Larry Semon

Larry Semon

Directing
Born 1889-02-09 Died 1928-10-08 West Point, Mississippi, USA 82 credits star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1

Awards

Won 1 star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Award

star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1 won

  • — star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Won

Award data from Wikidata (CC0). Coverage may be incomplete.

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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.
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Filmography — top 60 of 82
Directing 56 credits
Golf
Golf
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
1925 · ★ 5.5 · Director, Writer, Producer
Lightning Love
Lightning Love
1923 · Director, Writer, Larry, a Suitor
The Suitor
The Suitor
1920 · Director, The Suitor
The Sportsman
The Sportsman
1921 · Director, Story, The Sportsman
Scamps and Scandals
Scamps and Scandals
1919 · Director, Larry, Scenario Writer
The Sawmill
The Sawmill
1922 · Director, Writer, Executive Producer
Rips and Rushes
Rips and Rushes
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Cloudhopper
The Cloudhopper
1925 · Director, Producer, Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
Jolts and Jewelry
Jolts and Jewelry
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
Horseshoes
Horseshoes
1923 · Director, Larry
Babes and Boobs
Babes and Boobs
1918 · Director, A Boob
Gall and Golf
Gall and Golf
1917 · Director, O.U. Dubb
The Star Boarder
The Star Boarder
1919 · Director, Writer, Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
Walls and Wallops
Walls and Wallops
1916 · Director
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
1918 · Director, Writer, Lawrence
Hash and Havoc
Hash and Havoc
1916 · Director
Footlights and Fakers
Footlights and Fakers
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Bakery
The Bakery
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
Between the Acts
Between the Acts
1919 · Director, Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard, Scenario Writer
School Days
School Days
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
A Villainous Villain
A Villainous Villain
1916 · Director, Story
Flatheads and Flivvers
Flatheads and Flivvers
1917 · Director
Passing the Buck
Passing the Buck
1919 · Director, The House Detective, Scenario Writer
Plagues And Puppy Love
Plagues And Puppy Love
1917 · Director, Larry
Turks and Troubles
Turks and Troubles
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Fly-Cop
The Fly-Cop
1920 · Director, Writer, The Fly Cop
Oh, What a Man!
Oh, What a Man!
1927 · Director, The Detective
Romans and Rascals
Romans and Rascals
1918 · Director, Writer, Caesar / A Minstrel
The Bell Hop
The Bell Hop
1921 · Director, Story, Producer
The Grocery Clerk
The Grocery Clerk
1919 · Director, Writer, The Grocery Clerk
The Hick
The Hick
1921 · Director, Larry, the Hick
The Show
The Show
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
Her Boy Friend
Her Boy Friend
1924 · Director, Producer, Larry, the Chief's son
The Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
Dull Care
Dull Care
1919 · Director, Writer, Larry, a Detective
The Dome Doctor
The Dome Doctor
1925 · Director, Producer, Peter Pep
The Rent Collector
The Rent Collector
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Barnyard
The Barnyard
1923 · Director, Writer, Lay Zee, Farm Hand
Bears and Bad Men
Bears and Bad Men
1918 · Director, Writer, Larry Cutshaw
No Wedding Bells
No Wedding Bells
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
His Home Sweet Home
His Home Sweet Home
1919 · Director, The Husband, Scenario Writer
The Midnight Cabaret
The Midnight Cabaret
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
He Never Touched Me
He Never Touched Me
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Stage Hand
The Stage Hand
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Gown Shop
The Gown Shop
1923 · Director, Larry, a salesman
Trouble Brewing
Trouble Brewing
1924 · Director, Writer, Government agent
The Baby and the Boss
The Baby and the Boss
1915 · Director
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
1917 · Director, Larry
The Man from Egypt
The Man from Egypt
1916 · Director, Writer
Well, I'll Be
Well, I'll Be
1919 · Director, The Sheriff, Scenario Writer
The Simple Life
The Simple Life
1919 · Director, A Farmer's Boy, Scenario Writer
Losing Weight
Losing Weight
1916 · Director
Huns and Hyphens
Huns and Hyphens
1918 · Director, Larry
The Girl in the Limousine
The Girl in the Limousine
1924 · Director, Producer, Tony
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
1921 · Director, Story, Larry, the Fall Guy
Acting 53 credits
Go Straight!
Go Straight!
1925 · Self
Golf
Golf
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
1925 · ★ 5.5 · Director, Writer, Producer
Underworld
Underworld
1927 · 77% · Slippy Lewis
Lightning Love
Lightning Love
1923 · Director, Writer, Larry, a Suitor
The Suitor
The Suitor
1920 · Director, The Suitor
The Sportsman
The Sportsman
1921 · Director, Story, The Sportsman
Scamps and Scandals
Scamps and Scandals
1919 · Director, Larry, Scenario Writer
The Sawmill
The Sawmill
1922 · Director, Writer, Executive Producer
Rips and Rushes
Rips and Rushes
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Cloudhopper
The Cloudhopper
1925 · Director, Producer, Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
Jolts and Jewelry
Jolts and Jewelry
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
Horseshoes
Horseshoes
1923 · Director, Larry
Babes and Boobs
Babes and Boobs
1918 · Director, A Boob
Gall and Golf
Gall and Golf
1917 · Director, O.U. Dubb
The Star Boarder
The Star Boarder
1919 · Director, Writer, Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
1918 · Director, Writer, Lawrence
Footlights and Fakers
Footlights and Fakers
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Bakery
The Bakery
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
Between the Acts
Between the Acts
1919 · Director, Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard, Scenario Writer
School Days
School Days
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Perfect Clown
The Perfect Clown
1925 · Bert Larry
Passing the Buck
Passing the Buck
1919 · Director, The House Detective, Scenario Writer
Plagues And Puppy Love
Plagues And Puppy Love
1917 · Director, Larry
Turks and Troubles
Turks and Troubles
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Fly-Cop
The Fly-Cop
1920 · Director, Writer, The Fly Cop
Oh, What a Man!
Oh, What a Man!
1927 · Director, The Detective
Romans and Rascals
Romans and Rascals
1918 · Director, Writer, Caesar / A Minstrel
The Bell Hop
The Bell Hop
1921 · Director, Story, Producer
The Grocery Clerk
The Grocery Clerk
1919 · Director, Writer, The Grocery Clerk
The Hick
The Hick
1921 · Director, Larry, the Hick
The Show
The Show
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
Her Boy Friend
Her Boy Friend
1924 · Director, Producer, Larry, the Chief's son
The Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
Dull Care
Dull Care
1919 · Director, Writer, Larry, a Detective
The Dome Doctor
The Dome Doctor
1925 · Director, Producer, Peter Pep
The Rent Collector
The Rent Collector
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Barnyard
The Barnyard
1923 · Director, Writer, Lay Zee, Farm Hand
Bears and Bad Men
Bears and Bad Men
1918 · Director, Writer, Larry Cutshaw
No Wedding Bells
No Wedding Bells
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
His Home Sweet Home
His Home Sweet Home
1919 · Director, The Husband, Scenario Writer
The Midnight Cabaret
The Midnight Cabaret
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
He Never Touched Me
He Never Touched Me
1917 · Director, Scenario Writer
The Stage Hand
The Stage Hand
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Gown Shop
The Gown Shop
1923 · Director, Larry, a salesman
Trouble Brewing
Trouble Brewing
1924 · Director, Writer, Government agent
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
1917 · Director, Larry
Well, I'll Be
Well, I'll Be
1919 · Director, The Sheriff, Scenario Writer
The Simple Life
The Simple Life
1919 · Director, A Farmer's Boy, Scenario Writer
Huns and Hyphens
Huns and Hyphens
1918 · Director, Larry
The Girl in the Limousine
The Girl in the Limousine
1924 · Director, Producer, Tony
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
1921 · Director, Story, Larry, the Fall Guy
Spuds
Spuds
1927 · Producer, Spuds
Writing 26 credits
Golf
Golf
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
1925 · ★ 5.5 · Director, Writer, Producer
Lightning Love
Lightning Love
1923 · Director, Writer, Larry, a Suitor
The Sportsman
The Sportsman
1921 · Director, Story, The Sportsman
The Sawmill
The Sawmill
1922 · Director, Writer, Executive Producer
The Star Boarder
The Star Boarder
1919 · Director, Writer, Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
1918 · Director, Writer, Lawrence
The Bakery
The Bakery
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
School Days
School Days
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
A Villainous Villain
A Villainous Villain
1916 · Director, Story
The Fly-Cop
The Fly-Cop
1920 · Director, Writer, The Fly Cop
Romans and Rascals
Romans and Rascals
1918 · Director, Writer, Caesar / A Minstrel
The Bell Hop
The Bell Hop
1921 · Director, Story, Producer
The Grocery Clerk
The Grocery Clerk
1919 · Director, Writer, The Grocery Clerk
The Show
The Show
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
Dull Care
Dull Care
1919 · Director, Writer, Larry, a Detective
The Rent Collector
The Rent Collector
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Barnyard
The Barnyard
1923 · Director, Writer, Lay Zee, Farm Hand
Bears and Bad Men
Bears and Bad Men
1918 · Director, Writer, Larry Cutshaw
No Wedding Bells
No Wedding Bells
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Midnight Cabaret
The Midnight Cabaret
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Stage Hand
The Stage Hand
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
Trouble Brewing
Trouble Brewing
1924 · Director, Writer, Government agent
The Man from Egypt
The Man from Egypt
1916 · Director, Writer
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
1921 · Director, Story, Larry, the Fall Guy
Producing 17 credits
Golf
Golf
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz
1925 · ★ 5.5 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Sawmill
The Sawmill
1922 · Director, Writer, Executive Producer
The Cloudhopper
The Cloudhopper
1925 · Director, Producer, Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn
The Bakery
The Bakery
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
School Days
School Days
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Bell Hop
The Bell Hop
1921 · Director, Story, Producer
The Show
The Show
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
Her Boy Friend
Her Boy Friend
1924 · Director, Producer, Larry, the Chief's son
The Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Dome Doctor
The Dome Doctor
1925 · Director, Producer, Peter Pep
The Rent Collector
The Rent Collector
1921 · Director, Writer, Producer
No Wedding Bells
No Wedding Bells
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Midnight Cabaret
The Midnight Cabaret
1923 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Stage Hand
The Stage Hand
1920 · Director, Writer, Producer
The Girl in the Limousine
The Girl in the Limousine
1924 · Director, Producer, Tony
Spuds
Spuds
1927 · Producer, Spuds
Other credits 1 credit
The Counter Jumper
The Counter Jumper
1922 · Director, Writer, Producer
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