Lawrence "Larry" Semon (February 9, 1889 – October 8, 1928) was an
American actor,
director,
producer, and
screenwriter during the
silent film era. During that era, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but now is mainly remembered for working with both
Stan Laurel and
Oliver Hardy (
Laurel and Hardy) before they started working together.
He is also sometimes noted for directing (as well as appearing in) the 1925
silent film Wizard of Oz, which had a slight influence on the better known 1939
talkie The Wizard of Oz released by
MGM. The compliment was repaid in the 2005 three-disc
DVD version of the 1939 film, on which the 1925 version appears along with other silent "Oz" movies.
Early life
Born in
West Point,
Mississippi, Semon was the son of a
vaudeville magician, Zera the Great, while his mother worked as his assistant. Along with his older sister, Semon joined his parents' act until his father's death. After completing his education in
Savannah,
Georgia, Semon moved to
New York City where he worked for
The New York Sun and later,
The New York Morning Telegraph, as a
cartoonist and
graphic artist. While working as an artist, Semon appeared in monologues in vaudeville where he attracted the...
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