Biografía y filmografía

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.

Fotos

Películas (83)

A Simple Sap

1928 · It, Director

Dummies

1928 · The Entertainer, Director

Oh, What a Man!

1927 · The Detective, Director

The Stunt Man

1927 · Larry, Writer, Director

Underworld

1927 · Slippy Lewis

Spuds

1927 · Spuds, Producer

A Dozen Socks

1927 · Scenario Writer

The Perfect Clown

1925 · Bert Larry

The Cloudhopper

1925 · Borden Rhoom / Getz A. Bunn, Director, Producer

Go Straight!

1925 · Self

The Dome Doctor

1925 · Peter Pep, Scenario Writer, Producer, Director

The Wizard of Oz

1925 · Scarecrow / Toymaker, Director, Writer, Producer

Kid Speed

1924 · The Speed Kid, Director, Writer, Producer

Her Boy Friend

1924 · Larry, the Chief's son, Producer, Director

The Girl in the Limousine

1924 · Tony, Director, Producer

Trouble Brewing

1924 · Government agent, Director, Writer

Horseshoes

1923 · Larry, Director

Lightning Love

1923 · Larry, a Suitor, Director, Writer

The Gown Shop

1923 · Larry, a salesman, Director

The Barnyard

1923 · Lay Zee, Farm Hand, Director, Writer

The Midnight Cabaret

1923 · Larry, a Waiter, Director, Writer, Producer

No Wedding Bells

1923 · Larry, Director, Writer, Producer

The Counter Jumper

1922 · Larry, the Counter Jumper, Director, Writer, Producer, Editor

Golf

1922 · The son, Director, Writer, Producer

A Pair of Kings

1922 · King August / Stranger, Writer, Producer, Director

A Weakend Driver

1922 · Director, Writer

The Show

1922 · The Prop Man / Gentle Onlooker, Director, Writer, Producer

The Sawmill

1922 · The Dumb-Bell, Director, Writer, Executive Producer

The Bell Hop

1921 · The Bellhop, Director, Story, Producer

The Fall Guy

1921 · Larry, the Fall Guy, Director, Story

The Bakery

1921 · Larry, a Bakery Clerk, Director, Writer, Producer

The Rent Collector

1921 · Larry, the Rent Collector, Director, Writer, Producer

The Hick

1921 · Larry, the Hick, Director

The Sportsman

1921 · The Sportsman, Director, Story, Scenario Writer

The Suitor

1920 · The Suitor, Director

The Stage Hand

1920 · The Stage Hand, Director, Writer, Producer

School Days

1920 · Joe, Director, Writer, Producer

The Fly-Cop

1920 · The Fly Cop, Writer, Director

The Grocery Clerk

1919 · The Grocery Clerk, Writer, Director

The Head Waiter

1919 · The Head Waiter, Director, Writer

Dew Drop Inn

1919 · Larry, the Detective, Director

Dull Care

1919 · Larry, a Detective, Director, Writer

Between the Acts

1919 · Larry, the Handy Man and a Drunkard, Scenario Writer, Director

The Simple Life

1919 · A Farmer's Boy, Director, Scenario Writer

His Home Sweet Home

1919 · The Husband, Director, Scenario Writer

The Star Boarder

1919 · Star Boarder / Little Joe, Escaped Convict, Director, Writer

Passing the Buck

1919 · The House Detective, Scenario Writer, Director

Well, I'll Be

1919 · The Sheriff, Scenario Writer, Director

Scamps and Scandals

1919 · Larry, Director, Scenario Writer

Traps and Tangles

1919 · Detective Sparks, Director

Pluck and Plotters

1918 · The Janitor, Director

Frauds and Frenzies

1918 · Larry, First Prisoner, Director

Bears and Bad Men

1918 · Larry Cutshaw, Director, Writer

Huns and Hyphens

1918 · Larry, Director

Dunces and Dangers

1918 · Larry, Scenario Writer, Director

Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs

1918 · Lawrence, Writer, Director

Skids and Scalawags

1918 · Director

Hindoos and Hazards

1918 · Larry, Director, Scenario Writer

Romans and Rascals

1918 · Caesar / A Minstrel, Director, Scenario Writer, Writer

Babes and Boobs

1918 · A Boob, Director

Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies

1917 · Larry, Director

Plagues And Puppy Love

1917 · Larry, Director

Risks and Roughnecks

1917 · Our Hero, Director

Gall and Golf

1917 · O.U. Dubb, Director