Larry Semon

Personal Info

Known For

Directing

Born

July 14, 1889

Died

October 8, 1928 (age 39)

Place of Birth

West Point, Mississippi, USA

Also Known As

Lawrence Semon

Ларри Симон

Lawrence "Larry" Semon

Larry Semon

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. 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

1928FilmA Simple Sapas It1928FilmDummiesas The Entertainer1927FilmOh, What a Man!as The Detective1927FilmThe Stunt Manas Larry1927FilmUnderworldas Slippy Lewis1927FilmSpudsas Spuds1925FilmThe Perfect Clownas Bert Larry1925FilmThe Cloudhopperas Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn1925FilmGo Straight!as Self1925FilmThe Dome Doctoras Peter Pep1925FilmThe Wizard of Ozas Scarecrow / Toymaker1924FilmKid Speedas The Speed Kid1924FilmHer Boy Friendas Larry, the Chief's son1924FilmThe Girl in the Limousineas Tony1924FilmTrouble Brewingas Government agent1923FilmHorseshoesas Larry1923FilmLightning Loveas Larry, a Suitor1923FilmThe Gown Shopas Larry, a salesman1923FilmThe Barnyardas Lay Zee, Farm Hand1923FilmThe Midnight Cabaretas Larry, a Waiter1923FilmNo Wedding Bellsas Larry1922FilmThe Counter Jumperas Larry, the Counter Jumper1922FilmGolfas The son1922FilmA Pair of Kingsas King August / Stranger1922FilmA Weakend Driver1922FilmThe Showas The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker1922FilmThe Sawmillas The Dumb-Bell1921FilmThe Bell Hopas The Bellhop1921FilmThe Fall Guyas Larry, the Fall Guy1921FilmThe Bakeryas Larry, a Bakery Clerk1921FilmThe Rent Collectoras Larry, the Rent Collector1921FilmThe Hickas Larry, the Hick1921FilmThe Sportsmanas The Sportsman1920FilmThe Suitoras The Suitor1920FilmThe Stage Handas The Stage Hand1920FilmSchool Daysas Joe1920FilmThe Fly-Copas The Fly Cop1919FilmThe Grocery Clerkas The Grocery Clerk1919FilmThe Head Waiteras The Head Waiter1919FilmDew Drop Innas Larry, the Detective1919FilmDull Careas Larry, a Detective1919FilmBetween the Actsas Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard1919FilmThe Simple Lifeas A Farmer's Boy1919FilmHis Home Sweet Homeas The Husband1919FilmThe Star Boarderas Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict1919FilmPassing the Buckas The House Detective1919FilmWell, I'll Beas The Sheriff1919FilmScamps and Scandalsas Larry1919FilmTraps and Tanglesas Detective Sparks1918FilmPluck and Plottersas The Janitor1918FilmFrauds and Frenziesas Larry, First Prisoner1918FilmBears and Bad Menas Larry Cutshaw1918FilmHuns and Hyphensas Larry1918FilmDunces and Dangersas Larry1918FilmBathing Beauties and Big Boobsas Lawrence1918FilmHindoos and Hazardsas Larry1918FilmRomans and Rascalsas Caesar / A Minstrel1918FilmBabes and Boobsas A Boob1917FilmTough Luck and Tin Lizziesas Larry1917FilmPlagues And Puppy Loveas Larry1917FilmRisks and Roughnecksas Our Hero1917FilmGall and Golfas O.U. Dubb1917FilmTurks and Troubles1917FilmFootlights and Fakers1917FilmHe Never Touched Me1917FilmSomewhere in Any Place1917FilmBig Bluffs and Bowling Balls1917FilmJolts and Jewelry1917FilmBullies and Bullets1916FilmWalls and Wallops

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