Larry Semon
Known for Directing · 70 credits
- Born
- 1889-07-14
- Died
- 1928-10-08
- Place of birth
- West Point, Mississippi, USA
- 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.
Known For
Movies (70)
Go Straight!
1925
as Self
Underworld
1927
as Slippy Lewis
The Wizard of Oz
1925
as Scarecrow / Toymaker
The Bakery
1921
as Larry, a Bakery Clerk
Spuds
1927
as Spuds
The Show
1922
as The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker
Kid Speed
1924
as The Speed Kid
Gall and Golf
1917
as O.U. Dubb
Bears and Bad Men
1918
as Larry Cutshaw
The Fly-Cop
1920
as The Fly Cop
Huns and Hyphens
1918
as Larry
Her Boy Friend
1924
as Larry, the Chief's son
Walls and Wallops
1916
Turks and Troubles
1917
The Star Boarder
1919
as Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
The Bell Hop
1921
as The Bellhop
School Days
1920
as Joe
Trouble Brewing
1924
as Government agent
The Sawmill
1922
as The Dumb-Bell
Frauds and Frenzies
1918
as Larry, First Prisoner
Golf
1922
as The son
The Dome Doctor
1925
as Peter Pep
Well, I'll Be
1919
as The Sheriff
Footlights and Fakers
1917
Romans and Rascals
1918
as Caesar / A Minstrel
Lightning Love
1923
as Larry, a Suitor
A Simple Sap
1928
as It
The Counter Jumper
1922
as Larry, the Counter Jumper
Plagues And Puppy Love
1917
as Larry
No Wedding Bells
1923
as Larry
The Stage Hand
1920
as The Stage Hand
The Hick
1921
as Larry, the Hick
Horseshoes
1923
as Larry
He Never Touched Me
1917
The Girl in the Limousine
1924
as Tony
Jolts and Jewelry
1917
Dull Care
1919
as Larry, a Detective
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
1917
as Larry
The Rent Collector
1921
as Larry, the Rent Collector
The Barnyard
1923
as Lay Zee, Farm Hand
Passing the Buck
1919
as The House Detective
A Weakend Driver
1922
The Stunt Man
1927
as Larry
The Gown Shop
1923
as Larry, a salesman
The Sportsman
1921
as The Sportsman
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
1918
as Lawrence
Scamps and Scandals
1919
as Larry
Dunces and Dangers
1918
as Larry
Pluck and Plotters
1918
as The Janitor
A Pair of Kings
1922
as King August / Stranger
The Midnight Cabaret
1923
as Larry, a Waiter
Between the Acts
1919
as Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard
The Suitor
1920
as The Suitor
The Fall Guy
1921
as Larry, the Fall Guy
The Cloudhopper
1925
as Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
The Perfect Clown
1925
as Bert Larry
Dummies
1928
as The Entertainer
Bullies and Bullets
1917
His Home Sweet Home
1919
as The Husband
Dew Drop Inn
1919
as Larry, the Detective
The Grocery Clerk
1919
as The Grocery Clerk
Babes and Boobs
1918
as A Boob
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
1917
Oh, What a Man!
1927
as The Detective
The Head Waiter
1919
as The Head Waiter
Somewhere in Any Place
1917
The Simple Life
1919
as A Farmer's Boy
Risks and Roughnecks
1917
as Our Hero
Hindoos and Hazards
1918
as Larry
Traps and Tangles
1919
as Detective Sparks
About Larry Semon
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 di… With 70 credits spanning from 1916 to 1928, Larry Semon has appeared in 70 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Larry Semon movies, Larry Semon filmography, or the latest projects starring Larry Semon can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Larry Semon Movies
- Go Straight! (1925) — as Self
- Underworld (1927) — as Slippy Lewis
- The Wizard of Oz (1925) — as Scarecrow / Toymaker
- The Bakery (1921) — as Larry, a Bakery Clerk
- Spuds (1927) — as Spuds
Where to Watch Larry Semon Films
Most Larry Semon movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Larry Semon, check our movies catalogue and browse page.