In the early 1920s, Dent was a fixture at the Mack Sennett studio, working with comedians Billy Bevan, Andy Clyde, and especially Harry Langdon.

Dent alternately played breezy pals and blustery authority figures opposite Langdon's timid character.

He went on to work with practically every star on the payroll, including Andy Clyde, Charley Chase, and Eddie Quillan (all fellow Mack Sennett alumni), as well as Buster Keaton, El Brendel, Vera Vague, Hugh Herbert, Gus Schilling and Richard Lane, Harry von Zell, and Bert Wheeler.

Dent appeared very occasionally in feature films, including Million Dollar Legs, Chip Off the Old Block, The Harvey Girls, Rockin' in the Rockies, and Kill the Umpire.

Even this affliction didn't stop his career; producer-director Jules White, filming low-budget remakes of earlier comedies, hired Vernon Dent for a few new scenes to match his older ones.

Dent, now legally blind, delivered enthusiastic performances while in static or seated positions accommodating his low vision.

Character actor Emil Sitka was one of many at the event who did not know Dent had lost his sight: Vernon came into the parlor, wearing a yarmulke like everyone else since this was a Jewish ceremony.