918
Director
Hindoos and Hazards 1918
as Larry, Director, Scenario Writer
- Romans and Rascals
Romans and Rascals 1918
as Caesar / A Minstrel, Director, Scenario Writer, Writer
Babes and Boobs 1918
as A Boob, Director
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies 1917
as Larry, Director
- Plagues And Puppy Love
Plagues And Puppy Love 1917
as Larry, Director
Risks and Roughnecks 1917
as Our Hero, Director
- Gall and Golf
Gall and Golf 1917
as O.U. Dubb, Director
Worries and Wobbles 1917
Director
- Turks and Troubles
Turks and Troubles 1917
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
- Footlights and Fakers
Footlights and Fakers 1917
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
- He Never Touched Me
He Never Touched Me 1917
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Rips and Rushes 1917
Director, Scenario Writer
- Somewhere in Any Place
Somewhere in Any Place 1917
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
- Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls 1917
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
- Jolts and Jewelry
Jolts and Jewelry 1917
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Bullies and Bullets 1917
Actor, Writer, Director
- Flatheads and Flivvers
Flatheads and Flivvers 1917
Director
- Plans and Pajamas
Plans and Pajamas 1917
as The Idler / Headmistress
- Hash and Havoc
Hash and Havoc 1916
Director
- Walls and Wallops
Walls and Wallops 1916
Actor, Director
- A Villainous Villain
A Villainous Villain 1916
Story, Director
- There and Back
There and Back 1916
Director, Scenario Writer
The Man from Egypt 1916
Writer, Director
- Losing Weight
Losing Weight 1916
Director
Captain Jinks' Evolution 1916
Director
The Baby and the Boss 1915
Director
Credits from TMDB.