Curtis 'Snowball' McHenry (April 4, 1899 – July 24, 1934) was an American stuntman and comedian, who appeared in

Larry Semon Lawrence Semon (February 9, 1889 – October 8, 1928) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent film era. In his day, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but he is now remembered mainly for working ...

comedies in the 1920s.

Early life

McHenry was born in

Ruston, Louisiana Ruston is a small city and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is the largest city in the Eastern Ark-La-Tex region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 21,859, reflecting an increase of 6.4 percent ...

on April 4, 1899, according to his

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

draft card. However, his death certificate said he was born on "April 4, 1900".

With Larry Semon

He appeared in several Larry Semon films like ''

Lightning Love ''Lightning Love'' is a 1923 silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Larry Semon - Larry, a Suitor * Kathleen Myers - Rhea * Oliver Hardy - Oliver, the Other Suitor (as Babe Hardy) * Spencer Bell - Butler * Al Thompson - Father * Wi ...

'' (1923) and ''

Kid Speed ''Kid Speed'' also known as ''The Four Wheeled Terror'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy. Plot A group of young men are tuning up their race cars and sportsters in a small garage. Danger ...

'' (1924). His best known role is as Snowball in '' The Wizard of Oz'', who spends much of the film in a

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

costume and running away from things. He is sometimes confused with Spencer Bell, who also played opposite Semon in numerous comedy shorts of the time that was credited as "G. Howe Black" just like McHenry.

Partial filmography

*'' Pocahontas and John Smith'' (1924) *''

Robinson Crusoe ''Robinson Crusoe'' () is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published on 25 April 1719. The first edition credited the work's protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a tra ...

'' (1924) *'' The Wizard of Oz'' (1925) *'' Stop, Look and Listen'' (1926) *'' The Lyin' Tamer'' (1926) *''

The Great K & A Train Robbery ''The Great K & A Train Robbery'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Tom Mix and Dorothy Dwan. The film is based on the actual foiling of a train robbery by Dick Gordon as related by Paul Leicester Fo ...

'' (1926) *'' Isle of Sunken Gold'' (1927) *''

Goofy Ghosts Goofy is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. He is a tall, anthropomorphic dog who typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a ...

'' (1928)

References

External links

* 1899 births 1934 deaths 20th-century American male actors People from Ruston, Louisiana African-American male actors American male film actors American male silent film actors United States Army personnel of World War I Male actors from Louisiana Silent film comedians United States Army soldiers 20th-century American comedians American male comedy actors Deaths by stabbing in California 20th-century African-American people {{US-film-actor-1890s-stub