Cast
Larry Semon
Directing
Cast
Larry Semon
Known for
Directing
Born
1889-07-14
From
West Point, Mississippi, USA
Died
1928-10-08
Also known as Lawrence Semon, Ларри Симон, Lawrence "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.
Go Straight!
as Self
Underworld
as Slippy Lewis
The Wizard of Oz
as Scarecrow / Toymaker
The Bakery
as Larry, a Bakery Clerk
Spuds
as Spuds
The Show
as The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker
Kid Speed
as The Speed Kid
Gall and Golf
as O.U. Dubb
Bears and Bad Men
as Larry Cutshaw
The Fly-Cop
as The Fly Cop
Huns and Hyphens
as Larry
Her Boy Friend
as Larry, the Chief's son
Walls and Wallops
Turks and Troubles
The Star Boarder
as Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
The Bell Hop
as The Bellhop
School Days
as Joe
Trouble Brewing
as Government agent
The Sawmill
as The Dumb-Bell
Frauds and Frenzies
as Larry, First Prisoner
Golf
as The son
The Dome Doctor
as Peter Pep
Well, I'll Be
as The Sheriff
Footlights and Fakers
Romans and Rascals
as Caesar / A Minstrel
Lightning Love
as Larry, a Suitor
A Simple Sap
as It
The Counter Jumper
as Larry, the Counter Jumper
Plagues And Puppy Love
as Larry
No Wedding Bells
as Larry
The Stage Hand
as The Stage Hand
The Hick
as Larry, the Hick
Horseshoes
as Larry
He Never Touched Me
The Girl in the Limousine
as Tony
Jolts and Jewelry
Dull Care
as Larry, a Detective
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
as Larry
The Rent Collector
as Larry, the Rent Collector
The Barnyard
as Lay Zee, Farm Hand
Passing the Buck
as The House Detective
A Weakend Driver
The Stunt Man
as Larry
The Gown Shop
as Larry, a salesman
The Sportsman
as The Sportsman
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
as Lawrence
Scamps and Scandals
as Larry
Dunces and Dangers
as Larry
Pluck and Plotters
as The Janitor
A Pair of Kings
as King August / Stranger
The Midnight Cabaret
as Larry, a Waiter
Between the Acts
as Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard
The Suitor
as The Suitor
The Fall Guy
as Larry, the Fall Guy
The Cloudhopper
as Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
The Perfect Clown
as Bert Larry
Dummies
as The Entertainer
Bullies and Bullets
His Home Sweet Home
as The Husband
Dew Drop Inn
as Larry, the Detective
The Grocery Clerk
as The Grocery Clerk
Babes and Boobs
as A Boob
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
Oh, What a Man!
as The Detective
The Head Waiter
as The Head Waiter
Somewhere in Any Place
The Simple Life
as A Farmer's Boy
Risks and Roughnecks
as Our Hero
Hindoos and Hazards
as Larry
Traps and Tangles
as Detective Sparks