1889-07-14 ( 135 years old ) in West Point, Mississippi, USA
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.
Movies
A Simple Sap
1928-02-11
Dummies
1928-01-01
Oh, What a Man!
1927-12-04
The Stunt Man
1927-10-22
Underworld
1927-08-20
Spuds
1927-04-10
The Perfect Clown
1925-12-14
The Cloudhopper
1925-06-06
Go Straight!
1925-04-27
The Dome Doctor
1925-04-18
The Wizard of Oz
1925-02-12
Kid Speed
1924-11-16
Her Boy Friend
1924-09-27
The Girl in the Limousine
1924-07-20
Trouble Brewing
1924-03-12
Horseshoes
1923-12-09
Lightning Love
1923-10-22
The Gown Shop
1923-08-13
The Barnyard
1923-06-11
The Midnight Cabaret
1923-05-09
No Wedding Bells
1923-01-09
The Counter Jumper
1922-12-08
Golf
1922-09-03
A Pair of Kings
1922-06-10
A Weakend Driver
1922-05-04
The Show
1922-03-19
The Sawmill
1922-01-01
The Bell Hop
1921-09-17
The Fall Guy
1921-07-15
The Bakery
1921-06-19
The Rent Collector
1921-05-22
The Hick
1921-03-09
The Sportsman
1921-01-08
The Suitor
1920-11-01
The Stage Hand
1920-09-20
School Days
1920-05-03
The Fly-Cop
1920-03-28
The Grocery Clerk
1919-12-01
The Head Waiter
1919-12-01
Dew Drop Inn
1919-11-02
Dull Care
1919-10-05
Between the Acts
1919-09-07
The Simple Life
1919-08-04
His Home Sweet Home
1919-07-06
The Star Boarder
1919-05-26
Passing the Buck
1919-05-18
Well, I'll Be
1919-04-14
Scamps and Scandals
1919-02-16
Traps and Tangles
1919-01-19
Pluck and Plotters
1918-12-22
Frauds and Frenzies
1918-11-17
Bears and Bad Men
1918-10-07
Huns and Hyphens
1918-09-22
Dunces and Dangers
1918-08-04
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs
1918-07-22
Hindoos and Hazards
1918-06-29
Romans and Rascals
1918-05-27
Tough Luck and Tin Lizzies
1917-10-22
Plagues And Puppy Love
1917-10-01
Risks and Roughnecks
1917-09-17
Gall and Golf
1917-09-03
Turks and Troubles
1917-03-26
Footlights and Fakers
1917-03-12
He Never Touched Me
1917-02-12
Somewhere in Any Place
1917-01-29
Big Bluffs and Bowling Balls
1917-01-22
Jolts and Jewelry
1917-01-15
Bullies and Bullets
1917-01-08
Walls and Wallops
1916-11-13
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