Directing
Larry Semon
EN, XX, IT cinema · 83 credits
Born
9 February 1889
Died
8 October 1928 (aged 39)
Birthplace
West Point, Mississippi, USA
Also known as Lawrence Semon · Ларри Симон · Lawrence "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 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
Dummies
1928
Dummies
as The Entertainer, Director
A Simple Sap
as It, Director
Underworld
as Slippy Lewis
The Stunt Man
as Larry, Writer, Director
Oh, What a Man!
as The Detective, Director
Spuds
as Spuds, Producer
A Dozen Socks
1927
A Dozen Socks
Scenario Writer
The Wizard of Oz
as Scarecrow / Toymaker, Director, Writer, Producer
Go Straight!
as Self
The Cloudhopper
as Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn, Director, Producer
The Perfect Clown
as Bert Larry
The Dome Doctor
1925
The Dome Doctor
as Peter Pep, Scenario Writer, Producer, Director
Kid Speed
as The Speed Kid, Director, Writer, Producer
Her Boy Friend
as Larry, the Chief's son, Producer, Director
The Girl in the Limousine
as Tony, Director, Producer
Trouble Brewing
as Government agent, Director, Writer
Lightning Love
as Larry, a Suitor, Director, Writer
The Midnight Cabaret
as Larry, a Waiter, Director, Writer, Producer
No Wedding Bells
1923
No Wedding Bells
as Larry, Director, Writer, Producer
Horseshoes
as Larry, Director
The Gown Shop
as Larry, a salesman, Director
The Barnyard
as Lay Zee, Farm Hand, Director, Writer
The Sawmill
as The Dumb-Bell, Director, Writer, Executive Producer
Golf
as The son, Director, Writer, Producer
A Weakend Driver
1922
A Weakend Driver
Actor, Director, Writer
The Counter Jumper
1922
The Counter Jumper
as Larry, the Counter Jumper, Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
A Pair of Kings
as King August / Stranger, Writer, Producer, Director
The Show
as The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker, Director, Writer, Producer
The Hick
as Larry, the Hick, Director
The Bakery
as Larry, a Bakery Clerk, Director, Writer, Producer
The Rent Collector
as Larry, the Rent Collector, Director, Writer, Producer
The Bell Hop
as The Bellhop, Director, Story, Producer
The Sportsman
as The Sportsman, Director, Story, Scenario Writer
The Fall Guy
as Larry, the Fall Guy, Director, Story
School Days
as Joe, Director, Writer, Producer
The Suitor
as The Suitor, Director
The Fly-Cop
as The Fly Cop, Writer, Director
The Stage Hand
as The Stage Hand, Director, Writer, Producer
The Simple Life
as A Farmer's Boy, Director, Scenario Writer
Passing the Buck
as The House Detective, Scenario Writer, Director
Between the Acts
as Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard, Scenario Writer, Director
Scamps and Scandals
as Larry, Director, Scenario Writer
The Star Boarder
as Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict, Director, Writer
The Grocery Clerk
as The Grocery Clerk, Writer, Director
His Home Sweet Home
as The Husband, Director, Scenario Writer
Dew Drop Inn
as Larry, the Detective, Director
Dull Care
as Larry, a Detective, Director, Writer
Traps and Tangles
as Detective Sparks, Director
The Head Waiter
as The Head Waiter, Director, Writer
Well, I'll Be
as The Sheriff, Scenario Writer, Director
Pluck and Plotters
as The Janitor, Director
Bears and Bad Men
as Larry Cutshaw, Director, Writer
Romans and Rascals
1918
Romans and Rascals
as Caesar / A Minstrel, Director, Scenario Writer, Writer
Frauds and Frenzies
as Larry, First Prisoner, Director
Huns and Hyphens
as Larry, Director
Dunces and Dangers
as Larry, Scenario Writer, Director
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
as Lawrence, Writer, Director
Hindoos and Hazards
as Larry, Director, Scenario Writer
Babes and Boobs
as A Boob, Director
Plagues And Puppy Love
1917
Plagues And Puppy Love
as Larry, Director
Gall and Golf
1917
Gall and Golf
as O.U. Dubb, Director
Risks and Roughnecks
as Our Hero, Director
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
as Larry, Director
Turks and Troubles
1917
Turks and Troubles
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Footlights and Fakers
1917
Footlights and Fakers
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
He Never Touched Me
1917
He Never Touched Me
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Somewhere in Any Place
1917
Somewhere in Any Place
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
1917
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Jolts and Jewelry
1917
Jolts and Jewelry
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
Bullies and Bullets
Actor, Writer, Director
Plans and Pajamas
1917
Plans and Pajamas
as The Idler / Headmistress
Rips and Rushes
Director, Scenario Writer
Worries and Wobbles
Director
Walls and Wallops
1916
Walls and Wallops
Actor, Director
The Man from Egypt
Writer, Director
There and Back
1916
There and Back
Director, Scenario Writer
A Villainous Villain
1916
A Villainous Villain
Director, Story